Table of Contents incorrect page numbering

Question

I am using the following code.

\newpage
\section*{Abstract}
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Abstract}

\newpage
\tableofcontents
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Table of Contents}

\newpage
\listoftables
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{List of Tables}

\newpage
\listoffigures
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{List of Figures} 

In my actual document, I have many sections, so the table of contents is actually two pages long. Unfortunately, when I run my LaTeX file, the 'Table of Contents' section in the Table of Contents has the incorrect page number (while everything else seems to be in order). It looks like the Table of Contents is using the page number of the second page, instead of the first page.

e.g. In the Table of Contents, 'Table of Contents' is listed as being under page iii, when actually it starts on page ii. Page iii is actually the second page of my Table of Contents.

Anybody know a quick fix for this?

Answer 1

Change the order of \addcontentsline:

\newpage
\section*{Abstract}
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Abstract}

\newpage
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Table of Contents}
\tableofcontents

\newpage
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{List of Tables}
\listoftables

\newpage
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{List of Figures} 
\listoffigures

If the hyperref package is going to be used, you might add \phantomsection to produce the right anchors for hyperlinks:

\newpage
\phantomsection
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Table of Contents}
\tableofcontents

As a suggestion, instead of using "manual" names, you could use the macros containing the pre-defined names; so instead of

\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{List of Figures}

you could say

\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{\listfigurename}

Answer 2

I had the same problem, and changing the order of \addcontentsline solved a major part of it, but then my numbers were off by one. To solve that, I put \clearpage (or \cleardoublepage if you are doing double sided) before every \addcontentsline.

Answer 3

Now a day, mostly we prefer to the hyperlink. Thus if printing in the double side, which is usually a case for Thesis or reports.

So, the best command even removing the page number in the blank page:

\phantomsection
\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{ Contents}  \raggedbottom \pagebreak \thispagestyle{empty}
\tableofcontents  \raggedbottom \pagebreak \thispagestyle{empty}


\cleardoublepage  % \clearpage (if using single side)
\phantomsection
\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{ List of Figures}  \raggedbottom \pagebreak \thispagestyle{empty}


\listoffigures  \raggedbottom \pagebreak \thispagestyle{empty}
\cleardoublepage  % \clearpage (if using single side)

\phantomsection
\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{ List of Tables} 
\listoftables  \raggedbottom \pagebreak \thispagestyle{empty}

Answer 4

If you're still stuck, as I was, after trying the above, this worked for me.

Sometimes our compiler doesn't realise it needs to run latex again to get the table of contents numbering correct. Try adding the following line: \phantom{\cite{?}} somewhere in your code. This include an invisible citation which doesn't exist and will trick our compiler into running the maximum number of times.

(found at https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/116014/56834)

Answer 5

Set the page counter inside your abstract to the page number you desire

\begin{abstract}

    \thispagestyle{plain}
    \pagenumbering{roman}
    \setcounter{page}{5}

    This is the starting of abstract text.

\end{abstract}