Even among the many misunderstood aspects of publishing, the foreword—with its easily confused spelling and nuanced role—holds a special place. For publishing industry insiders, however, it’s clear that forewords can be a powerful tool for authors looking to boost their discoverability and emphasize their expertise.

The title (and subtitle) of a book does a lot of heavy lifting. It has to attract the intended audience, communicate the book’s promise, differentiate the book in the marketplace, and accurately convey the book’s theme and content.