[xi] Arabic names and terms have been transliterated consistently with two exceptions: first, words that have entered the English language, such as, emir, caliph, dinar, Allah, mosque, and muezzin; and second, plural forms which, if transliterated accurately, would require confusing orthographic changes. Instead I have simply added an "s" to the singular form, as in the case of dhimmîs. I have used al-Andalus interchangeably with Muslim Spain to refer to those parts of the Iberian peninsula under Muslim rule. Readers will find "Andalusian Christians" in place of "Mozarabs" since the former allows for reference to Christians living in Muslim Spain without automatically implying acculturation.

For the sake of consistency, I have rendered all of the names of the martyrs and polemicists in their Latin forms even when there is an English equivalent. Hence "Paulus" instead of Paul and "Joannes" instead of John. Though it may seem awkward, the alternatives are more so. The exceptions are names of figures, such as Augustine or Gregory, whom we know from sources other than the documents pertaining to the martyrdoms. For place names, I have been less consistent. If there is a common English equivalent, I have used it. If not, I use either the Spanish or Latin forms depending on reader accessibility.