Q. Do you recommend last-first or first-last order for obscure or potentially confusing names in index subentries? Last-first seems awkward in terms of the number of commas required, but first-last requires alphabetizing by given names—also awkward.
A. Normally names are typed in natural order in index subentries but alphabetized by surname:
Smith, Linda: and Susan Brown, 24, 57; fear of forks, 12; hot temper, xii, 3, 97, 228; speeding tickets, 13, 96–98; Twitter scandal, 82; and Chris Williams, 117