fix some text appearing as single vertical line

apricoto · 01-08-2026, 11:00 PM

in occasional epub books. text will be fine, then some text appears as a single vertical line with no spacing between words. then goes back to normal horizontal. might happen every few pages.

Is this a problem with epub creation, and nothing to be done about it?

or, is there a simple fix?

theducks · 01-08-2026, 11:27 PM

Line of letters or a spotty line.
Right and left margins (mainly margin-right) is probably a large ^ or missing a decimal point. You basically don't have any width between the margins left for text.

Karellen · 01-08-2026, 11:29 PM

A screenshot will help for a better understanding.

If the book is in copyright, scramble it and upload it here and we can check the code.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=267998

apricoto · 01-09-2026, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Line of letters or a spotty line.
Right and left margins (mainly margin-right) is probably a large ^ or missing a decimal point. You basically don't have any width between the margins left for text.

like this:
R
i
g
h
t
a
n
d
l
e
f
t
m
a
r
g
i

except on right side, and letters are closer together. I
I didn't convert to epub. I got it that way.

theducks · 01-09-2026, 04:10 AM

Then you have a large margin-left:<value unit>
eg 75%, 30em
a missing decimal point or a fat fingered entry

apricoto · 01-09-2026, 06:13 PM

I'll take this to mean that there is nothing for me, as the recipient of the epub can do at this point. I was hoping that a simple process eg: run through conversion adjusting some setting, might fix it. I'm guessing not. correct?

Karellen · 01-09-2026, 06:25 PM

You know, if you had posted the book instead of continuing with guessing games, your problem could have been solved by now...

BetterRed · 01-09-2026, 06:26 PM

The simplest thing would be to ask the store where you bought the book for a replacement or your money back.

DNSB · 01-09-2026, 06:28 PM

The only good way to fix the issue is to use either calibre's ebook-editor or Sigil to edit the ePub and correct the issues manually. Most automatic options are going to do too much damage to how the ePub displays to be worth while.

If the ePub is not in copyright, you can attach it to a message here which makes it a lot easier for people to take a look at and give you informed opinions. If it is in copyright, use the ScrambleEbook plugin to generate a scrambled version. That version will maintain the CSS and again, allow people to see what is going on.

theducks · 01-09-2026, 09:21 PM

and post where (chapter / page) in the book to look for the issue to save us effort paging thru to find it.

01-08-2026, 11:00 PM	#1
apricoto Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Chicago Device: HP X360 11", Win10	fix some text appearing as single vertical line in occasional epub books. text will be fine, then some text appears as a single vertical line with no spacing between words. then goes back to normal horizontal. might happen every few pages. Is this a problem with epub creation, and nothing to be done about it? or, is there a simple fix?

01-09-2026, 06:13 PM	#6
apricoto Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Chicago Device: HP X360 11", Win10	I'll take this to mean that there is nothing for me, as the recipient of the epub can do at this point. I was hoping that a simple process eg: run through conversion adjusting some setting, might fix it. I'm guessing not. correct? Last edited by apricoto; 01-09-2026 at 06:58 PM.

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01-08-2026, 11:27 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,407 Karma: 62500208 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Line of letters or a spotty line. Right and left margins (mainly margin-right) is probably a large ^ or missing a decimal point. You basically don't have any width between the margins left for text.

01-08-2026, 11:29 PM	#3
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,739 Karma: 9501032 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	A screenshot will help for a better understanding. If the book is in copyright, scramble it and upload it here and we can check the code. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=267998

01-09-2026, 04:10 AM	#5
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,407 Karma: 62500208 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Then you have a large margin-left:<value unit> eg 75%, 30em a missing decimal point or a fat fingered entry

01-09-2026, 06:25 PM	#7
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,739 Karma: 9501032 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	You know, if you had posted the book instead of continuing with guessing games, your problem could have been solved by now...

01-09-2026, 06:26 PM	#8
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,131 Karma: 30317706 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	The simplest thing would be to ask the store where you bought the book for a replacement or your money back.

01-09-2026, 06:28 PM	#9
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 49,449 Karma: 174632678 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	The only good way to fix the issue is to use either calibre's ebook-editor or Sigil to edit the ePub and correct the issues manually. Most automatic options are going to do too much damage to how the ePub displays to be worth while. If the ePub is not in copyright, you can attach it to a message here which makes it a lot easier for people to take a look at and give you informed opinions. If it is in copyright, use the ScrambleEbook plugin to generate a scrambled version. That version will maintain the CSS and again, allow people to see what is going on.

01-09-2026, 09:21 PM	#10
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,407 Karma: 62500208 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	and post where (chapter / page) in the book to look for the issue to save us effort paging thru to find it.

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