Susan Penny Indexing

Ordinary medieval had some truly wonderful names - even if they are a challenge to indexers.

Thank you Society of Indexers for sharing this glimpse into the bit at the back of the book.

Every good book deserves an index!

Happy National Indexing Day to all those brilliant indexers out there! Peerless pathfinders in the word-woven world 🫡 #IndexDay

Kennings make everything sound better, and Peerless Pathfinder in the Word-Woven World is definitely the job title for me.

The SI team at our #IndexDay workshop: @baindex.org, @carosanderson.bsky.social, @indexellis.bsky.social, @tanyaizzard.bsky.social and Rachel Gee

Qualities of a Bad Index In this post, Ruth Martin outlines the things that shouldn’t appear in an index. Write a bad index… us?! Surely members of the Society of Indexers couldn’t write a bad index?  Well, they could, but…

Or you can approach this the other way, with Ruth Martin's account of what makes a bad index: buff.ly/FVuTtCK #IndexDay

A good index is one that is so easy to use that you don't need to think about it. Like all things that are done well, it appears effortless. But a great deal of knowledge, time and care has gone into its creation.

I always check for useful articles when I'm working on a new subject area. The Centrepieces are especially useful: indexing names correctly is so important - and tricky to get right.

It's National Indexing Day and therefore the perfect opportunity to remind ourselves of the superiority of human indexers #indexday

#Indexday is when we celebrate the work of indexers in the UK and beyond. Colleagues are running a super event in London for editors and publishing professionals who need to know more. Any questions during the day, just ask and we'll try to answer them.

Just leaving sunny Brighton to take part in the @indexers.bsky.social workshops in London for #IndexDay. Looking forward to discussing all things indexy with publishers and my fellow indexers.

Happy #indexday 2025! A chance to foreground the modest back-of-the-book index, and its creators. Indexes have been quietly guiding readers to information since the beginning of printing.

Yesterday I finished the final edit on my index for the Outward Bound schooner Captain Scott text, and today I start work on a book about Luxury and the Senses. From gales and privations to Jo Malone candles: nothing like a bit of vicarious living.

It's a beautiful morning here, and I'm working on a book about the sail-training ship Captain Scott, that sailed into our harbour quite regularly in the 1970s. I love a local connection, and this is a pretty special one.

Sun rising over the hills and shining across the sea. A cold indexer stands on the slipway beside the harbour wall.

Good morning Bluesky. Here's some Scottish blue sky, and an indexer standing braced and clear-headed from the cold, ready for the day ahead.

National Indexing Day 2025 The Society of Indexers is celebrating National Indexing Day for the seventh successive year on Thursday 27 March 2025. This year we will be celebrating with a half-day in-person workshop for…

#Publishing professionals! There’s still time to book your place for our 27 March #IndexDay workshop in London. This is your chance to learn more about indexing from experienced professional indexers. Book your place by 20 March - further information and booking details here