Readers. At which moment would you inform authors that you spotted typos?

[Belfaborac]

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.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Jellby

With one typo every 100th word (1-5 typos per page!) I'd rather send a professional killer.

I'd simply correct the typos and re-read it again. I've noticed that the most typos are repeats. And those are easy to fix and I can continue reading with less errors (as I'll reformat as a matter of course for every single book I buy).

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.

[Anke Wehner]

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.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Russell Brooks

If you purchased an eBook or a paperback novel and you found a few typos (less than ten out of 70,000 words) would you still inform the author?

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.

[caleb72]

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

[djulian]

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.

[mldavis2]

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.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I make a mental distinction between typos (a simple spelling mistake) and what seem to me to be usage errors (e.g., it's / its). I have a higher tolerance for the former, but the latter drive me crazy.

I agree in general, but I wonder what most readers consider a "simple" spelling mistake. For example, do most readers consider "seamed" in this sentence a misspelling or a usage error: "She seamed to be older than she appeared."? Contrast seamed/seemed with affected/effected.

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.

[Anke Wehner]

Originally Posted by djulian

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.

With the latest generation of Sony readers you can mark the mistake (and preferrably a few words before and after to make searching easier), put in an annotation, and export an RTF file with a list containing the text snippets you marked and the annotations you put in, which you could then email to the author or publisher.

Originally Posted by mldavis2

The real issue with notifying an author of errors is twofold. [...] The other is the constant problem of locating and referencing the error within a page number-less environment ...

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.

[Poppaea]

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.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by rhadin

I agree in general, but I wonder what most readers consider a "simple" spelling mistake. For example, do most readers consider "seamed" in this sentence a misspelling or a usage error: "She seamed to be older than she appeared."? Contrast seamed/seemed with affected/effected.

In your example, I'd say that "seamed" is a simple spelling error. Unless I saw it more than once; then I'd want to throw the book across the room. Confusion of affect/effect I would consider a usage error. Obviously it's quite subjective.

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.

While it's possible that it's/its confusion is just a spelling error, it's one of those common mistakes I expect the writer/editor/proofreader to be especially aware of. So I expect them to fix it, and if they don't, I blame them for ignorance. Like "between you and I," or--my pet peeve--misuse of lie/lay (that one may be a losing battle, though).

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

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.

Exactly. I would only report specific errors in books that are volunteer efforts, like Project Gutenberg or the MR library. Otherwise, no way!

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

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.

Nice move! Did you get your money back !?!

[mldavis2]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Exactly. I would only report specific errors in books that are volunteer efforts, like Project Gutenberg or the MR library. Otherwise, no way!

I'm not sure how long Project Gutenberg has had their 5-tier proof-reading and formatting levels, but aside from some minor format inconsistencies among the various platforms, I can't imagine many errors being found in recent PG offerings. Their proofing system is quite robust these days and errors found may be from older digital scans done before the current level of proofing.

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.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

Nice move! Did you get your money back !?!

No, which made me send a second letter, this time an application as office manager because I assumed my letter and the book must have been lost

No answer once more.