UK TeX FAQ -- question label zerochap

### Why are my sections numbered 0.1 …?

This happens when your document is using the standard book or report class (or one similar), and you’ve got a `\``section` before your first `\``chapter`.

What happens is, that the class numbers sections as “<chapter no>.<section no>”, and until the first `\``chapter` has appeared, the chapter number is 0. (If you use`\``chapter*`, which doesn’t number the chapter it produces, the problem still arises.)

If you’re doing this, it’s possible that the article class is for you; try it and see. Otherwise, put a `\``chapter` before your sections, or do away with section numbering by using `\``section*` instead. An alternative way of avoiding numbering is discussed in “unnumbered sections in the table of contents”.

This question on the Web: http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=zerochap