Definition
Front matter is the material before the main text begins: title page, copyright page, dedication, epigraph, and table of contents. It establishes legal and bibliographic information.
Example
A novel's front matter includes the title page, copyright notice, and optional epigraph before Chapter One.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Omitting copyright page elements required by the printer or distributor.
- Numbering front matter pages like body chapters, confusing ebook navigation.