Page numbering is the process of applying a sequence of numbers (or letters, or Roman numerals) to the pages of a book or other document. The number itself, which may appear in various places on the page, can be referred to as a page number or as a folio. Like other numbering schemes such as chapter numbering, page numbers allow the citation of a particular page of the numbered document and facilitates to the reader to find specific parts of the document and to know the size of the complete text (by checking the number of the last page).
Numbering conventions
Even numbers usually appear on verso (left-hand) pages, while odd numbers appear on recto (right-hand) pages. In the printing industry, in cases where odd numbers appear on verso pages and even numbers on recto pages, this is referred to as non-traditional folios (in the past, it had been referred to as Chinese folios, however this term has fallen out of favor in recent years).[citation needed]
In books, some pages, known as blind folios, of the front matter and back matter are numbered but the numbers are not printed. Publishers are not consistent about how they number the pages of their books. Some publishers stick with the default numbering of the tool they are using, which is typically to number the first page of the front matter as 1 and all pages after that in a consecutive order. When publishers wish to distinguish between the front matter and the body, the initial title pages are blind folios, the front matter is numbered using lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii...) and the first page of the body or main content begins with 1. The title page of the body, if present, is a blind folio; similarly, any section title pages (e.g., when the body is broken into multiple parts), are blind folios. The first page of chapter one would then be numbered as page 3.
The sixteenth edition of the Chicago Manual of Style calls for the beginning of the text to begin with the Arabic number 1, while the front matter that precedes it is to be numbered with lower-case Roman numerals. If the front matter is extensive and a second half-title page is included, it is to be numbered as page 1 and its verso as page 2. If a part title is included, it is to be included in the same numbering as the text. Page numbers do not appear on part titles.
Most citation systems call for the identification of the page number from which a quote or point is drawn. For example, such usage is specified in their citation formats of both the Chicago Manual of Style, and The Bluebook.
Some printed versions of the Christian Bible, such as the New Revised Standard Version and the Jerusalem Bible, recommence page numbering with page 1 at the start of the New Testament section, which follows directly after the Old Testament.
Numbering by chapter
Guidelines for technical manuals, especially loose bound manuals expected to be updated, often recommend numbering pages by chapter. When numbering by chapter, page "3-2" is the second page of chapter 3, page "A-3" is the third page of Appendix A.
Larger newspapers have page "numbers" that begin with a letter -- page "B3" is the third page of the second section.
Unique numbering schemes
In the book Humble Pi by mathematics communicator and YouTuber Matt Parker, the book uses a page numbering scheme where the pages count backwards from 314 to 0, referencing the approximation of 3.14 for the mathematical constant pi (π).
Electronic documents
E-books and other electronic documents published in a non-reflowable format such as PDF are normally paginated and numbered in the same way as their printed counterparts.
While reading devices for reflowable documents such as EPUB e-books may display page numbers, these numbers change from device to device depending on factors such as the size of the display and the selected font size. This makes them unsuitable for citation purposes. To remedy this problem, Amazon Kindle e-books contain what are called "location numbers", that is, numbers in the margin of the electronic text that indicate where the corresponding page begins in the printed version of the book.
Manuscripts
In codicology, each physical sheet (folium, abbreviated fol. or f.) of a manuscript is numbered and the sides are referred to as folium rectum and folium versum, abbreviated as r and v respectively. This results in designations like 5r (the front side of the fifth sheet) and 8v (the back side of the eighth sheet).
See also
- Book design
- Blank page
- Column number
References
- The Chicago Manual of Style, Sixteenth Edition (2003), pp. 32–33.
- The Chicago Manual of Style, Sixteenth Edition (2003), pp. 596, 598.
- The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, Seventeenth Edition (2000), pp. 34–36.
- "TeX FAQ: Page numbering by chapter".
- American Water Works Association. "Author Guidelines"
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "Preparation of Water Control Manuals".
- Jan von Delft. "Teaching with Electronic Chalk". quote: "number pages by chapter".
- "Instructional System Design Methodology". quote: 'Number pages by chapter, such as "1-1, 1-2, 1-3", etc.'
- "I am citing a newspaper article. What should I put for page number?".
- Bultheel, Adhemar (2019-08-22). "Humble Pi". European Mathematical Society. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
- Pogue, David (2011-02-08). "Page Numbers for Kindle Books an Imperfect Solution". The New York Times, "Pogue's Post" blog. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
External links
- When did books get page numbers? at Slate.com
Page numbering is the process of applying a sequence of numbers or letters or Roman numerals to the pages of a book or other document The number itself which may appear in various places on the page can be referred to as a page number or as a folio Like other numbering schemes such as chapter numbering page numbers allow the citation of a particular page of the numbered document and facilitates to the reader to find specific parts of the document and to know the size of the complete text by checking the number of the last page Page number in a bookNumbering conventionsEven numbers usually appear on verso left hand pages while odd numbers appear on recto right hand pages In the printing industry in cases where odd numbers appear on verso pages and even numbers on recto pages this is referred to as non traditional folios in the past it had been referred to as Chinese folios however this term has fallen out of favor in recent years citation needed In books some pages known as blind folios of the front matter and back matter are numbered but the numbers are not printed Publishers are not consistent about how they number the pages of their books Some publishers stick with the default numbering of the tool they are using which is typically to number the first page of the front matter as 1 and all pages after that in a consecutive order When publishers wish to distinguish between the front matter and the body the initial title pages are blind folios the front matter is numbered using lower case Roman numerals i ii iii and the first page of the body or main content begins with 1 The title page of the body if present is a blind folio similarly any section title pages e g when the body is broken into multiple parts are blind folios The first page of chapter one would then be numbered as page 3 The sixteenth edition of the Chicago Manual of Style calls for the beginning of the text to begin with the Arabic number 1 while the front matter that precedes it is to be numbered with lower case Roman numerals If the front matter is extensive and a second half title page is included it is to be numbered as page 1 and its verso as page 2 If a part title is included it is to be included in the same numbering as the text Page numbers do not appear on part titles Most citation systems call for the identification of the page number from which a quote or point is drawn For example such usage is specified in their citation formats of both the Chicago Manual of Style and The Bluebook Some printed versions of the Christian Bible such as the New Revised Standard Version and the Jerusalem Bible recommence page numbering with page 1 at the start of the New Testament section which follows directly after the Old Testament Numbering by chapterGuidelines for technical manuals especially loose bound manuals expected to be updated often recommend numbering pages by chapter When numbering by chapter page 3 2 is the second page of chapter 3 page A 3 is the third page of Appendix A Larger newspapers have page numbers that begin with a letter page B3 is the third page of the second section Unique numbering schemesIn the book Humble Pi by mathematics communicator and YouTuber Matt Parker the book uses a page numbering scheme where the pages count backwards from 314 to 0 referencing the approximation of 3 14 for the mathematical constant pi p Electronic documentsE books and other electronic documents published in a non reflowable format such as PDF are normally paginated and numbered in the same way as their printed counterparts While reading devices for reflowable documents such as EPUB e books may display page numbers these numbers change from device to device depending on factors such as the size of the display and the selected font size This makes them unsuitable for citation purposes To remedy this problem Amazon Kindle e books contain what are called location numbers that is numbers in the margin of the electronic text that indicate where the corresponding page begins in the printed version of the book ManuscriptsIn codicology each physical sheet folium abbreviated fol or f of a manuscript is numbered and the sides are referred to as folium rectum and folium versum abbreviated as r and v respectively This results in designations like 5r the front side of the fifth sheet and 8v the back side of the eighth sheet See alsoLook up page numbering in Wiktionary the free dictionary Book design Blank page Column numberReferencesThe Chicago Manual of Style Sixteenth Edition 2003 pp 32 33 The Chicago Manual of Style Sixteenth Edition 2003 pp 596 598 The Bluebook A Uniform System of Citation Seventeenth Edition 2000 pp 34 36 TeX FAQ Page numbering by chapter American Water Works Association Author Guidelines U S Army Corps of Engineers Preparation of Water Control Manuals Jan von Delft Teaching with Electronic Chalk quote number pages by chapter Instructional System Design Methodology quote Number pages by chapter such as 1 1 1 2 1 3 etc I am citing a newspaper article What should I put for page number Bultheel Adhemar 2019 08 22 Humble Pi European Mathematical Society Retrieved 2022 03 01 Pogue David 2011 02 08 Page Numbers for Kindle Books an Imperfect Solution The New York Times Pogue s Post blog Retrieved 2011 07 09 External linksWhen did books get page numbers at Slate com
