Book & eBook Writing eBook Formatting & Design 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What file format is most widely accepted for eBook distribution across major retail platforms?
- EPUB (Correct answer)
- DOCX
- MOBI
Correct answer: EPUB
EPUB is the industry-standard eBook format accepted by Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and most other major retailers.
Question 2: What proprietary eBook format does Amazon Kindle primarily use?
- AZW/KFX (Correct answer)
- EPUB3
- LIT
- FB2
Correct answer: AZW/KFX
Amazon Kindle uses the AZW and KFX formats derived from the MOBI standard, which Kindle devices and apps render natively.
Question 3: Why should authors avoid using tabs or multiple spaces to indent paragraphs in eBook files?
- eBook reflowable text ignores tabs and spaces, causing unpredictable formatting across devices (Correct answer)
- Tabs increase file size beyond retailer limits
- Retailers filter out documents that contain tab characters
- Tabs only render correctly on desktop Kindle apps
Correct answer: eBook reflowable text ignores tabs and spaces, causing unpredictable formatting across devices
Reflowable eBook formats resize text dynamically, so tab-based indents break formatting; CSS styles applied to paragraph tags are used instead.
Question 4: What does 'reflowable' mean when describing an eBook?
- The text adapts to fit any screen size or font setting chosen by the reader (Correct answer)
- The book automatically updates with new content from the author
- Pages are fixed like a scanned PDF regardless of device
- The eBook streams content from the internet page by page
Correct answer: The text adapts to fit any screen size or font setting chosen by the reader
A reflowable eBook dynamically adjusts its layout to match the reader's device screen size, orientation, and preferred font size.
Question 5: What is the recommended image resolution for eBook cover files uploaded to most retailers?
- At least 2,500 pixels on the longest side at 300 DPI (Correct answer)
- 72 DPI screen resolution is sufficient for all eBooks
- Exactly 600×800 pixels regardless of format
- 1,000 pixels on the longest side at 150 DPI
Correct answer: At least 2,500 pixels on the longest side at 300 DPI
Most retailers require eBook covers to be at least 2,500 pixels on the longest side at 300 DPI to look sharp on high-resolution tablet and phone screens.
Question 6: Which software tool is commonly used by professional eBook formatters to create both print and digital layouts?
- Vellum (Correct answer)
- Microsoft Publisher
- Google Slides
- Adobe Photoshop
Correct answer: Vellum
Vellum is a popular macOS formatting tool that produces beautifully styled EPUB, MOBI, and print PDF files with minimal manual coding.
Book & eBook Writing eBook Formatting & Design 1
What file format is most widely accepted for eBook distribution across major retail platforms?