Index with no punctuation after entry word

[APSEA]

We have come across some small indices that contain no punctuation after the entry word.

The guidelines are clear that when entry words in an alphabetic reference are followed by uncapitalized words there are two spaces inserted. Would this be the case for an index similar to this without the word Pages/Page?

In the case of this index, would you include the word Page/Pages?

Thank you.

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[joannavenneri]

Follow print here. Do not insert two spaces and do include Page/Pages as printed. The two spaces are shown and discussed for reference entries that are followed by definitions. The purpose is to clearly indicate where the entry leaves off and the definition begins when there is no other indication such as separating punctuation or capitalization. This can otherwise be a difficult distinction to make, especially in the case of multi-word entries. In the Index, the reader expects to be directed to a page, not a definition, and the print Page/Pages indicates exactly where the entry terminates even in the case of multi-word entries. Also note that the insertion of two spaces is mentioned only in regard to references involving definitions, not indexes.

--Joanna

[joannavenneri]

Thank you. That was my interpretation as well, but felt it necessary to get clarification for the others in the office. Have a great day.

[APSEA]

We’ve come across a variation on the previous question. It’s another index in which entries are not followed by punctuation, capitalization or enclosure symbols. But in this one, a few of the entries end in a number (a year). So in light of your previous explanation, are two spaces required after the main entries (and subentries) to avoid ambiguity regarding where they leave off and page numbers begin? Print appears to have two spaces separating entries from page numbers to convey this distinction.

Please see the entries “bank crash of 1894” and “referenda 1948” in the attachment.

Braille Formats 22.5.1.d mentions the insertion of two spaces in references involving definitions. But since 22.5 is its own category (separate from Indexes, Glossaries, Thesauruses, etc), is it applicable more generally i.e., to all the alphabetic references discussed in Section 22?

Thank you for your assistance.

[APSEA]

I have to disagree with the idea that 22.5 is its own category. 22.5 is titled References Without Syllabification or Pronunciation and subsequent subsections discuss only definitions. 22.4 is specific to Indexes and it discusses ONLY indexes. The fact remains that there is no provision for two spaces following an index entry. If some extreme situation presented itself that made it necessary, it would obviously have to be addressed. However, this is not such a situation.

The number in both entries is clearly a year, as you identified it, and not a page number. The context makes this obvious to the print reader and the braille reader will get that as well, by reading the surrounding text. These entries should be brailled as the other index entries.

--Joanna

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