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How typos and errors make it into printed books

How typos and errors make it into printed books

clock - estimated reading time  Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Practically every book will have at least one error, and many will have even more. Books can go through numerous rounds of edits before they’re printed and readers will still pick up on something that is incorrect. Why is this?

Contents

  1. Incorrectly accepting and rejecting edits in a manuscript can lead to errors
  2. Different formats read differently
  3. Typesetting and readability
  4. Human error

1. Incorrectly accepting and rejecting edits in a manuscript can lead to errors

The process of accepting and rejecting edits in a manuscript can introduce errors into the manuscript that weren’t already there.

We find that one of the best practices authors can do after receiving their edited manuscript is to save two versions and globally accept all changes in one version. This ensures that there are no introduced errors in that manuscript, but that you can also return to the manuscript with the edits shown and see the choices that the editor has made.

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2. Different formats read differently

You might be familiar with the proofing tip of printing out your book and reading it on paper to catch any mistakes you may be overlooking when reading it on a screen. But why does this work?

The difference between reading on a screen and off physical paper can be explained through some recent research into the matter. Reading on a screen can certainly improve some aspects of your reading, including speed and skimming, but these aren’t always conducive to picking up on errors. When reading print, however, studies show that reading comprehension and retention are increased in comparison, which makes for a much better environment for seeing and fixing errors.

This in turn means that, while you and many others have read your book while in the manuscript phase, there can be certain errors that are skimmed over because they are being read on a screen. When your book has been printed, however, these errors come out of hiding and can often be glaringly obvious.

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3. Typesetting and readability

Another reason for errors being missed in earlier stages of the book’s production is that it has yet to go through the process of typesetting. Typesetting deals with the interior layout of a book, including the following:

  • The choice and size of the font
  • Kerning and tracking
  • The size of the margins
  • Removing hyphen and word stacking
  • Orphans and widows
  • Removing rivers within the text
  • The layout of images in relation to the text

Each of these things, when done correctly, work to increase the readability of a book so that the experience of reading is as a smooth and enjoyable as possible. In layman’s terms, after you book has been typeset and the experience of reading has been made easier, its errors will also easier to find.

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4. Human error

While they are professionals in their respective fields, experienced authors and editors are still human. It is virtually impossible to pick up on every error in any aspect of life—including errors in a book (and likely in this very blog post!).

This is especially true for those who have read the book multiple times. When you know the book inside and out, you can anticipate what’s to come and are more likely to skip over errors simply because your brain has already filled out what it wants to read, not what it is actually seeing.

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The difference between book papers for printing

The difference between book papers for printing

clock - estimated reading time  Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

When considering the print of your book, it’s good to know the difference between the paper types available for book printing. This blog will give you a basic guide to the different kinds of paper and treatments available for the paper you can use in your book.

Contents

  1. What paper-types can I use for my book?
  2. What does different GSM paper mean for printing?
  3. Uncoated paper vs coated paper
  4. Environmentally friendly paper

1. What paper-types can I use for my publication?

There are three main types of paper that you can use to print your book on: white paper, cream paper, and book-cream/groundwood paper. Each are useful for different purposes in printing:

White paper:

  • Best for colour clarity in images
  • Bad for readability of text due to glare
  • Most expensive
  • Higher GSM
  • Retailers associate certain genres printed on white paper with self-published books and are less likely to stock them

Cream paper:

  • Great for readability
  • Not as good for colour clarity
  • Less expensive but still pricey
  • Higher GSM

Book-cream / Groundwood paper:

  • Great for readability
  • Bad for colour clarity
  • Thinnest GSM
  • Inexpensive
  • Trade-novel standard

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Groundwood, cream, and white paper comparison

Groundwood, cream, and white paper comparison

White paper interior sample

White paper interior sample

Cream paper interior sample

Cream paper interior sample

Groundwood paper interior sample

Groundwood paper interior sample

2. What does different GSM paper mean for printing?

GSM (Grams per Square Metre), is used to indicate the thickness of materials such as paper.

2.1 A basic guide to GSM

35 – 55 GSM

The thinnest of the more commonly used paper types. Usually used for newspapers.

70 – 90 GSM

A thin paper. Usually used in notebooks and novels.

90 – 100 GSM

The most common paper weight. Used in recreational printers found in offices and homes.

120 – 150 GSM

This paper is most often used for thin flyers, takeaway menus, and movie posters.

200 – 300 GSM

This weight is sturdier than the previous stocks but will still bend. Used often for magazine covers and higher-quality flyers and menus.

350 – 450 GSM

Thick, card-like stock, more difficult to bend. Used for a few different products including greeting cards, business cards, and postcards.

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3. Uncoated paper vs coated paper

Paper can go through a process of coating before it is printed on and bound in a book. As a general rule for most standard trade publications such as novels, uncoated paper is used for the interior pages while coated paper is used for the cover. However, this is not necessarily the best course of action for all publications depending on its contents and intended use.

There are pros and cons to both coated and uncoated paper, of course, and whichever you choose will depend on your personal preferences and what your project needs.

3.1 Uncoated paper

Uncoated paper is just that: uncoated. Unlike coated paper, it does not undergo the process of clay coating. It is best for the interior of text-heavy publications (trade novels, etc.) because it is lighter, and allows for great readability. It comes in two different finishes:

  1. Smooth finish: Smooth and clean paper stock. Allows for best absorption of ink and therefore prints images and text in a high definition. Smooth finish uncoated paper is best for the interior of your book.
  2. Vellum finish: Rougher to the touch than a smooth finish due to the raised paper fibres. This paper finish interferes with ink absorption and therefore does not always give the best image and text definition.

3.2 Coated paper

Paper that has been coated is most commonly used for the covers of paperback books or the interiors of books that are image-heavy (such as photography books, manuals, textbooks, etc.). This is because it allows for a level of image vibrancy and durability that uncoated paper does not. When a paper stock is coated, it means that it has had a clay coating applied during the paper making process. There are three different levels of finishes achieved by clay coating:

  1. Matte finish: This finish is the least coated of the three. It has a non-shiny appearance and a rougher feel to it, which is currently quite trendy. Colour is often subdued on this finish but can still be effectively executed. Matte finishes, however, are more prone to damage from creasing and bending so thus publications made with
  2. Silk / Satin finish: A silk finish has more clay coating than matte, but less than a gloss. As a result, silk finishes have a slight sheen to them without giving off the same glare that a gloss does. This finish allows for good readability and great colour, however it is prone to cracking easily and therefore is not good for books that need to last a long while, such as manuals and training publications.
  3. Gloss finish: With the most coating of the three, a gloss finish achieves the highest shine-factor. This finish is excellent for getting the most contrast in colour and is therefore great for printed images. Gloss finishes are also long-lasting and will keep your publication looking fresher for longer.

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4. Environmentally friendly paper

Environmentally friendly paper usually adds to the overall cost of printing a book. There are more ways to produce a low-impact book other than using recycled paper i.e. the print media. There are a number of printer practices that can reduce the environmental impact.

Environmentally sensitive paper for book printing refers to paper that is produced with a minimal environmental impact. This typically involves using sustainable materials and practices throughout the paper production process. Here are some key elements of environmentally sensitive paper for book printing:

  1. Sustainable Fiber Sources: Environmentally sensitive paper is often made from sustainably sourced fibers. This means that the trees used to make the paper are harvested in a way that promotes forest regeneration and biodiversity. Common sources of sustainable fibers include certified forests, recycled paper, and agricultural residues like straw or hemp.
  2. Recycled Content: Many environmentally sensitive papers contain a percentage of post-consumer recycled content. This means that the paper has been made from materials that have already been used and recycled, reducing the demand for new raw materials.
  3. Chlorine-Free Bleaching: Traditional paper bleaching processes often involve the use of chlorine-based chemicals, which can release harmful by-products into the environment. Environmentally sensitive papers use alternative bleaching methods such as oxygen, ozone, or hydrogen peroxide, which are less harmful.
  4. Reduced Chemical Use: Environmentally sensitive paper production aims to minimize the use of harmful chemicals throughout the process. This includes reducing the use of dyes, coatings, and other additives that can be harmful to the environment.
  5. Energy Efficiency: Environmentally sensitive paper mills often prioritize energy efficiency and use renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power to reduce their carbon footprint.
  6. Water Conservation: Water is a critical resource in paper production, and environmentally sensitive paper mills implement measures to conserve water and reduce pollution of waterways.
  7. Certifications: Look for certifications such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), which indicate that the paper has been produced using sustainable practices.
  8. Eco-Friendly Inks and Coatings: In addition to using environmentally sensitive paper, consider using eco-friendly inks and coatings for printing. These are often made from vegetable-based or soy-based materials and are less harmful to the environment.

By choosing environmentally sensitive paper for book printing, you can reduce your environmental impact and promote sustainable practices in the publishing industry.

What about groundwood?

Groundwood paper, also known as mechanical pulp paper, is made by mechanically grinding wood into pulp. It is often used for newspapers, magazines, and other publications where a lower quality paper is acceptable. While groundwood paper can be more environmentally friendly in some respects, it also has drawbacks compared to other types of paper.

Pros of Groundwood Paper:

  1. Less Energy Intensive: Producing groundwood paper typically requires less energy than producing other types of paper because it doesn’t involve the chemical processes used in making chemical pulp paper.
  2. Lower Carbon Footprint: The energy savings translate into a lower carbon footprint for groundwood paper compared to chemical pulp paper.
  3. Recyclable: Groundwood paper is recyclable, so it can be reused to make new paper products.

Cons of Groundwood Paper:

  1. Lower Quality: Groundwood paper is generally lower in quality than chemical pulp paper. It is not as strong or durable, and it tends to yellow and become brittle over time.
  2. Environmental Impact: While groundwood paper may have a lower carbon footprint, it can have a higher environmental impact in other ways. The mechanical grinding process can produce a significant amount of waste, and the chemicals used to bleach and process the paper can be harmful to the environment.
  3. Not Suitable for Archival Use: Because of its lower quality and tendency to degrade over time, groundwood paper is not suitable for archival use or for documents that need to be preserved for a long time.

In summary, groundwood paper can be more environmentally friendly in terms of energy use and carbon footprint, but it is not as high quality or durable as other types of paper. It is important to consider the specific use case and environmental priorities when choosing paper for printing.

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The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

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5 keys to a successful book cover design

5 keys to a successful book cover design

clock - estimated reading time  Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

As a self-published author, book cover designs can be daunting, and there are a lot of factors to consider before committing to your final concept and design. When starting to design a book cover, you need to think about:

    • Aesthetics
    • Functionality
    • Branding
    • Audience Appeal
    • Technical Requirements
    • Professionalism

But how can you ensure that your book cover has everything that it needs to succeed? What do you need to focus on for your book to attract readers and distributors in a world of traditionally published books? Firstly, we recommend hiring a book cover designer and following the 5 key points discussed below to make sure that you are getting the most from your book cover and your book designer.

Contents

1. Trust your book designer
2. Don’t try to tell the whole story with your book cover
3. Design for book’s audience, not yourself
4. Fit your book cover within a genre
5. Be a big picture thinker

1. Trust your book designer

If nothing else, the most important thing you can do to make your book cover a success is to listen to your designer. They will make your book cover look the best it can. Your designer wants the best for your book as much as you do, and will no doubt have amazing book cover ideas that you hadn’t considered before. They are also experience professionals who have worked on a number of books in the past, so they understand the book market and know what is more likely to sell and what is more likely to not.

It is important to communicate your preferences and vision for the book in a way that can be well understood when you have the design brief with the designer. Your book designer will take cues from your brief and design a book cover that is marketable to help your book shine on the shelves and meet your expectations.

2. Don’t try to tell the whole story with your book cover

It’s important to intrigue potential readers and leave them wanting more—not leave them confused and overwhelmed. The cover should be a teaser that makes the readers want to know more and entice them to pick up your book and take it home with them. It is not necessary to try to tell the whole story of a book on its cover as it is simply a visual representation of the book meant to grab attention. If you try to include every detail that’s in your book on your cover, it will be a cluttered mess of references that are lost on potential readers.

A good cover should be visually appealing, give a sense of what genre or style the book belongs to, and accurately represent the book. Pick one to three things that best convey what your story is about and your designer will use what they can to bring your cover to life.

3. Design for your book’s audience, not yourself

When thinking about book cover design, it is important to keep the target audience in mind, rather than designing solely on your own preferences. As discussed earlier, the cover should be visually appealing and reflective of the content and genre of the book, but also designed to appeal directly to the specific audience who are most likely to read it. This may involve considering factors such as age, gender, interests, and reading habits of the target audience.

Let the book designer create the cover from the eyes of a buyer. Often what an author believes they must have on their book cover doesn’t translate well to readers and they miss what the author wanted to achieve.

Though you may read a lot in the genre you wrote your book in, remember: you are the author, not your audience.

4. Fit your book cover design within a genre

When designing a book cover, it is important to consider the genre of the book and design a cover that fits within the conventions of that genre. The buyer—whether a distributor or a reader—should be able to immediately recognise the genre of the book by the cover design. For example, a mystery novel may feature a dark and dramatic cover with a silhouette or crime scene, while a romance novel may feature a romantic image of a couple. A science fiction book cover may feature images of futuristic technology, space, or aliens. A fantasy book cover may feature images of dragons, wizards, or other mythical creatures.

This doesn’t mean that your book should be a carbon copy of another, but if the genre is not clear then the buyer will have to work harder to decipher what your book is and will be more likely to disregard it in favour for another. Gather some inspiration from within your genre and similar and pick them apart. Try to figure out which elements on those covers would work for your book and tell your designer. This will give your book designer a good starting point for your cover and let them know what you like.

5. Be a big picture thinker

When considering your book cover design, be careful not to focus on particulars, such as the exact shade of a colour, the precise positioning of an image, and the perfect font size/weight to use. While attention to detail is important in many aspects of book cover design, it is also important to keep the big picture in mind. If you give your designer a list of overly detailed instructions of what the cover must include, you’ll restrict their creative license and may end up with an unattractive book cover that just does not work.

Think about what is necessary for your book cover and what will make it attractive and successful in retail, but more importantly what is not. The goal is to create a cover that is visually appealing and accurately represents the book, rather than focusing on small details that may not have a significant impact on the overall design.

Overall, a successfully designed book cover is one that looks professional and like it belongs in the market, effectively and concisely communicates the book’s content and style, appeals to the intended audience, is visually appealing and on-par with other books in its genre, and is harmonious.

To see some of our favourite covers, check out our Instagram.

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The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Interested in publishing your book but unsure where to start or what is even involved? Tell us about your project and we will post you a copy of our:

 

The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

submit your project details