# EPUBCheck CSS-008: syntax error in a CSS file, how to fix it

Source: https://epubcc.com/epubcheck/css-008/ (updated 2026-11-04)

EPUBCheck CSS-008 is an error message: “An error occurred while parsing the CSS: ….” The CSS parser found a syntax error in a stylesheet or style element. EPUBCheck reports the parser's own description and the line and column, and rules after the error may be skipped by reading apps.

- Official message (EPUBCheck 5.4.0): An error occurred while parsing the CSS: %1$s.
- Default severity: Error

## Typical causes

- A missing semicolon or brace, or a stray character.
- Invalid syntax copied from a preprocessor such as Sass or Less, or from a stylesheet that was cut off.
- A comment that was not closed.

## How to fix it

1. Open the file EPUBCheck names (the message gives the path, line and column) in a text or EPUB editor such as Sigil, or unzip the EPUB and open it there.
2. Go to the line and column in the message and correct the syntax there.
3. Check the rule just before that position as well: a missing brace is often reported further down.
4. Rebuild the EPUB and run EPUBCheck again to confirm the message is gone.

## When it's not this

If the CSS parses but uses a property EPUB forbids, that is CSS-001.

## Sources

- EPUBCheck 5.4.0 message texts (MessageBundle.properties, w3c/epubcheck on GitHub): https://github.com/w3c/epubcheck/blob/v5.4.0/src/main/resources/com/adobe/epubcheck/messages/MessageBundle.properties (read 2026-11-04)

Message text and severity: EPUBCheck (W3C, BSD-3-Clause). Explanation: EpubCC.