What Is Front Matter?

Front matter refers to the pages that appear before the main content of a book.

While readers are often eager to jump straight into Chapter One, front matter plays an important role in presenting a professional book and providing important information about the publication.

Not every book contains the same front matter elements, but understanding what they are and when to use them can help you create a more polished reading experience.

Why Front Matter Matters

Front matter serves several purposes.

It can:

• Introduce the book
• Provide copyright information
• Help readers navigate the content
• Set expectations before the story begins

For self-published authors, well-organized front matter is one of the easiest ways to make a book feel more professional.

Common Front Matter Elements

Title Page

The title page is usually the first page readers see.

It typically contains:

• Book title
• Subtitle, if applicable
• Author name

Some authors also include a publisher imprint.

Copyright Page

The copyright page contains legal and publishing information.

Common elements include:

• Copyright notice
• Author name
• ISBN
• Edition information
• Rights statement

Most books include a copyright page immediately after the title page.

Dedication

A dedication allows the author to recognize a person or group.

These are typically short and appear on their own page.

Epigraph

An epigraph is a quotation placed before the main text.

While entirely optional, some authors use epigraphs to establish tone or themes.

Table of Contents

Nonfiction books almost always benefit from a table of contents.

Many ebooks also include one for navigation purposes.

Foreword

A foreword is usually written by someone other than the author and introduces the book.

These are more common in nonfiction than fiction.

Preface

A preface is written by the author and provides background information about the book.

Introduction

An introduction prepares readers for the content that follows.

Unlike a preface, it is often considered part of the main content itself.

What Front Matter Do You Actually Need?

Most fiction books include:

• Title page
• Copyright page
• Dedication, optional

Many novels don't require anything more.

Nonfiction books often include:

• Title page
• Copyright page
• Table of contents
• Preface or introduction

The right choice depends on the type of book you're publishing.

Front Matter for Ebooks

Because ebooks use navigation systems rather than traditional page numbers, front matter often appears slightly differently.

Most ebook formatting software can automatically create navigation links and tables of contents using your chapter structure.

Front Matter for Print Books

Print books typically follow a more traditional sequence.

The exact order varies, but the most important thing is consistency and clarity.

Final Thoughts

Front matter may only occupy a few pages, but it plays an important role in creating a professional book.

Most authors only need a title page and copyright page to get started, with optional additions such as dedications, epigraphs and introductions depending on the needs of the book.

If you're preparing a manuscript for publication, front matter should be considered before you begin formatting.

For more guidance, see our articles on preparing a Word manuscript for formatting and formatting a book for Kindle.