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View Poll Results: At which point would you inform an author of typos (out of a 70,000 word novel)? | |||
5-9 |
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14 | 25.00% |
10-19 |
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20 | 35.71% |
20-49 |
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13 | 23.21% |
50-100 |
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9 | 16.07% |
Voters: 56. You may not vote on this poll |
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#31 |
Wizard
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Karma: 5199835
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Norway
Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-950
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There's no "1-4" option, so I couldn't cast a vote.
Nah, just kidding. Like several others have said, ordinary typos aren't that big a deal unless they are legion. Consistent bad grammar and the incorrect use of words (a pet hate of mine is the substitution of "quite" for "quiet") and phrases is something else altogether and can cause me to throw the book in the garbage or delete it very quickly. Or, in winter, I'll use it to get the fireplace going. I'd be unlikely to contact the author; I'd just refrain from ever buying any more of his/her books. |
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#32 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 32763414
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Krewerd
Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
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Only once did I buy a book which was so bad, that I'd had to take some real time to fix it. I won't ever buy a book by that same publisher again. |
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#33 |
Addict
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Karma: 177956
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Germany
Device: PRS-650
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Depends on the book and the author.
I sent an author an email pointing out four errors I found in a 100,000 word novel. I liked the book so much that I expect to re-read it more often, so I marked up the mistakes I noticed on my second read to correct them for myself. Since I'd marked them already, and the author was self-published and someone I follow on Twitter, I asked the author if they'd like a list of those few mistakes to fix them, and they said yes, so there. Books really full of mistakes I might stop reading because of those, and even if I read them to the end, making a list would be too much work. |
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#34 |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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Karma: 315160596
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Norfolk, England
Device: Kindle Oasis
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There's no point in telling the author. Telling the publisher might make a difference, but publishers haven't really made an effort yet to be open to typo reports.
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#35 |
Indie Advocate
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Karma: 18794463
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Device: Kindle
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If it's an indie author and I can easily contact him/her I'll inform even of one typo/spelling mistake if I find it.
For a traditionally published author I wouldn't usually bother. Possibly I should in those cases where they've clearly scanned. With my Kindle I just highlight them as I see them and then I compile them at the end and send the info to the author. Regards Caleb |
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#36 |
Evangelist
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Karma: 1786912
Join Date: Nov 2010
Device: Kindle Voyage
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I wish Kindle/Nook/Sony/Etc had this option, but in the Libronix Digital Library System (Logos Bible Software), you have the option of highlighting a portion of text in an eBook, and clicking a "typo" button. It gives you a little window to add notes, correct the text, etc, and then it e-mails the publisher/software company. They log these and release corrections on a pretty regular basis.
I decided to add pictures for clarity (no typos in the selected text). I wonder if the e-readers could pull this off--it seems like a strong possibility. Amazon could use the same window they use for selecting and searching text--you could highlight it and press the spacebar and hit, "Submit typo." EDIT: Just submitted this idea to Amazon. Last edited by djulian; 04-22-2011 at 07:22 AM. |
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#37 |
Coffee Nut
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Karma: 298350
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Missouri
Device: Kindle 3; K4PC; Calibre
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I am both sensitive to errors as a volunteer for Project Gutenberg, and forgiving of errors in that I can ignore most of them when reading for content. I also know how easy it is to overlook errors when reading rather than proof-reading.
The real issue with notifying an author of errors is twofold. One is trying to mark the errors for one complete submission to the author's attention rather than sending multiple e-mails over a period of time. The other is the constant problem of locating and referencing the error within a page number-less environment that exists and varies with different eReader formats and font size choices. These factors currently discourage me from taking the time and effort to bring errors to the author's attention. |
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#38 | |
Literacy = Understanding
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Karma: 59674358
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The World of Books
Device: Nook, Nook Tablet
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I find separating usage from spelling errors to be very difficult because both affect understanding and meaning. The it's/its combination strikes me as more a misspelling than a usage error, although I have no sound basis for making such a distinction with those words as opposed to other combinations. |
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#39 | |
Addict
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Karma: 177956
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Germany
Device: PRS-650
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Quote:
Digital files can be searched easily, so if you copy out the whole sentence including the mistake, or at least a few words to make a phrase not found elsewhere in the book, no page numbers are needed. |
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#40 |
Lucifer's Bat
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Karma: 20638583
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Earth/Berlin
Device: Kobo Libra Colour
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I only did mark the errors once in a book that was error ridden. Then I sent the book to the publisher asking them to pay back the money I paid for the book.
Why should I, who has paid for the book, do the work of an editor? They are to cheap to pay for a professional service and their customers shall either do it or live with a defective product? Not in this life! If it is only one typo here and there I won't say anything, if it is riddled I sent it back and ask for my money as I am not able to read it anyway because it makes me angry. |
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#41 | ||
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 52613881
Join Date: Oct 2010
Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip
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#42 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 52613881
Join Date: Oct 2010
Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip
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#43 | |
Series Addict
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Karma: 167189477
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Florida, USA
Device: Kindle Paperwhite (2nd Gen)
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#44 | |
Coffee Nut
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Karma: 298350
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Missouri
Device: Kindle 3; K4PC; Calibre
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Quote:
Currently there are 3 separate proof-reading runs made. The first run is done by newer proof-readers and is mainly concerned with catching scan errors made by OCR software that may have difficulty with strange fonts, 'dirty' scan input and old language or spelling conventions. The second proofing scans are done by more experienced proofers and catch almost all errors missed by the first proofers. A third scan is made by more senior proofers as a quality check. There are then 2 levels of formatting which deal with paragraphs, font variations, footnotes, images, subtitles and other insets and printing variations. Both formatting levels are staffed by experienced proofers. Then a final run-through is made by the top level proofers/formatters in preparation for final submission to the eEditor for device formatting. Simple spelling errors are virtually eliminated, and formatting glitches are extremely rare. This process may not have been followed in the early years and many older digital captures are being re-evaluated to eliminate these problems missed in the early days of PG acquisitions. |
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#45 |
Lucifer's Bat
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Karma: 20638583
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Earth/Berlin
Device: Kobo Libra Colour
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