Front Matter, Text, and Back Matter

Owned by Nate St George (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Aug 31, 2022 by Juliet Wilhelm (Unlicensed)
1 min read

Summary

This article will describe the differences between front matter, text, and back matter.

Instructions

The following lists show what should go in each part of a book, according to the Chicago Manual of Style. Of course, not every book will have every single one of the sections listed, so use your best judgement.

Front Matter

  • Book half title
  • Series title, frontispiece, or blank page
  • Title page
  • Copyright page
  • Dedication
  • Epigraph
  • Table of Contents
  • List of Illustrations
  • List of Tables
  • Foreword
  • Preface
  • Acknowledgements (if not part of preface)
  • Introduction (if not part of text)
  • Abbreviations (if not part of back matter)
  • Chronology (if not part of back matter)

Text

  • First text page (Introduction or Chapter 1) or:
    • Second half title or first part title
    • Subsequent part titles and chapters

Back Matter

  • Acknowledgements (if not part of front matter)
  • Appendix
  • Second and subsequent appendixes
  • Chronology (if not in front matter)
  • Abbreviations (if not in front matter)
  • Notes
  • Glossary
  • Bibliography or References
  • Contributors
  • Illustration Credits
  • Index(es)

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