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Subject:Re: Number of index items per page? From:John Jeuken <john -dot- jeuken -at- ASML -dot- NL> Date:Mon, 12 Jul 1999 08:10:02 +0200
Bowes, Rebecca A wrote:
>
> I took an indexing workshop several years ago and I seem to recall
> that the instructor said a common ratio was one page of index for each ten
> pages of manual. So, if you have a 350-page manual, for example, you'd
> probably have a 35-page index. However, I suspect that the ratio of index
> pages to manual pages really varies quite a bit depending on the complexity
> of the manual's content.
This constitutes a 10% index (index pages / manual pages * 100%).
Nancy Mulvany gives a comprehensive overview of 'Estimates of Index
Length in
her book "Indexing books" (ISBN 0-226-55014-1). Apparently technical
documentation
is the most heavily indexed material there is. General end-user manuals
having 10%
indexes and very specific manuals having 15%+ indexes.
Style books typically have 8% indexes:
Webster's Standard American Style Manual: 8%
The Chicago Manual of Style: 13th ed. 7%; 14th ed. 6%
The McGraw-Hill Style Manual: 8%
Hope this helps.
--
John Jeuken
Technical Writer, Team Leader
ASML Lithography
Department: Publications
Room : 1A030 De Run 1110
Phone : +31 40 230 32 10 5503 LA Veldhoven
E-Mail: john -dot- jeuken -at- asml -dot- nl The Netherlands
