What not to index: a flow chart for passing mentions in book indexing
Abstract
Passing mentions are commonly identified based on their proximity to the metatopic, their contextual placement in the text, and reader satisfaction upon following an index entry to its location on the page. But certain kinds of text and index limitations can make sorting out passing mentions from indexable entries more complicated and decision fatigue can lead to inconsistencies and missed material. In this article, Emma Warnken Johnson reviews the concept of passing mentions before offering a flow chart for the passing-mention decision process, along the way analyzing the steps and considering when and how to break the rules in book indexing.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Publishing and Scholarly Communication
Lexicography and Language Studies
Library Collection Development and Digital Resources
Publication details
- Journal / source
- The Indexer
- Publisher
- Liverpool University Press
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 147–156
- Publication date
- 16 June 2026
- Language
- EN