<P> Front matter (or preliminaries; shortened to "prelims") comprises the first section of a book, and is usually the smallest section in terms of the number of pages . Front - matter pages are traditionally numbered in lower - case Roman numerals (i, ij, iij, iv, v, etc .), which prevents renumbering the remainder of a book when front - matter content is added at the last moment, such as a dedication page or additional acknowledgments . Page number is omitted on blank pages and display pages (i.e., such stand - alone pages as those for the half title, frontispiece, title page, colophon, dedication, and epigraph), and it is either omitted or a drop folio is used on the opening page of each section of the front matter (e.g., table of contents, foreword, preface). Front matter generally appears only in the first of a multi-volume work, although some elements (such as a table of contents or index) may appear in each volume . </P> <P> The following table defines some common types of front matter, and the "voice" (or point of view) in which each can be said to be given: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Voice </Th> <Th> Purpose </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Half title </Td> <Td> Publisher </Td> <Td> Usually a single line in capital letters, precedes the title page, and only contains the title (as opposed to the author, publisher etc. found on the full title page) with a blank verso . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Frontispiece </Td> <Td> Author or publisher </Td> <Td> A decorative illustration on the verso facing the title page . It may be related to the book's subject, or be a portrait of the author . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Title page </Td> <Td> Publisher </Td> <Td> Repeats the title and author as printed on the cover or spine . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Colophon </Td> <Td> Printer </Td> <Td> Technical information such as edition dates, copyrights, typefaces and the name and address of the printer . In modern books usually on the verso of the title page, but in some books placed at the end (see Back matter). Also known as the Edition notice or Copyright page . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dedication </Td> <Td> Author </Td> <Td> A dedication page is a page in a book that precedes the text, in which the author names the person or people for whom he / she has written the book . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Epigraph </Td> <Td> Author </Td> <Td> A phrase, quotation, or poem . The epigraph may serve as a preface, as a summary, as a counter-example, or to link the work to a wider literary canon, either to invite comparison, or to enlist a conventional context . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Table of contents </Td> <Td> Publisher </Td> <Td> This is a list of chapter headings, and nested subheadings, together with their respective page numbers . This includes all front - matter items listed below, together with chapters in the body matter and back matter . The number of levels of subheadings shown should be limited, so as to keep the contents list short, ideally one page, or possibly a double - page spread . Technical books may include a list of figures and a list of tables . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Foreword </Td> <Td> Some person other than the author </Td> <Td> Often, a foreword will tell of some interaction between the writer of the foreword and the story or the writer of the story . A foreword to later editions of a work often explains in what respects that edition differs from previous ones . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Preface </Td> <Td> Author </Td> <Td> A preface generally covers the story of how the book came into being, or how the idea for the book was developed . This is often followed by thanks and acknowledgments to people who were helpful to the author during the time of writing . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Acknowledgments </Td> <Td> Author </Td> <Td> Often part of the preface, rather than a separate section in its own right, it acknowledges those who contributed to the creation of the book . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Introduction </Td> <Td> Author </Td> <Td> A beginning section which states the purpose and goals of the following writing . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Prologue </Td> <Td> Narrator (or a character in the book) </Td> <Td> A prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information . As such, it is generally considered part of the body in modern book organization (cf . Chicago Manual of Style). </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Voice </Th> <Th> Purpose </Th> </Tr>

List of chapters in a book is called