Contents
If you’re like me, you can sometimes find all the different titles given to separate parts of a book to be overwhelming. The story or knowledge is contained in the chapters, but there are more components included at the start and end of a book. What’s the difference between the foreword and preface? What is an epigraph? Where do the acknowledgments go? I’ve done my research and made a list… because I love lists! Keep reading to learn about all the parts of both non-fiction and fiction books.
Outside parts of a book
Front cover
The front cover is the first thing you notice. People say, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover,’ but let’s be honest – we do. It’s also the first part of a book I’m going to write about. The front cover includes the title, author’s name, and graphics. There could be an image, or typography to help show what the book’s about. Some covers also have short reviews quoted or a catchy tagline. Everything on the front cover needs to be carefully considered to advertise what’s inside.
Spine
Depending on how a book is displayed in a bookstore or library, the spine might be the first thing you notice. The spine includes the title, author, and publisher’s logo. It needs to be clearly legible so the title is immediately recognised.
Back cover
The back cover is what people will look at after the front cover or spine has grabbed their attention. It includes the blurb and encourages the reader to open the book and read more. Blurbs usually contain rhetorical questions and should leave the reader with their own questions. Alike the front cover, the back cover may also include reviews and a hook, which is sentence length. If the book is non-fiction or written by a well-known author, there may also be a short biography or image of the author.
Inside parts of a book
Half title page
The half page title is the first page in a book and contains only the title. Nothing else – just the title. It’s also always on the right page of the spread.
Title page
The title page is also on the right side of the spread, but on the next page. It includes the title, as well as the author and sometimes the tagline. The title page is a simplified version of the front cover.
Frontispiece
The frontispiece is an illustration on the page facing the title page. It’s technically before the title page, but I’ve included it in this list after because it accompanies the title page.
Series title page
This is a page listing all the books by the author. This page is especially helpful if the book is part of a series and you’re not sure of the order. Series pages show how many books by that author are already published, and are updated once more are published. Series books that are purchased immediately after publication will often have uncompleted series title pages. Unless, of course, it’s the final book in a series.
Imprint
The imprint contains all the copyright information. This includes the title, publisher, date of first print, disclaimer, ISBN, ABN, author, contact information and anything relating to the business side of producing a book. Here is where you’ll find information about the distributor, designer, typesetter and editor. The imprint is the most important page when sourcing a book and includes everything you need for citations.
Dedication
The dedication is a thank you. It can be to one person, multiple people, or a community of people. It may also be one word or a paragraph. Most commonly, it’s one sentence dedicating the book to one person.
Epigraph
Sometime a quote is included at the start of a book and this is called an epigraph. The quote doesn’t need to be by the author, but the source does need to be shared.
Contents page
The page where all the sections in the book are listed. This overview can include chapter titles, section headings, page numbers and parts. The contents page helps readers understand the book’s structure and find content they’re looking for.
List of figures
The list of figures is usually included in books with numerous figures, also known as illustrations, images or diagrams. This list will include the figures, their titles and their page numbers.
List of tables
The list of tables is similar to the list of figures as it lists any tables included in the book. Tables are listed alongside their titles and page numbers.
Foreword
A foreword adds credibility to a book. It’s an introduction written and signed by someone well-known or well-informed in the topic of the book.
Preface
The preface is alike the foreword, but written by the author. Its purpose is also to establish credibility. The author often writes about how the idea for the book formed or how the book came to be. The preface is not signed.
Introduction
An introduction is a discussion about the contents of the book. This is commonly seen in books with multiple editions, such as classics. They discuss changes to the book, backstory about how the book was written, or conditions under which the book was written. Basically, they set the scene surrounding how the book came to be.
Abbreviations
Abbreviations are shortened words or phrases. If an author uses the shortened terms, a page for abbreviations can be referred to. This is sometimes included at the back, instead of the front.
Second half title page
If a lot of content is included in the front section, there is often a second half title page – identical to the first half title page – before the main body of the book.
Prologue
The prologue sets the scene for content within the book. It’s usually included in fiction and precedes the main story. Prologues can be done well, but they can also be done very badly, which has led to many having a negative opinion of them. Prologues should not be used to info-dump backstory, but rather to set the scene and lead into the first chapter. Although it usually takes place before the events in the main story, the prologue should still be used to advance the plot.
Body
The body is made up of parts and chapters. This is the main content, or the story in the case of fiction.
Epilogue
The epilogue takes place after the conclusion of a story. It’s used to wrap-up events, provide an update on the characters, and bring closure to the reader. Although it’s usually written in the same perspective as the body of the work, it can also be written as the author.
Afterword
An afterword can be used to provide further information about the books content, the books origin, or a connection between the book and true events. Sometimes it’s a message from the author to the reader.
Conclusion
The conclusion summarises the books content and message. It aims to provide comprehensiveness to the ideas integrated into the book and complete the work.
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements can be included at the front or back of a book. They vary from the dedication as the author expresses their thanks and gratitude to everyone who helped bring the book together. While the dedication is usually short, acknowledgements can be pages long.
Postscript
The postscript contains any additional necessary information not contained in the body of the work.
Addendum
An addendum is any new material that was either added after first printing or too late into the production process to be included in the part it was intended for.
Appendix
Appendices include references to additional sources of information on the topic explored in the body of the book. This is information the reader may find useful if they want to study the topic further. It’s usually only included in non-fiction books.
Chronology
A chronological list of events either referred to or included in the book. If not included here, the chronological list could be in the appendix or even at the front, after the abbreviations, if it’s critical for the reader to know before the main content.
Notes
Sometimes there are blank pages at the back for the reader to take notes. This is very rarely done, except for non-fiction books about learning.
Endnotes
Endnotes are references, explanations or comments pertaining to information in the book. Each endnote has a paired number found in the text. This allows the reader to easily find the information the endnote refers to.
Glossary
An alphabetically ordered list of terms, definitions and vocabulary used in the book, or relating to topics in the body of the work.
Bibliography
A list of all the resources used to gather information for the book. A bibliography may consist of websites, articles, books, videos etc.
List of contributors
If a book has been created by many authors, a list of all their names will be included here. Sometimes, however, it will be at the front.
Illustration credits
Similar to the list of contributors, the illustration credits lists all the illustrators who had a hand in the production of the book and recognises their contribution.
Index
An alphabetical list of everything included or relating to the book and the information contained within. Page numbers are shown and the index is usually compiled by a professional indexer.
Errata
An errata is a note from the publisher in regards to an error in the book.
Colophon
The text typography and any information pertaining to the typeface is shared in the colophon. This includes the books designer and anyone who was part of the physical production process.
Sample chapter
If a book is part of a series or if an author has another book coming out soon, there will sometimes be a sample chapter of their next work. This acts as an advertisement and teaser, aiming to encourage the reader to buy another book.
Coming soon
Some books have ads at the back, advertising soon to release titles by the same author. This has a similar purpose to the sample chapter but might only mention the title or show an image of the cover. Less often, the ads are for other authors who have the same publisher.
Author’s biography
The author will either write or have a segment written about them, included alongside an image of themselves and their contact details. Sometimes the author will write about how the book came to be and their writing process in this part.
End pages
At the very back of a book you can sometimes find blank pages, also known as leaves. Sometimes it’s cheaper for the printer to run a set number of pages, and so adding a few blank pages at the back can make the production process cheaper.
The entire book
Turns out there were wayyyy more parts to a book than I’d thought (and that’s not even getting started on different types of books and reading forms). Leave a comment if you were as surprised as I was! The order of the parts may vary (especially between non-fiction and fiction books) and not all books will have all the parts listed above, but I hope this post helped you learn what they’re for.
If you want to look up any of the information in this post, here are the references I used:
Printed Books 101: the components of a book (and where they go)
Book Elements: A Literary Anatomy Lesson
Author Guide: The Parts of a Book
Parts of a Book: The Basic Anatomy of Book Design
Self-Publishing Basics: An Unabridged List of the Parts of a Book