Viðaukar

Viðaukar is the Icelandic term for appendices or addenda attached to a document, report, book, or contract. They provide supplementary material that supports the main content without interrupting its flow, such as data tables, figures, methodological details, maps, or additional explanations.

In practice, viðaukar are usually labeled sequentially (Viðauki 1, Viðauki 2, etc.) and are referenced from the main text. They are common in academic publishing, annual reports, policy documents, and legal documents, where they serve to present information that is relevant but not essential to the central argument or narrative.

In legal and contractual contexts, viðaukar can include schedules, amendments, riders, or annexes that modify or expand the terms of an agreement. In academic settings, they may contain detailed methodologies, raw data, calculations, or supplementary results that support the study’s conclusions.

The scope of a viðauki is to aid verification, reproducibility, or deeper understanding without cluttering the main document. They may be included as separate sections at the end of a printed report or as standalone files in a digital format, with clear cross-references from the main text.

Etymology: the word derives from the prefix við- meaning “in addition to” and auk meaning “increase” or “addition,” reflecting the role of these components as additions to the primary content.