Bookmark or Dog Ear? What’s Your Verdict?

Bookmark or Dog Ear? What’s Your Verdict?

There are two types of people in the world. Those who use bookmarks… and those who dog ear the corners of a page. And the divide between the two is wide.

Many booklovers believe there’s no excuse for dog-earing pages, and that damaging a book is unforgivable. Beware anyone who borrows a book from one of these types and returns it with even one dog-eared page.

But there are others, equally passionate about books, who crease and fold without a second thought. To these people, books are there to be read and loved, and there is nothing more loved than a slightly battered book.

Research suggests that bookmarks have accompanied books for about 2,000 years. Early books were delicate, so something was needed to mark a page without damaging the manuscript. The oldest existing bookmark dates back to the 6th century AD. It is an ornamented leather bookmark and was attached to the cover of an ancient manuscript found under the ruins of the monastery of Apa Jeremiah in Egypt.

Throughout history, bookmarks have accompanied books. They were used throughout the medieval period. Silk bookmarks were given as gifts during the Victorian era. In 1584, Queen Elizabeth was presented with a fringed silk bookmark by her Royal Printer. Perforated board with fringed ends was used from around 1830.

There is no doubt that historically, bookmarks play an important role in reading. But do we still need to be so precious about our modern day paperbacks?

We’ve all been there. It’s late. You’re about to turn off the light and go to sleep. You reach for a bookmark to save your page, only to realise you don’t have one. Do you get out of bed and search for something to slip between the pages? Or do you dog-ear and switch off the light, falling straight into a guilt free slumber?

 

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                      1. Dawn Casse says:

                        My paperback get a corner turned, hardbacks and borrowed books have a bookmark.

                      2. Aryanisiti says:

                        Bookmark is a must!

                      3. Moo Madeley says:

                        Soft cover books get folded in half, spine broken so I can hold it in one hand (I’ve got small hands) and the page gets folde so a corner sticks out the top of the book for next time. Brutal I understand, but the best way to get right into a book!

                      4. Janet says:

                        Definitely a bookmark. I consider dog ears vandalism of a book

                      5. Kate says:

                        Both. Whatever works at the time.

                      6. Karen Thomas says:

                        If it’s your own book, do what you like – fold it if you want – it’s your book! But if it’s borrowed, use a bookmark.

                      7. Jaki says:

                        I’m a page folder and don’t shame me!!!

                      8. Cathie says:

                        I can dog-ear my own books if I am driven to it with no choice. But certainly not books that are not mine. Sacrilege!

                      9. Amber says:

                        Omg I’m bookmarks all of the way. I can’t stand bending or folding a book or it’s pages. I’ve actually started buying hardcovers only to try and preserve them even more!

                      10. Margaret F says:

                        I have a collection of lovely bookmarks from all over the world – it’s a pleasure to use them

                      11. Ally Morgan says:

                        I make bookmarks, as gifts and to sell for charity….so it’s easy for me……bookmarks all the way!

                      12. Marg Koppel says:

                        I am a bookmark person My step grandmother ‘Ma’ always told me to use bookmarks even if it’s a piece of scrap paper never damage a beautiful book

                      13. Ayesha says:

                        Why would you destroy a book by bending the pages???!

                      14. Graham Slim says:

                        How could anyone do damage to something as beautiful as a book?

                      15. Gail Schmidt says:

                        Bookmark – irrespective of format, age, genre, ownership or condition of any book I read

                      16. Lellee says:

                        Bookmarks every book and they stay in the book. I cut up all my birthday and christmas cards to make nice inexpensive bookmarks and I also make them from any other suitable cardboard.

                      17. lauren says:

                        bookmarks all the way- I am still in school and my english teacher thinks she has to bribe us with ‘house points’ to get us to actually read, we have to keep track of the books we’ve read on the back of our bookmarks, but to be honest I just like having a bookmark over folding the page out of shape (especially if the book is new) it’s also useful to have a book log on the back in case I want to read one again…

                      18. Marcia BATTON says:

                        Book mark all the way, books are precious things, why would you damage them by folding the corner ( and on that I hate people who fold books back on themselves damaging the spine or underline, what’s wrong with post it notes etc to bring you back to the page!)

                      19. webcam says:

                        It’s awesome designed for me to have a web site,
                        which is useful in favor of my knowledge. thanks admin

                      20. belkicc says:

                        well for me, dog-earing your books or highlighting your favourite part or colouring in any graphics in a book is a proof that youve read that book. and i totally dont care if it has folded creases or slight ripped edges as long as i can read the words, im ok.