Is it common to see spelling errors and other errors in published books?

Question

I've recently noticed some spelling errors and other errors in books i've been reading for my class. these are not fiction books, but rather books in sociology or film studies; critical and research-oriented books. for example the word "life" instead of "like", and characters names from movies wrong (Sarah instead of Tara). Why don't they have editors? Is this common or am I just experiencing a bunch of books that aren't really the norm?

Answer 1

Pascha: For being an "editor by trade" your writing skills are a bit below average there.



And I agree with others about human errors. In college I was the editor in chief as well as the primary copy editor on staff. I edited 24 pages of text a minimum of five times before publication. Even with others helping and each having a good set of editing eyes we all missed small errors after it went to print. We're only human.



The copy editors for books are in the same boat. No matter how many times it passes through one, two, or even half a dozen editors, a few mistakes are still going to get through. Not one of us is perfect so why should we be so critical over minor errors? Can you edit flawlessly? If not, you should be a bit more understanding.



Step into an editor's shoes and you'll know exactly how challenging it is.



EDIT:



Lilla: Just stating a fact, not trying to be rude. However, if Pascha is going to dare boast about her Web site and being an editor then her writing ability should show that. To use "too" incorrectly twice and failure to capitalize "I" shows she isn't proofreading her own work. Irony much?



And she's not in the same profession. She's a part-time editor. Big deal. No publishing credits and a Web site with copy that is not clean.



To call me narcissistic is laughable and shows your ignorance. I know who I am and believe I am adecent person but in no way am I great. Just blunt and straightforward, that's all.



So next time you attempt to insult me, try harder. You failed.

Answer 2

It didn't used to be common. A book publisher's reputation used to depend on the quality of his product, and mistakes like those you mentioned might cost the publisher some business, and the editor his job.



What I think you're seeing, though, is more mistakes slipping through due to these publishers relying on computer spellcheckers instead of humans who actually read the material. Computers can't really fact-check text, and as long as a given word is a real word i.e. in the word processor's dictionary, the computer won't tell the user anything's wrong. Hence, some of these books make it to the bookshelves and your hands without anyone really having read it with a critical eye since the author turned it in. That's called being part of the post-literate society.



You may want to help fight this trend by sending in a letter of complaint to the publishers of your books. Make people who approve these manuscripts aware that they can't assume the book is written correctly jest because the spell chequer tolled them sew.

Answer 3

Most books will have a mistake or two the copy editors missed. They're only human, so they can't catch everything. It comes down to human error. No one can catch every mistake, no matter how many times they go over the book. Especially since they send the corrections back to the author, who can always screw it up again.

Answer 4

Something else to consider about errors. To correct each error costs money, especially later in the publishing process. The time it takes to have someone go back, find it, fix, and reprint galleys so someone else can check it again for errors can cost several hundred dollars each time and delay the publication of the work. In today's market, that delay can kill the sucess of a book. So, yes, it is becoming more common.



There is a point where trying to get a perfect galley will cost you more that you can earn. Publishers give authors a fixed number of corrections "for free" and then begin charging the cost to your advance/royalties. Many authors will correct as much as they can, but being too much of a perfectionist can make you less appealing to publishers who may choose to not publish that author's next book.

Answer 5

Argh! It is WAY too common. It's just editors not doing their job properly or not being thorough when they have had a few too many drinks or are really tired.

It's so frustrating to be an editor and see spelling mistakes.

I'm so pedantic about it that sometimes that if I read a published work with a spelling mistake I have to put it down, I can't finish reading it.

Other times the problems occur when they are getting finalised and printed and it just cost to much to fix it by that stage.

Answer 6

Ha ha! You go Lilla!

I agree with you. KK seems like a disgruntled no hoper.

Just so you know I have read some of Pascha's stuff on her site and it's awesome.

In terms of spelling mistakes i really hate it when you borrow a book from the library and someone has gone through and fixed up all the spelling mistakes. Just leave it as it is, you don't own the damn book!

Answer 7

Actually, I've read some famous books that have a lot of spelling errors, but maybe they just didn't notice them !

Answer 8

It happens, yes. I've stumbled upon several mistakes while reading - it's because, despite the countless hours of editing, every now and then something slips past the eye. "Life" instead of "like" looks very similiar, you must admit. It's only one letter off - it's an honest mistake. Not all books are perfect.

Answer 9

yep. in one of stephen kings book he put a word 2 times

Answer 10

Woah! Sue you sure started something here! I checked out your site to Pascha, good stuff. That is all.

Answer 11

well yes it is common but not very common, i think if u see speeling, gramma and punctuation mistakes then the editor of the book is pretty crap at their english!