The front matter of a book is every page that comes before your first chapter, arranged in a specific order: half title, title page, copyright page, dedication, epigraph, table of contents, foreword, preface, acknowledgments, and introduction.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- The complete, correct order of front matter (with a quick-reference table)
- What each element is and whether it’s required or optional
- How to number front matter pages with Roman numerals
- How front matter differs for fiction vs. nonfiction and print vs. ebook
Here’s everything that goes at the front of a book, in the order publishers actually use.
What Is the Front Matter of a Book?
The front matter of a book is the set of introductory pages that appear before the main text begins. It includes the title page, copyright page, table of contents, and any dedication, foreword, or preface.
Front matter does the quiet work of a book. It establishes legal ownership, credits the right people, sets the tone, and tells your reader what they’re holding before the story or argument starts.
Publishers follow a standard sequence drawn from The Chicago Manual of Style. You don’t need every element. But the ones you do include should appear in the expected order, because readers and reviewers notice when they don’t.
The Complete Front Matter Order (Quick Reference)
Here is the full front matter of a book in correct order, following Chicago Manual of Style conventions. Required elements are marked; everything else is optional.
| # | Element | Required? | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half title | Optional | Book title only, on the first page |
| 2 | Frontispiece / series title | Optional | Illustration or list of the author’s other books |
| 3 | Title page | Required | Full title, subtitle, author, publisher |
| 4 | Copyright page | Required | Legal notice, ISBN, edition info |
| 5 | Dedication | Optional | Short personal note to someone |
| 6 | Epigraph | Optional | A quotation that frames the book |
| 7 | Table of contents | Recommended | Map of chapters and sections |
| 8 | List of illustrations / tables | Optional | Only for image- or data-heavy books |
| 9 | Foreword | Optional | Endorsement written by someone else |
| 10 | Preface | Optional | The author’s backstory and scope |
| 11 | Acknowledgments | Optional | Thanks (can also go in back matter) |
| 12 | Introduction | Optional | The author’s roadmap to the content |
Only two elements are truly mandatory: the title page and the copyright page. Everything else depends on your genre, your goals, and how much front matter your book genuinely needs.
1. Half Title
The half title is the very first page of a book and displays only the book’s title, with no subtitle, author name, or other details. It’s a traditional flourish that signals you’re holding a professionally produced book.
In most modern self-published books, you can skip the half title to save pages. It’s most common in hardcover and literary print editions.
The half title is counted as page i, though the page number itself is never printed.
2. Title Page
The title page is a required front matter element that displays the book’s full title, subtitle, author or editor name, and publisher imprint. It typically falls on a right-hand (recto) page.
Keep your title page clean. The title and subtitle should match exactly what appears on your cover and your copyright page, including capitalization and punctuation. Mismatches here look careless to reviewers and librarians.
For a deeper look at how all the pieces fit, see our guide to nonfiction book structure.
3. Copyright Page
The copyright page is the second required element and always sits on the back (verso) of the title page. It carries your copyright notice, ISBN, edition details, disclaimers, and publisher information.
A standard copyright notice reads: “Copyright © 2026 [Your Name]. All rights reserved.” Below it you’ll typically list your ISBN, a “first edition” line, and a rights-reserved statement.
You can build a complete one from our book copyright page template, and learn the legal side in how to copyright a book.
4. Dedication
A dedication is a short, personal message in which the author dedicates the book to a specific person or group. It’s optional, usually a single line, and sits on its own right-hand page.
Keep it brief and sincere. “For my mother, who read to me every night” carries more weight than a paragraph of explanation.
Need inspiration? Browse real book dedication examples or learn the craft in how to write a book dedication.
5. Epigraph
An epigraph is a brief quotation, poem, or phrase placed at the start of a book to set its tone or hint at its themes. It’s optional and often appears on its own page after the dedication.
Epigraphs work beautifully in both fiction and nonfiction. A line of poetry, a proverb, or a quote from a thinker can frame your reader’s expectations before the first chapter.
If you’re deciding whether to use one, read our full explainer on what an epigraph is. Always attribute the source, and check permissions if the quote is still under copyright.
6. Table of Contents
A table of contents lists the book’s chapters, parts, and major sections with their starting page numbers, giving readers a map of the book. It’s strongly recommended for nonfiction and optional for most fiction.
Nonfiction readers rely on the table of contents to navigate and to decide whether to buy. Novels rarely need one unless they have named chapters or multiple parts.
Our guide on how to create a table of contents for a book covers print and ebook versions, including the linked navigation that ebook stores require.
7. List of Illustrations or Tables
A list of illustrations or tables itemizes every figure, photo, map, or data table in the book with page references. Include it only if your book is image- or data-heavy, such as a cookbook, textbook, or photography collection.
For a novel or a standard nonfiction book with few visuals, skip this entirely. It adds pages without adding value.
8. Foreword
A foreword is a short introductory piece written by someone other than the author, usually an expert or well-known figure who endorses the book. It’s optional but valuable for building credibility, especially in nonfiction.
A foreword from a respected name lends instant authority. It’s signed by its author and dated, and it should never be confused with a preface.
Learn how to commission or write one in how to write a foreword for a book.
9. Preface
A preface is written by the author and explains why the book exists, how it came to be, and what readers can expect. It’s optional and appears after the foreword.
Think of the preface as your backstory. It’s where you share your motivation, your research process, or your scope, without getting into the actual content yet.
Our guide on how to write a book preface walks through the structure and gives you a template.
10. Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments are where the author thanks the people who helped create the book, from editors and agents to family and beta readers. They’re optional and can appear in either the front matter or the back matter.
Many novelists move acknowledgments to the back so they don’t interrupt the reading experience. Nonfiction authors often keep them up front, near the preface. Both placements are standard.
See how to write a book acknowledgments page for examples and wording.
11. Introduction
An introduction is the author’s roadmap to the book, establishing the topic, the audience, and what the reader will gain. It’s the last element of the front matter and bridges into the main text.
Here’s the key distinction many writers miss: an introduction is part of the book’s content, while a preface is about the book itself. Because of this, some publishers number the introduction with Arabic numerals (page 1) and place it with the main text rather than the front matter.
Our guide to writing a book introduction shows you how to hook readers from the first line.
Foreword vs. Preface vs. Introduction
These three elements are the most commonly confused part of front matter. Here’s the simplest way to keep them straight.
| Element | Written By | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Foreword | Someone else | A recommendation or endorsement |
| Preface | The author | The backstory of how the book came to be |
| Introduction | The author | A roadmap to the book’s actual content |
A foreword is a recommendation, a preface is the backstory, and an introduction is the road ahead. If you remember only that, you’ll place all three correctly.
How to Number Front Matter Pages
Front matter pages are numbered with lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv), starting at the half title as page i. The main text then restarts at page 1 with Arabic numerals.
This is a hard publishing convention, and getting it right is a signal of a professionally formatted book.
A few specifics worth knowing:
- The half title is page i, but the number is never printed.
- The title page and copyright page are pages iii and iv, also with numbers hidden.
- Display of numbers usually begins at the first text-heavy page, like the table of contents or preface.
- Blank pages still count in the sequence even though nothing is printed on them.
- The introduction may switch to Arabic numeral page 1 if your publisher treats it as main text.
When the main text begins, the page counter resets to 1. This two-system approach is exactly how traditional publishers handle it.
Front Matter for Fiction vs. Nonfiction
Front matter differs by genre. Fiction usually keeps it minimal, while nonfiction often includes more navigational and credibility elements.
For fiction, a lean front matter is the norm: title page, copyright page, and optionally a dedication or epigraph. Most novels skip the foreword, preface, and table of contents entirely, and move acknowledgments to the back so they don’t delay the story.
For nonfiction, fuller front matter is standard: title page, copyright page, table of contents (essential), and often a foreword, preface, and introduction. These elements build authority and help readers navigate, which directly affects buying decisions.
If you’re shaping a nonfiction manuscript, our nonfiction book structure guide pairs naturally with this one.
Front Matter for Print vs. Ebook
Front matter changes between print and ebook formats, mostly around page numbering and the table of contents. Print uses fixed Roman numerals; ebooks use linked, reflowable navigation instead.
In print, every front matter page occupies a physical, numbered position, and recto/verso placement matters (the title page must be on a right-hand page).
In ebooks, pages reflow to fit any screen, so fixed page numbers disappear. Your table of contents must be a clickable, linked navigation file, and many authors move the table of contents and detailed front matter so the Kindle “Look Inside” preview opens on compelling content rather than legal text.
Our ebook formatting guide covers the linked navigation and HTML requirements that ebook stores enforce.
Building Your Front Matter Without the Headache
Our Pick — Chapter
Chapter handles the structural heavy lifting of front matter for you, generating a correctly ordered, properly numbered manuscript so you don’t have to wrestle with Roman numerals, recto/verso placement, or ebook navigation by hand.
Best for: Authors who want a publish-ready manuscript without learning a layout program Pricing: $97 one time, 2 books included (fiction or nonfiction), 30-day money-back guarantee Why we built it: Front matter is exactly the kind of formatting detail that derails first-time authors, so we automated it.
More than 2,147 authors have used Chapter to write and structure books, with 5,000+ books created on the platform. It’s been featured in USA Today and the New York Times. If front matter formatting is the thing standing between your draft and a finished book, this is the gap Chapter was built to close.
That said, a manual approach works fine too if you’re comfortable with formatting software. Tools like Atticus and other book formatting software give you hands-on control over every front matter page.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Putting the copyright page on a right-hand page — it must always sit on the verso (back) of the title page.
- Confusing a foreword with a preface — a foreword is written by someone else, a preface by you.
- Numbering front matter with Arabic numerals — front matter uses lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii).
- Forgetting linked navigation in ebooks — a static table of contents won’t function or pass store review.
- Overloading fiction with front matter — novels rarely need a foreword, preface, or table of contents.
What Comes After the Front Matter?
After the front matter and main text comes the back matter: the appendix, glossary, notes, bibliography, index, about-the-author page, and any calls to action. Front matter introduces the book; back matter wraps it up.
The two work as bookends. If you’ve planned your front matter, plan your closing pages too. Our companion guide to the back matter of a book covers the full closing sequence in the same level of detail.
How Long Should Front Matter Be?
Front matter should be as short as your book needs. For most fiction, that’s two to four pages (title, copyright, and an optional dedication). For nonfiction, it’s commonly six to twelve pages once you add a table of contents, foreword, preface, and introduction.
There’s no minimum word count and no prize for length. Every page you add delays the reader from reaching your actual content, so include only what earns its place.
FAQ
What is the correct order of front matter in a book?
The correct order of front matter is: half title, title page, copyright page, dedication, epigraph, table of contents, foreword, preface, acknowledgments, and introduction. This sequence follows The Chicago Manual of Style. Only the title page and copyright page are required; the rest are optional based on your book.
What front matter is required in a book?
Only two front matter elements are required: the title page and the copyright page. The title page carries your title, author, and publisher; the copyright page carries your legal notice and ISBN. Every other element, including the dedication, foreword, and table of contents, is optional.
Is the introduction part of the front matter?
The introduction sits at the end of the front matter, but it’s often treated as part of the main text because it discusses the book’s actual content. Many publishers number the introduction with Arabic numerals (page 1) rather than the Roman numerals used for the rest of the front matter.
What’s the difference between a foreword and a preface?
A foreword is written by someone other than the author, usually an expert who endorses the book, while a preface is written by the author to explain why the book exists. A foreword builds credibility; a preface gives backstory. Both are optional front matter elements.
How are front matter pages numbered?
Front matter pages use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv), starting with the half title as page i. The page numbers on the half title, title page, and copyright page are counted but never printed. When the main text begins, numbering restarts at page 1 with Arabic numerals.
