Scifictopia

Fixing Common Formatting Issues

Fixing Common Formatting Issues

Even with careful formatting, small issues can appear after conversion or testing.

This page helps you quickly identify and fix common formatting issues.

Extra Space Between Paragraphs

What it looks like:
  • Large gaps between paragraphs
  • Inconsistent spacing throughout
Common cause:
  • Extra paragraph breaks
  • Spacing settings applied inconsistently
How to fix:
  • Turn on formatting marks (¶)
  • Remove extra paragraph breaks
  • Check paragraph spacing settings (Before/After = 0)

Fix in your source file, then re-export.

Missing or Incorrect Chapter Breaks

What it looks like:
  • Chapters running together
  • Chapters not starting on a new screen or page
Common cause:
  • Missing page breaks
  • Incorrect heading structure
How to fix:
  • Insert a page break before each chapter
  • Make sure chapter titles use proper heading styles

Re-export and check again in Previewer.

Table of Contents Not Working

What it looks like:
  • TOC links don’t work
  • Chapters missing from navigation
  • TOC shows incorrect entries

Common cause:
  • Headings not used correctly
  • Manual formatting instead of styles

How to fix:
  • Apply proper heading styles to chapters
  • Update or regenerate your table of contents
  • Re-export your EPUB

Inconsistent Paragraph Formatting

What it looks like:
  • Some paragraphs indented, others not
  • Uneven spacing
  • Formatting changes mid-chapter
Common cause:
  • Mixed formatting styles
  • Manual adjustments
How to fix:
  • Select your body text
  • Reapply consistent paragraph settings
  • Remove manual formatting

Text Looks Different on Devices

What it looks like:
  • Font changes unexpectedly
  • Text spacing looks different
  • Layout shifts between devices
Common cause:
  • Device settings override formatting
  • Over-styled text
How to fix:
  • Simplify formatting
  • Use standard fonts
  • Remove unnecessary styling

This is normal—focus on readability, not exact appearance.

Images Not Displaying Correctly

What it looks like:
  • Images too large or too small
  • Images misaligned
  • Large gaps around images
Common cause:
  • Oversized images
  • Complex layout or alignment
  • Text wrapping
How to fix:
  • Resize images (600–1200px width)
  • Center images on their own line
  • Remove text wrapping

Navigation Issues

What it looks like:
  • Chapters missing from menu
  • Navigation jumps to wrong section
Common cause:
  • Incorrect heading structure
  • Broken TOC links
How to fix:
  • Reapply heading styles
  • Regenerate TOC
  • Re-export EPUB

General Rule for Fixing Issues

Always fix problems in your source file—not in the EPUB.

Follow this workflow:

Edit → Export → Preview → Test → Repeat

The Goal

Fix issues quickly without overcomplicating the process.

Most problems come from small formatting inconsistencies—not major errors.

Key Takeaway

f something looks off, it’s usually a small formatting issue—and it’s fixable.