Repeated Headers

Sometimes in printed texts, repeated headers or headings are used at the top of a new page. Most of these are not necessary in the ebooks we create.

Page Headings

The simplest case is when there's a heading at the top of each page. The Proofreading Guidelines state that repeated page headers and footers should be removed in the proofreading rounds unless stated otherwise in the project instructions.

Other Headings

The Guidelines only apply to page headings. However, you may encounter repeated headings in other contexts as well:

• Table of Contents. Multi-page tables of contents often include repeated headings like "Page" and "Chapter".
• Advertisements at the back of books sometimes contain headings at the top of multi-page book lists.

The Guidelines do not directly address how to deal with these headers. If there are instructions in the Project Comments, follow them. Otherwise, opinions differ on whether proofreaders should remove them in the rounds, or leave them in place.

There are discussions in the forums here:

• Repeated headings in ads; repeated headers and footers in ads.
• Repeated table headings.
• Repeated headings in table of contents; another discussion; another discussion.

There is no consensus in these threads on whether a proofreaders should leave them in or remove them. However, it is important that, if you do remove any repeated headers, you should always:

• Make sure the headers are in fact identical, and
• Make sure you do not remove the first header

Often content providers or PMs will remove repeated headers while preparing the project; if repeated headers are missing in P1, check with the PM or post in the project discussion thread.