Will eBook Errors Alienate Readers?

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L. McMaken
10-7-11
Cincinnati, OH

 

In the recent wave of eBooks, particularly those from self-published authors readers are flooding Amazon with complaints about mistakes. Even in books from well known authors, spelling and grammar errors are sneaking past editors but not sharp-eyed readers.

Amazon recently edited and replaced author Neal Stephenson’s Reamde, after numerous complaints about errors. After replacing the book with a newer, edited version, Amazon then sent out an e-mail stating there was missing text from the new book.  This e-book sold for $16.99; a very expensive for an eBook, and readers were not shy in their complaints. A few readers gave the book one-star reviews solely on the errors.

Even the best edited books can have an error or two between their covers, but eBooks seem to have more complaints about the errors they contain then any negative reviews on their content. These types of errors could have disastrous effects on the bright future of eBooks.