Sometimes we think we're pretty clever. It's probably only natural, especially if you spend enough time working very hard at something, that you'll find a new, better, streamlined way to accomplish your work.

When we list books online, our work at The Book Shop is to clearly and articulately describe the physical book and its condition for those who cannot inspect it in person, often in a very concentrated form of descriptive language laced with book-specific terminology known as dense writing; in other words, to paint exacting word pictures accessible not only to seasoned collectors, but to those new at online book buying as well.

New Listers frequently ask, "What's the best way to describe this kind of flaw on this part of the book?" This is often a concern because we only employ two (softcover or hardcover without dustjacket) or three (hardcover with dustjacket) grammatically correct sentences to describe a book, and there are very definite space limitations.

The selections below are meant as good examples of dense writing, of our best answers to the questions new Listers ask. This is only the beginning of the list. More will be added as they become available.

... short superficial crease to the lower fore-edge corner of the rear cover ....

... short closed edge tears carefully tape-repaired to the inside of the lower rear panel ....

... several closed edge tears and associated crinkling carefully tape-repaired to the inside of the dustjacket ....