Front Matter Matters: Crafting Your Book’s Title Page, Dedication and Copyright Section
Beyond cover design and typesetting, lies the front matter of a book, which refers to the pages before chapter one. The front matter, and all its elements, set the tone for the entire reading experience.
Provided the front matter is thoughtfully composed, it has the ability to signal credibility, care, and dedication to detail, whether you are self-publishing fiction, non-fiction, or academic work.
Front matter is often overlooked by first-time self-publishing authors. Many tend to treat it as an afterthought, leading to missing or mis-ordered elements, inconsistent typography, or unclear copyright information. Understanding what the front-matter pages should contain, and how to format them, ensures your book begins on the right note and complements the back matter of the book, like footnotes and endnotes or glossary and index pages.
Order of Front Matter Pages
If we can say that your book’s cover design is the friendly eye contact and a smile, then the front matter is the handshake! The front matter is a place where optional and mandatory components come together, guided by genre and format, and heeding always to a conventional order.
A typical sequence includes:
Half title: Displays the book’s title and protects the main title page.
Frontispiece: An (optional) illustration or photograph opposite the half title.
Title page: Shows the book’s title, subtitle, author name, and publisher.
Copyright page: Provides legal protections, ISBN, cataloguing information, and edition notes.
Dedication: A personal note to someone special.
Epigraph: Optional quotation or phrase that frames the book’s themes.
Table of contents: Lists chapters and major sections with page numbers.
List of illustrations, tables, or figures: Required for academic or heavily illustrated works.
Foreword: Written by someone other than the author.
Preface: Author’s explanation of purpose or context.
Acknowledgments: Recognizes contributors or supporters professionally.
Some elements, such as the frontispiece or epigraph, are purely optional, whereas the copyright page, which contains your book’s unique ISBN, is a required component. A table of contents is essential for longer works or non-fiction, while shorter fiction may skip acknowledgments entirely. The key when building front matter is consistency and clarity, so readers understand the structure from the start.
Half Title vs Title Page
The half title and title page serve distinct purposes. The half title appears first, containing only the book title in a clean layout. It is usually the first printed page and protects the main title page from damage in printed editions.
The title page is the reader’s first detailed introduction. It typically includes the full title, subtitle (if any), author’s name, and publisher or imprint. Proper typography is crucial here. The title should be prominent without competing with the cover’s design, while the author name and subtitle should be readable but secondary. Balanced white space enhances visual appeal.
For example, many traditionally published books center the title and author name vertically on the page. Subtle styling, such as small caps or italics for subtitles, can add professionalism without overwhelming the reader. Consistency with your interior fonts and styles ensures harmony across the book’s design, complementing both print and digital formats.
Copyright Page & ISBN
The copyright page protects your work and provides necessary bibliographic information. A standard copyright notice includes:
© Year Author Name: Marks the year of publication and legal ownership.
All rights reserved: Clarifies the scope of permitted reproduction.
ISBN: International Standard Book Number for tracking and distribution. In Canada, authors can obtain free ISBNs through Library and Archives Canada.
Cataloguing information: Optional but recommended for libraries. Canadian authors can include LAC catalogue data.
Printer and edition information: States print location, edition number, and revision date.
Here is a very simple example:
© 2025 Michael Pietrobon
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission.
ISBN 978-0-12345-678-9
Printed in Toronto, Canada
First Edition
For Canadian authors, including the LAC catalogue number ensures your book is searchable and accessible in national collections. U.S. authors may also include a Library of Congress Control Number if obtained. Placement is typically the verso of the title page or the page following it.
Book a free consultation with one of our self-publishing experts to ensure your copyright page meets Canadian and international standards.
Dedication and Acknowledgments
Dedications are personal, often a single line or short paragraph expressing gratitude or homage to someone meaningful. For example:
To my parents, who taught me to read before I could walk.
Acknowledgments are professional and can extend to multiple paragraphs. They usually recognize editors, mentors, contributors, or anyone who supported your project. Maintain a respectful and professional tone here, and names should be organized clearly to avoid confusion.
If your book has no half title, the dedication usually comes immediately after the title page, followed by acknowledgments and other front matter. Formatting should match the overall style: centered or flush-left text, often in italics or small caps, with spacing that separates it from other sections.
An important consideration to make when arranging these elements, is of course, the book’s cover design. See our blog post about harmonizing your book’s interior design with its cover for details on this thoughtful process.
Frequently asked questions
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The half title contains only the book title and protects the main title page. The title page includes the full title, subtitle, author name, and publisher.
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Dedications are personal and short, acknowledgments are professional and longer. You can include one, both, or neither, depending on your book and genre.
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Include the © year, author name, all rights reserved, ISBN, printer info, and optional LAC cataloguing data. Use consistent margins and Roman numerals for page numbering.
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Typically, front matter uses Roman numerals (i, ii, iii), starting with the half title as page i. The main text begins with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
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Yes, but keep it complementary to your body text. Small caps or italics are common for dedications and epigraphs.
Formatting and Typography Tips
Front-matter typography should complement your body text while remaining distinct. Choose consistent fonts and sizes for headings and body and when in doubt, consult a reputable guide for definitive advice. Common formatting and typography practices include:
Margins and alignment: Maintain the same trim and margins used for the body text. Center titles and dedications, while body elements like copyright notice are often left-aligned.
Leading and spacing: Adjust line spacing for readability. Front-matter pages often benefit from slightly looser spacing to give a sense of openness.
Page numbering: Typically uses Roman numerals (i, ii, iii) for front matter, reserving Arabic numerals for the main text.
Font treatments: Dedications and epigraphs often use italics, small caps, or slightly smaller font sizes than the body.
Professional typesetting ensures these pages feel intentional and balanced. This is especially important for print-on-demand books, where inconsistencies in spacing or alignment can be distracting. Formatting & Typesetting services help Canadian authors achieve polished, readable layouts.
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Many self-published books struggle with front matter. Typical errors include:
Missing copyright year or author name;
Disordered pages, confusing the reader;
Inconsistent fonts between front matter and body; and
Inserting blurbs, reviews, or promotional material on the title page.
Avoid these pitfalls by creating a checklist for front-matter elements. Proofread carefully after each manuscript revision. Cross-check page numbers and verify that elements like ISBN and cataloguing data are correct and up-to-date. Professional editing and typesetting can catch these details before printing, saving time and reprint costs.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Thoughtful front matter signals professionalism and improves the reader’s experience. Review traditionally published books in your genre to see how they handle half titles, dedications, and copyright pages. Planning your front matter early in the publishing process allows it to align with your cover design, interior formatting, and back matter. Our self-publishing experts provide editing, cover design, typesetting, and ISBN services to help Canadian authors produce books that look professional from cover to cover.
Book a free consultation today to ensure your front matter is polished, accurate, and ready for print or digital release.
