Publishing glossary
Book formatting guide
Book front matter elements, in the order they appear.
Front matter follows a fixed sequence readers recognize. Deviating from it makes the book feel self-made.
Checked:
✓Half title first, then title page✓Copyright page on the title verso✓Contents after dedication
Create a clean KDP manuscript template
Download a real DOCX with book-sized pages, mirrored margins, title and copyright pages, and a reusable Heading 1 chapter style.
A template is a clean starting point, not a guarantee. Recheck margins, page count, fonts, images, and the exported PDF after the manuscript is final.
The standard sequence
Half title, title page, copyright page, dedication, epigraph, table of contents. Not every element is required, but the order never changes.
- Skip elements, never reorder them
- Contents links work in reflowable ebooks
- Copyright page holds ISBN and year
Building the sequence once
The 6x9 template ships with the front matter pre-built, so the sequence is correct before you write the first chapter.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is front matter the same in ebook and print?
Mostly. Ebooks often skip the half title and move the contents to the menu instead.
Which front matter element is required?
None strictly, but the title page and copyright page are expected by reviewers and readers.
Start with front matter already correct.
The 6x9 template includes the full front matter sequence, ready to fill in.