A foreword is a short introduction at the beginning of a book written by someone other than the author. Think of it as a friendly recommendation from someone who wants to tell readers why the book matters.

When a famous scientist writes a foreword for a younger colleague's book about space exploration, she might explain why the topic is important or share a personal story about working with the author. When a beloved teacher writes a foreword for a former student's novel, he might describe watching that student discover her love of writing.

The foreword appears before the main text begins, giving readers context or building excitement. It's different from a preface, which is written by the author, or an introduction, which directly sets up the book's content. A foreword is always written by someone else, such as a mentor, an expert in the field, or someone whose opinion readers will value.

If you remember that a foreword contains words that appear at the fore (front) of the book, you'll never mix them up.

When publishers ask respected figures to write forewords, they're hoping that person's name and perspective will help readers understand why they should care about what follows.