The Issue with Page Numbering

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 130 views

Introduction

When working with endnotes in LaTeX documents, particularly in book class, it's not uncommon to encounter issues with page numbering in the Table of Contents (TOC). One such problem arises when setting the list heading of an endnote part to \chapter to force a page break. This seemingly innocuous action can lead to incorrect page numbers being displayed in the TOC for the endnote section. In this article, we'll delve into the root cause of this issue and explore solutions to resolve it.

Understanding the Problem

The problem lies in the way LaTeX handles page breaks and numbering for chapters and sections. When you use \chapter as the list heading for an endnote part, LaTeX treats it as a new chapter, which can lead to incorrect page numbering in the TOC. This is because LaTeX uses the \chapter command to reset the page counter and update the TOC, but it doesn't account for the fact that the endnote section is not a true chapter.

Minimum Working Example (MWE)

To illustrate this issue, let's consider a simple example using the book document class and the lipsum package for generating dummy text.

\documentclass{book}
\usepackage{lipsum}
\begin{document}
\chapter{Introduction}
\lipsum[1-5]
\chapter{Methodology}
\lipsum[6-10]
\backmatter
\renewcommand{\thechapter}{}
\renewcommand{\thepage}{}
\setcounter{page}{1}
\chapter*{Endnotes}
\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{Endnotes}
\listofendnotes
\lipsum[11-15]
\end{document}

In this example, we have two regular chapters followed by an endnote section. We use \backmatter to indicate the start of the back matter, and then redefine the chapter and page counters to reset them to 1. Finally, we use \chapter* to create a new chapter for the endnotes, and \addcontentsline to add an entry to the TOC.

The Issue with Page Numbering

When you compile this document, you'll notice that the page numbers in the TOC for the endnote section are incorrect. This is because LaTeX has treated the endnote section as a new chapter, and has reset the page counter accordingly.

Solutions to Resolve the Issue

There are a few ways to resolve this issue, depending on your specific requirements.

1. Use `\section` Instead of `\chapter`

One simple solution is to use \section instead of \chapter for the endnote section. This will prevent LaTeX from treating it as a new chapter, and will ensure that the page numbers in the TOC are correct.

\section*{Endnotes}
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Endnotes}
\listofendnotes

2. Use `\addtocontents` to Update the TOC

Another solution is to use \addtocontents to update the TOC manually. This will allow you to specify the correct page number for the endnote section.

\addtocontents{toc}{\protect\contentsline{chapter}{Endnotes}{\thepage}}
\listofendnotes

3. Use a Custom TOC Style

If you need more control over the TOC, you can define a custom TOC style using the tocstyle package. This will allow you to specify the formatting and layout of the TOC, including the page numbers.

\usepackage{tocstyle}
\usetocstyle{standard}
\addtocontents{toc}{\protect\contentsline{chapter}{Endnotes}{\thepage}}
\listofendnotes

Conclusion

Q: What is the root cause of the issue with wrong page numbers in the TOC for endnotes?

A: The root cause of the issue is that LaTeX treats the endnote section as a new chapter when you use \chapter as the list heading, which can lead to incorrect page numbering in the TOC.

Q: How can I resolve the issue of wrong page numbers in the TOC for endnotes?

A: There are several ways to resolve this issue, including:

Using \section instead of \chapter for the endnote section
Updating the TOC manually using \addtocontents
Defining a custom TOC style using the tocstyle package

Q: Why does LaTeX treat the endnote section as a new chapter?

A: LaTeX treats the endnote section as a new chapter because of the way it handles page breaks and numbering for chapters and sections. When you use \chapter as the list heading, LaTeX resets the page counter and updates the TOC, but it doesn't account for the fact that the endnote section is not a true chapter.

Q: Can I use a different document class to resolve the issue?

A: While using a different document class may resolve the issue, it's not a recommended solution. The issue is specific to the way LaTeX handles page breaks and numbering for chapters and sections, and using a different document class may introduce other issues.

Q: How can I update the TOC manually using `\addtocontents`?

A: To update the TOC manually using \addtocontents, you can use the following code:

\addtocontents{toc}{\protect\contentsline{chapter}{Endnotes}{\thepage}}
\listofendnotes

This code adds a new entry to the TOC with the correct page number for the endnote section.

Q: Can I use a custom TOC style to resolve the issue?

A: Yes, you can use a custom TOC style to resolve the issue. To define a custom TOC style using the tocstyle package, you can use the following code:

\usepackage{tocstyle}
\usetocstyle{standard}
\addtocontents{toc}{\protect\contentsline{chapter}{Endnotes}{\thepage}}
\listofendnotes

This code defines a custom TOC style using the standard style and updates the TOC manually using \addtocontents.

Q: Are there any other solutions to resolve the issue?

A: Yes, there are other solutions to resolve the issue, including using a different package or modifying the LaTeX code to handle page breaks and numbering for chapters and sections. However, these solutions may require more advanced LaTeX knowledge and may introduce other issues.

Conclusion

In conclusion, resolving the issue of wrong page numbers in the TOC for endnotes requires a good understanding of LaTeX and its handling of page breaks and numbering for chapters and sections. By using one of the solutions outlined above, you can resolve this issue and ensure that your TOC is accurate and up-to-date. Whether you use \section instead of \chapter, update the TOC manually using \addtocontents, or define a custom TOC style using the tocstyle package, the key is to take control of the page numbering and formatting of your TOC.