How to Create an Index in Word (with Images)

Table of contents:

How to Create an Index in Word (with Images)
How to Create an Index in Word (with Images)
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This wikiHow article teaches you how to insert an index page in Microsoft Word where you can list the important items covered in a document along with the related pages.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Mark the Voices

Create an Index in Word Step 1
Create an Index in Word Step 1

Step 1. Open a Microsoft Word document

You can add an index to any MS Word document regardless of length, style or topic.

Create an Index in Word Step 2
Create an Index in Word Step 2

Step 2. Click on the References tab

It is located on the MS Word toolbar at the top of the screen, alongside other tabs such as Home, insert And Revision. It allows you to always display the relative toolbar at the top of the same Word screen.

Create an Index in Word Step 3
Create an Index in Word Step 3

Step 3. Click on the Mark Entry button

Its icon is a white sheet with a green plus (+) sign at the top and a red line in the center. Is located between Insert caption And Mark Quote on the toolbar of the References tab, towards the upper right corner of the screen. Clicking on it will open a dialog box titled Mark index entry to select items and phrases relevant to your index.

Create an Index in Word Step 4
Create an Index in Word Step 4

Step 4. Select a term or group of terms to index

Highlight the chosen word by double clicking with the mouse or using keyboard commands.

Create an Index in Word Step 5
Create an Index in Word Step 5

Step 5. Click on the Mark Index Entry dialog box

The term selected in the document will appear in the text field next to Main item.

  • Optionally, you can enter a secondary entry or a cross reference under the main item, which will all be listed under the relevant main items in the index.
  • You can also enter one third level voice, adding it to the text of the sub-item separated by a colon (:).
Create an Index in Word Step 6
Create an Index in Word Step 6

Step 6. Format the index page numbers

Check the box corresponding to the option you want to make page numbers in Bold or in italics in the area below the header Page number format.

Create an Index in Word Step 7
Create an Index in Word Step 7

Step 7. Format the entry text in the index

Select the text in the Main entry or Secondary entry field, right click and select Character to open a new dialog box where you can customize the style, size, font color and text effects; from the same window you can access advanced options such as aspect ratio, spacing and character position.

As far as font formatting is concerned, there are additional options that can be applied to any Word document

Create an Index in Word Step 8
Create an Index in Word Step 8

Step 8. Click on the Mark button

In this way, the highlighted term will be registered and added to the index with the corresponding page number.

Create an Index in Word Step 9
Create an Index in Word Step 9

Step 9. Click on the Mark All button

In this way, the search for the selected item will be carried out throughout the document and all cases in which it is mentioned will be reported.

Create an Index in Word Step 10
Create an Index in Word Step 10

Step 10. Select another term or phrase to mark

Highlight another term in the document and click the Mark Index Entry dialog box to display it in the Main Entry field; Again, you can customize all sub-entries, cross-references, page number, and formatting options for the new index entry in the Mark Index Entry dialog box.

Part 2 of 2: Enter the Index Page

Create an Index in Word Step 11
Create an Index in Word Step 11

Step 1. Scroll down and click at the bottom of the last page of the document

Create an Index in Word Step 12
Create an Index in Word Step 12

Step 2. Click on the Insert tab

It is located on the MS Word toolbar at the top of the screen.

Create an Index in Word Step 13
Create an Index in Word Step 13

Step 3. Select the Page Break option in the Insert toolbar

The button looks like the lower half of a page placed on the upper half of another and is used to conclude the previous page and start a new one.

Create an Index in Word Step 14
Create an Index in Word Step 14

Step 4. Click on the References tab

It is located on the MS Word toolbar at the top of the screen.

Create an Index in Word Step 15
Create an Index in Word Step 15

Step 5. Click Insert Index

The key is located next to Mark entry on the toolbar of the References tab and it will open a dialog box titled Index.

Create an Index in Word Step 16
Create an Index in Word Step 16

Step 6. Select the type of index

You will be able to choose between Returned And Normal. The indented style makes navigation easier for readers, while the regular style takes up less space on the page.

You will be able to preview all the various types and formats in the preview box as you customize the index

Create an Index in Word Step 17
Create an Index in Word Step 17

Step 7. Select a format for the index from Formats

You can customize the index by selecting a format chosen from those available.

  • You can also create your own format by selecting As a model and clicking on the button Edit. This way you can customize fonts, spacing and style for all main and secondary items to create your own template.
  • You can preview the various models from the preview box to decide which one to use.
Create an Index in Word Step 18
Create an Index in Word Step 18

Step 8. Change the number of columns

You can increase the number of columns from the Columns box to take up less space or you can set it to Auto.

Create an Index in Word Step 19
Create an Index in Word Step 19

Step 9. Click OK

This will add an index page with all the entries you marked and their page numbers. You can use the index to find pages where important terms and concepts appear throughout the document.

Warnings

When you mark the entries for the index it will automatically activate the option Show all formatting marks which you can deactivate by clicking on the paragraph icon on the Home tab.

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