The sole site I know that displays the total word count of a book is Kobo’s. This detail is as useful as knowing a movie’s runtime from film databases. With reliable word counting tools available, it appears straightforward to add this feature universally across book platforms. I’m curious why such a practical metric hasn’t been implemented by all major book databases.
hey im surprisd its still not a norm. maybe they think accurate count is too cumbersome? im curious do u reckon word count info really adds value for readers or is it just extra clutter?
i reckon its not just about counting but dealing with varied editions and extras. word counts might mislead since intros and appendixes can inflate numbers. maybe easier for sites to keep it simple and ignore potential inaccurracies.
Having worked on several projects involving digital texts, I have noticed that the variability in content poses a significant hurdle in standardizing word counts. In many cases, the presence of multiple editions and supplemental material like forewords and appendices can affect the reliability of any numeric display. Technical discrepancies in text formatting further complicate the issue, which may lead to inconsistent data across different platforms. Additionally, it is likely that database maintainers prefer to concentrate on more subjective literary qualities rather than on a quantifiable metric that might not fully capture a book’s value.