Learn English – What should you call a preface for a small document

terminology

I think the word preface refers to books. I have a small document that is in the form of a hierarchical outline. Before my document, I want to put a small paragraph with instructions how to consume the material. What should I title that small paragraph?

Best Answer

I have used "Summary", "Abstract", and "Overview" to provide the reader with a guide to the document and how it is organized. Generally, the notion of how to follow, understand, or "consume" the material is implicit in the wording of this section.

"Overview" is common in my industry. It is a word that is more explicit than "Introduction", putting the reader into the mindset that this is a summary of what the entire document is about, rather than just the first step into material.

If you want to be explicit on how the document should be read, there is nothing wrong with saying so in the section having this title (overview, summary, abstract).

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