# EPUBCheck HTM_055: The … element should not be used…

Source: https://epublab.com/epubcheck/htm_055/ (updated 2026-11-03)

EPUBCheck HTM_055 is a usage message: “The "…" element should not be used (discouraged construct).” The document uses an HTML element that EPUB discourages because reading apps support it poorly; EPUBCheck names the element.

- Official message (EPUBCheck 5.4.0): The "%1$s" element should not be used (discouraged construct)
- Default severity: Usage

## Typical causes

- Elements carried over from web pages.

## How to fix it

- Replace the element with a better-supported alternative or remove it.

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