The Unsung Pages: The Front and Back Matters of a Book

Ever wondered about the parts of a book that appear before and after the main text and why they are important? In this blog, we will take a deep dive into them.

(Before diving in, check out our blog “Publishing Jargon Every Aspiring Author Should Know” for more helpful context.)

Photo by Pixabay

THE FRONT MATTER (FM)

This is the section of a book right before page 1. It's an essential part of the book that commonly contains the following:

Copyright Page

It usually appears after the title page and contains the declaration of the author’s copyright ownership as well as other information, such as edition dates, ISBN, and the publisher and printer. 

Title and Half Title Page

The title page mirrors the book’s cover, showing the full title and design, while the half title page contains only the main title (without the subtitle, author, or publisher). They appear on the recto side.

Frontispiece

Some books have a full image or illustration on the verso side of the title page. This is called the frontispiece. 

Dedication and Acknowledgments 

The dedication part is a short, personal note of the author to whom they dedicate the book. It usually appears before the acknowledgments page, which lists individuals or organizations that helped the author during the book production process. 

Preface and Introduction

Some books have a preface that contains the author’s journey while writing the book. The introductory section, on the other hand, discusses the scope, structure, and intended use of the book (if it’s an academic book).

Foreword and Endorsements

A foreword is a signed article written by someone else (usually a known expert or authority in a certain field, an author’s colleague, or a public figure), and it says why the book’s worth a read. The short praises about the book written by those who have read the advance reading copies (ARC) are the endorsement section (sometimes this also appears in the back matter).

Table of Contents (TOC)

The table of contents lists the book’s chapter headings and their corresponding reference pages, helping readers easily navigate the book’s pages. In book production, the TOC is usually done when the contents of the book are already finalized. 

THE BACK MATTER (BM)

The BM of a book provides more context, such as the following:

Bibliography and Photo Credits

In the nonfiction and academic pieces, the bibliography is where the author lists the sources they used for the book. Apart from avoiding plagiarism, It shows the depth of the research and suggests further reading materials. The photo credit is an acknowledgment of the creators of photos and illustrations used in the book. 

Glossary and Index

Also common in academic books, a glossary is a list of definitions for terms used in the book. The index contains the highlighted topics or terms, along with corresponding pages where they appear in the book. Both are in alphabetical order.

Appendix and Bonus Section

The appendix contains supplementary materials that a reader may find useful. For the fiction books, a bonus section is included that may contain the book’s sequel or a teaser of the author’s next work.

Knowing these parts of your book is crucial for a professional-looking piece.

Still unsure about the contents of your front and back matters? Work with us, and we will help you polish your draft. Send us your manuscript and receive an 800-word complimentary sample edit.