A phrase, phrase, or sentence that directs the reader to associated data in the identical doc (or, within the case of on-line content material, maybe a distinct doc), whether or not stated doc is an article or a ebook, known as a cross-reference. This submit discusses greatest practices in using cross-references.
In printed or on-line content material, a cross-reference is a textual content component that introduces the reader to a subsequent component of content material, whether or not textual content or a number of graphic components. For instance, an statement or assertion could also be adopted by a press release similar to “See additional dialogue in chapter 6” or “See the columns labeled ‘Trigger’ and ‘Impact’ in determine 1 under.”
Notice a few particulars about these examples: First, neither instance makes use of web page numbers to find the cross-reference; it is because, within the case of a printed doc, pagination could change when the content material is reprinted or is posted on-line. (Additionally, the designations for varieties of content material—chapter and determine—aren’t capitalized, nor are related phrases similar to appendix, half, and desk, and numbers are all the time styled as numerals, not spelled out.) For a similar purpose, keep away from instructions similar to “See subsequent web page”; write “See under,” as a substitute, particularly to direct the reader’s consideration to a determine or desk.
Cross-references may check with previous components, both by particular references or by calling consideration to, for instance, “the abovementioned elements” or “the aforementioned areas,” “the foregoing dialogue,” or “the members talked about above.” Common references just like these seldom precede their referents, and equivalents of abovementioned and aforementioned that substitute the primary half of every phrase with under and after aren’t legitimate phrases, neither is aftergoing. (Prementioned is an actual world, however I’ve by no means seen it used on this context.)
On a associated notice, it’s important to test all cross-references in a given piece of content material. Any references to the title of the general content material itself that seem within the content material ought to match, and the author, and/or an editor or proofreader, ought to confirm that every one components listed within the desk of contents—half and chapter titles and any headings and subheadings—and associated lists of such components as figures and tables needs to be verified in opposition to the lists. (On the proofreading stage, web page numbers within the desk of contents and related lists, that are entered within the digital file from which the publication is created solely after the textual content is paginated, also needs to be cross-checked in opposition to the respective pages.)
As well as, all cross-references mentioned within the foregoing dialogue needs to be checked to ensure that, for instance, when determine 5 is talked about in regard to a sure subject, reality, or information level, that data seems in determine 5. Likewise, a caption for an illustration or {a photograph}, or a reference to the picture within the operating textual content, needs to be inspected to confirm that it appropriately identifies what’s proven within the picture. Chapter numbers and different figuring out data needs to be cross-checked within the proofreading stage as effectively; such indicators could have been modified sooner or later as a result of, for instance, two chapters have been mixed, one has been deleted, or a brand new one has been inserted.
On the similar time, or in a separate assessment, spelling or therapy of phrases within the textual content needs to be checked to make sure that it matches these proven in figures. For instance, if a desk with an inventory of names refers to somebody as Smythe, however the textual content makes use of Smyth, the proper selection needs to be verified and the error corrected, or if a map identifies probably the most populous metropolis in India as Bombay however the textual content makes use of the newer customary kind Mumbai (whether or not in reference to the map or in isolation), the map needs to be relabeled, or changed with one which makes use of the fashionable kind.
Additionally, when footnotes or endnotes are employed, textual content that prompts a notice needs to be checked in opposition to the wording of the notice to make sure that they’re pertinent to one another, and when a quotation is famous, it needs to be checked in opposition to an inventory of references to ensure, first, that an entry for every quotation is listed and, second, that the data within the quotation (for instance, a final identify and the yr of publication) matches the data within the references. In a separate step, the references needs to be cross-checked in opposition to citations to ensure that each reference within the record has a number of corresponding citations; reference entries and not using a quotation needs to be deleted.
URLs and hyperlinks to e mail addresses also needs to be verified, and hyperlinks needs to be examined to make sure that the vacation spot of the hyperlink is appropriate and appropriately recognized.