Cross-reference is a method used in books, electronic documents, indexes, library catalogs, and filing systems to direct attention to additional information about a subject in another part of the book or index. Cross-references are widely used in encyclopedias, dictionaries, and textbooks. For instance, this article on Cross-reference mentions indexes. At the end of the article there is a cross-reference reading “See also Index.” The reader can find more information about indexes in that article. This type of cross-reference is sometimes called a related subject or a related article.
Cross-references may also appear within the text of an article or chapter. The World Book Encyclopedia article on the famous American author whose pen name was Mark Twain illustrates another kind of cross-reference. Because the author is best known as Mark Twain, his biography is given under Twain, Mark. But because his real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, there is an entry Clemens, Samuel Langhorne, which refers the reader to the article on Mark Twain in inverted form: Twain, Mark. This is a direct reference, and will be “See Twain, Mark. ” Some publications use the symbols cf. (from the Latin confer, meaning compare), or q.v. (from the Latin quod vide, meaning which see).
Cross-references may be added to documents that are published electronically by inserting hyperlinks. A hyperlink is a specially highlighted word on a web page which can be accessed with the click of a mouse. When clicked on, the link takes the user to another page with related information or media.
See also Index.
