Frequently asked questions related to the way EPUBs “behave.” At ePub Pro, we try to adhere to the physical book as a standard as much as possible, but this is not always entirely feasible.
Why does the layout shift when I change the font size in my e-book?
In a reflowable EPUB, the font size determines how much text fits on a screen. If you increase the font size, lines become longer, paragraphs shift, and some elements (like images or captions) suddenly fall onto the next page. This is normal behavior in this format.
Why are sentences sometimes broken in strange places?
When the text adapts to the screen size, the e-reader tries to distribute words logically across lines. With longer words or small screens, this is not always done critérios, causing a sentence to sometimes break in a visually illogical place. This is not an error in the book but a consequence of dynamic formatting.
Why is a heading sometimes isolated at the top of a page without its accompanying text?
With larger font settings or narrow screens, it can happen that there is just not enough space for the heading and the following paragraph. The heading is then displayed on the next ‘page’, while the content follows afterwards. This is technically correct but can sometimes be awkward to read.
Why do images shift when adjusting the screen size?
Images in a reflowable EPUB must scale with the available space. If you change the font size or rotate your screen, the image can suddenly appear above or below a different paragraph. The position of the image is therefore not fixed and moves with the layout.
Why is the layout of the e-book not as neat as in a printed book or PDF?
A reflowable EPUB is designed to adapt to the reader’s device. Because of this, things like line spacing, word spacing, heading structure, and margins can vary. The intention is readability, not visual perfection. This makes the format flexible but less predictable.
Why do I see more white space on some devices than on others?
The amount of white space is determined by font settings, margins, and screen size. On a small screen with large letters, you often see less text per page, and thus relatively more white space. This may seem messy but is inherent to the way EPUBs adapt.
Why are some elements in a different order than in the printed book?
The linear flow of an EPUB often differs from the visual logic of a print layout. With two columns of text, text boxes, sidebars, or text with overlapping elements (like call-outs), the content is placed sequentially in a fixed reading order. This can be confusing for the reader.
Why do I have less overview of the whole book than with a physical copy?
Because a reflowable EPUB has no fixed pagination or spreads, you cannot easily “flip through” it like a physical book. You can search, browse by chapter, or scroll, but a spatial overview – like knowing something was “top left on page 42” – is missing. This is a limitation of digital reflowable formatting.