8 Pressbooks: Adding and Linking Glossary Terms

Choosing the Appropriate Method

Use Method 1 when:

• You only need to add one or a few terms.
• The term does not already exist in the glossary.

Use Method 2 when:

• You already have a prepared list of glossary terms and definitions.
• You need to add many terms.
• The same glossary terms will be used in multiple chapters.
• You want to prepare and review all definitions before linking them.

Link an existing term when:

• The term has already been created in the Pressbook’s glossary.
• You want to reuse the same approved definition.
• You want to avoid creating duplicate entries.

Method 1: Create a New Glossary Term from a Chapter

Use this method when the term does not already exist, and you want to create it while editing the chapter.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the chapter: From the Pressbooks dashboard, select Organise, locate the appropriate chapter and select Edit.
2. Locate the term: Find the first meaningful occurrence of the word or phrase that needs a definition.
3. Select the text: Highlight only the exact word or phrase. Do not include surrounding spaces or punctuation.
4. Open the glossary tool: Select the Glossary button or icon in the editor toolbar. If the icon is not visible, expand the toolbar or check the additional editor controls.
5. Create a new term: Choose the option to create and insert a new glossary term.
6. Confirm the term: Check that the glossary term matches the selected text. Correct the spelling or capitalization if necessary.
7. Enter the definition: Add a short, accurate, and learner-friendly definition.
8. Save the glossary entry: Insert the term.
9. Save the chapter: Select Update, Save, or Publish so that the glossary link is retained.
10. Verify the result: Open Preview and test the glossary term. Confirm that the correct definition appears and that the chapter formatting remains correct.

Method 2: Create Terms in Advance and Link Them Later

Use this method when you already have several terms and definitions or when the same approved definitions will be used throughout the book.

Part A: Create the Glossary Terms

1. Open the glossary management area: From the Pressbooks dashboard, open the Glossary Terms section
2. Add a new term: Select Add Glossary Term, or the equivalent option.
3. Enter the term name: Use the exact preferred spelling and capitalization.
4. Enter the definition: Write or paste the approved definition. Keep it concise and understandable for the intended learners. If pasting, make sure no additional formatting is copied from the source.
5. Save or publish the term: Create the glossary entry.
6. Repeat the process: Continue adding the remaining glossary terms and definitions.
7. Review the glossary list: Check for duplicate terms, inconsistent capitalization, spelling mistakes, incomplete definitions, and terms with very similar names.

Part B: Link an Existing Term Within a Chapter

1. Open the chapter: Locate the chapter containing the glossary term and select Edit.
2. Find the word or phrase: Locate the first appropriate occurrence of the term.
3. Highlight the term: Select the exact word or phrase. Do not include surrounding spaces or punctuation.
4. Open the glossary tool: Select the Glossary button or icon in the editor toolbar.
5. Choose an existing term: Browse the glossary list and select the matching entry.
6. Confirm the correct entry: Make sure you are choosing the correct term, especially if similar terms exist.
7. Apply the glossary link: Select the option that inserts or applies the glossary term to the highlighted text.
8. Save the chapter: Select Save.
9. Test the term: Preview the chapter and confirm that the correct definition appears when the reader interacts with the term.