front matter
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: The pages at the very beginning of a book that come before the main body of text. This section typically includes material like the title page, copyright page, dedication, table of contents, list of illustrations, foreword, and preface.
Usage
"Front matter" is a singular, uncountable noun used to refer to the collective introductory sections of a book, report, or other formal document. * Always check the front matter for the publication date and the author's affiliation. * The front matter of this technical manual includes a detailed glossary of terms. * Pagination for the front matter often uses Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc.).
Examples
- The editor is responsible for compiling the book's .
- Important disclaimers are usually located in the .
- I skipped the and went straight to the first chapter.
Advanced Usage
- In publishing and editing: The term is standard in publishing to distinguish the preliminary material from the main content ("body matter") and the end material ("back matter" or "end matter").
- The designer laid out the front matter, body, and back matter as three distinct parts.
Variants and Related Words
- Prelims (n.): An informal, abbreviated term for "preliminary matter," synonymous with "front matter," commonly used in publishing.
- Preface (n.): A section often included in the front matter where the author explains the purpose and scope of the work.
- Foreword (n.): A section in the front matter, typically written by someone other than the author, that introduces the book.
- Introduction (n.): A part of the front matter that presents the main subject and prepares the reader for the text that follows. (Note: An introduction can sometimes be considered the first part of the main text.)
Synonyms
- Preliminary matter
- Preliminaries
- Introductory material
Antonyms
- Back matter (n.): The sections following the main text of a book, such as appendices, notes, bibliographies, and indexes.
- Body matter (n.): The main textual content of a book.
Noun
- written matter preceding the main text of a book