Introduction VS preface: Is there really a difference?

Introduction or preface: Is there a difference?

If you’re writing a nonfiction book, or thinking about writing one, you might be wondering how to start that book. Do you start with an introduction or a preface? Do you need both? What about a foreword? And what’s the difference between all of these anyway? The answer to that is surprisingly simple. Here, we’ll explain the difference between the introduction and preface (and foreword), and what should be included in each…

What’s the difference between the introduction and the preface?

Technically speaking, the easiest way to understand the difference between the introduction and the preface is: the preface introduces the book itself, while the introduction introduces the content of the book. The preface is, therefore, outside the book’s contents, while the introduction forms part of the book’s contents.

The preface should tell the reader:

• The book’s purpose
• Why you wrote the book—such as a personal experience or concern
• How you came to write the book—your credentials and the book’s genesis
• The scope and limitations of the book (optional)
• Commentary on other literature on the subject (optional)
• Acknowledgements or thanks

The introduction should tell the reader:

• What the book is about—the main subject matter, idea, or argument
• The aims of the book—such as the point of view you’d like the reader to adopt
• Who the book is suitable for, and what the reader needs to get started (such as prior knowledge or resources)
• A breakdown of what each chapter or section covers (optional)
• How to read the book i.e. cover to cover or any chapter that interests the reader (optional)

This begs the question…

Do I need both an introduction and a preface?

The simple answer is no. While it’s possible to differentiate between a preface and an introduction as just shown, it’s not strictly necessary. What is necessary is an introduction. What is not necessary is a separate preface. In other words, you can blend the content from the preface and introduction lists above into a single introduction if you’d prefer.

Occasionally, it works better to split the introduction and preface, for example, if the author is presenting a standalone story from their life, a separate preface can sometimes divide the content nicely, in which case the preface focuses on the author while the introduction focuses on the reader. Whether you decide on just an introduction or include a preface too, the important thing is to ensure that you explain the book’s purpose, introduce the main idea, and explain who you are.

What’s a foreword?

A foreword is written by another person, i.e. not the author, in order to give credibility to the book. The foreword writer should be an expert on the topic or somebody who will convey trustworthiness. It should add weight and credibility due to the person’s knowledge of the subject. However, you don’t need a foreword and you shouldn’t include one just for the sake of it—only if the foreword writer will really add value to the book.

What’s the purpose of all of this?

For nonfiction, the introduction, preface, and foreword (among other things) make up what’s known as the “front matter” of your book. The purpose of the front matter is essentially to welcome your reader to the book. It should explain what the book is about, why the book is relevant to the reader, and who you are (among other things). This goes for self-help, philosophy, business development books, and other nonfiction genres.

Perhaps obviously, this helps your reader understand what the book is about without them diving straight into the content, providing a guide map for what’s ahead and helping them put the book into context. Without this front-matter information, the reader is stumbling blindly into the world of the book.

But more than that, it’s also a sales tool. When a potential reader picks up a book from the shelves of Waterstones or clicks “look inside” on Amazon, they’ll often read the introduction to decide whether they should purchase the book or not. As such, it should compel the reader to buy the book if they haven’t already. 

While your blurb (back cover information) will provide some information, the front matter is another opportunity to sell the book. Think of it this way—if you can’t clearly and succinctly explain what the book is about in the front matter, then why would the reader buy it?

How long should the front matter be?

A final question is how long all of this should be. The length of the introduction and preface depends on the individual book. Some editors suggest that it should be half the length of one of your chapters or less than 10% of your total book length, but the obvious question then becomes how long should a chapter or book be?

Although it’s a less clear-cut answer, it should be short but informative. It shouldn’t be too long as your reader will want to get into the content. But it needs to be long enough to introduce the content and compel the reader to keep reading. So, focus more on quality rather than quantity.

In summary, there is a subtle difference between an introduction and a preface, but the key thing with nonfiction books is to include at least an introduction. Whether you need a separate preface or want to ask someone influential to write a foreword is up to you. Remember that your introduction should make the reader want to buy and read the book. 

If you need help writing your book’s introduction, we can help you craft something compelling. Contact us here…