Criteria FOR WILSON AWARD
What makes a good index?
American Society for Indexing uses these criteria for the ASI/H. W. Wilson Award for Indexing Excellence Criteria. I had the honor of being the Wilson Award Committee chair in 2008. For more information about the Wilson Award criteria, see my “Thinking about the Wilson Award” in the Publications section of my site.
SUBSTANCE
Elegance
Succinctness; the right word in the right place - even if the word isn't found in the text; "a certain charm;" visual appeal; a sense that the index contains exactly what it needs to, no more, no less; simplicity; grace. Elegance is the quality that makes an exceptional index more than the sum of its parts.
Usability
Does the index appropriately anticipate the needs of its users?
Are the significant concepts indexed?
Are there appropriate alternative terms for accessing concepts?
Are special treatments such as italics and boldface appropriate to the complexity of the material and the needs of the user?
Is there a headnote -explaining special treatments?
Does the format provide for ease in visually scanning the index?
Is the phrasing of entries and subentries clear, with significant terms first and no unnecessary prepositions?
Coverage
Does the index cover the ground? Does it do so in an evenhanded fashion?
Look up a few important topics to see if coverage is adequate.
The index should go beyond listing the main headings in each chapter or rearranging the table of contents.
Significant concepts should be indexed and scattered discussions of a concept should be brought together.
Irrelevant information such as scene-setting material or passing mentions, should not be indexed.
There should be no apparent indexer bias.
Analysis
Are main entries analyzed appropriately into subentries?
Are subentries overanalyzed so that the same page numbers are repeated again and again in close proximity to one another?
Are there strings of undifferentiated locators at an entry?
Are the number and level of subentries appropriate to the complexity of the book?
Access
Is there more than one access point to significant concepts?
The index should use the author's vocabulary, but should also provide alternative terms and cross-references that will give the reader access.
Entries should be "flipped" where necessary or appropriate.
Cross-referencing
Are cross-references adequate and useful?
See also references should send readers to appropriate related material. (Double-posting is preferable to See references that send the reader to an entry with very few page references.)
MECHANICS
Accuracy
There should be no misspellings or typos, no odd page ranges or references out of order
Alphabetization of main entries, subentries, and cross-references should be correct.
Punctuation should be correct.
Forms of names and terms should be correct and appropriate to the field of specializations.
Cross-references should be neither circular nor to missing or differently worded entries.
"Flipped" entries should have the same page references at both locations in the index.
Style
Is the style consistent throughout?
Does the style effectively resolve challenges presented by the text?
Look at such style points as: sorting order; punctuation of cross-references; leading and separator punctuation of locators; abbreviation of inclusive ranges; positioning of cross-references; run-in. vs. indented subentries; capitalization of main entries; use of alternative typefaces.
[The descriptive categories originally appeared in Carolyn McGovern's “How to Evaluate Indexes.” KEY WORDS 1, no. 9 (Nov/Dec 1993) p. 1,21. They have been freely adapted over the years, most recently by Janet Russell for the 2008 Wilson Award judging.]