Quote:
Originally Posted by lin robinson  Again, the question was not, should one use glossaries stupidly, but if people (in the plural sense) read them.
And they do.
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Spectrum was asking for people's experience of glossaries too-most of the responses here were in regard to the original posts rather angst-ridden tone (which has now been abated, hopefully!).
Yes some people read glossaries/footnotes.
Can you MAKE someone read a glossary? NO.
So there it is. No point writing a book, finally get it into print, have people read it, only to allow the fact that some missed the glossary to keep you up at night, because
they missed the point.
If there is something you want the readers to know, tell them. If you want them to appreciate the cleverness of your plot twists and twirls, and swoon over pieces of intriguing info in the glossary, know where to draw the line between teasing and showing off.
And footnotes irritate me. If it was so important-insert the thing into the text -if not, why give me eye strain chasing words all over the shop??