Proofreading

From the basics of proofreading marks and symbols to more advanced editing skills, our good value professional proofreading training course will cover it all.

Successful proofreading can make the difference between a really effective piece of writing, and one that confuses, bores or even antagonises your reader. If you ever have to check copy or content for mistakes, then this practical interactive online e-learning course delivers everything you need to make you quicker, better and much more effective at proofreading.

"I really enjoyed the course, I found it easy to follow and the feedback element was really useful. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning or polishing up their proofreading skills."

You will learn:

What proofreading is and what it can achieve
All the areas that proofreaders need to check
Working with your house style
Layout, formatting and typography
Dealing with numbers, dates and facts
Grammar, tenses and spelling
Key punctuation rules and guidelines
The most common errors to correct
Getting the most out of your proofreading tools
The proofreading marks used by professionals
A variety of reading and checking styles and methods
How to overcome proofreading barriers and hurdles

...and much more.

Ask your tutor

The beauty of e-learning is that you can do it at a time and place to suit you. But you won't be alone!

Your trainer will talk you through the key points to improve your skills and knowledge, and at any time during your e-learning course, you can email your course tutor with any queries or comments.
. Course content includes
What is proofreading and who does it?
Boundaries and responsibilities: some key points about proofreading
It is not a creative process: the proofreader's role is not to rewrite or edit
How do we spot mistakes including:
Factual: dates, job titles, locations
Typographical: font style and size, spacing

Numerical: prices, telephone numbers
Spelling: names, commonly misspelt words
Formatting: indents, paragraph alignment, columns
Consistency: checking against house style or a previous document
Grammatical: consistent tenses, singulars and plurals
Punctuation: commas and apostrophes
Analysis of examples of the different types of mistakes
Proofreading skills/abilities including:
Attention to detail
A methodical nature
Concentration
Patience
Ability to spell
Good command of grammar and punctuation
A good command of English
Ability to question
Self-reliance
A love of reading
Barriers and how to overcome them
Boredom
Distractions
Tiredness

The knowledge we need to proofread
Understanding grammar and punctuation
Common problems
Tenses
Singulars and plurals
"That" and "Which" - the difference
Apostrophes
Commas
Proofreading marks
The British Standards Institution (BSI) marks and how and why to use them
Working with tools and mastering methods
Gathering tools including:
A ruler
A dictionary/grammar guide
A style guide (if you have one)
Reference material
A calculator
Red or contrasting pen
A sheet of white paper
Copy of proofreading marks (if you use them)
Methods we can use including:
Reading with a ruler
Reading aloud
Reading backwards
Reading from the last paragraph
Reading in pairs
Splitting the page in half
Printing in double spacing
How we proofread
On paper
On screen
Tips for proofreading on screen

Exercises and quizzes
To check your understanding of the theory, during this e-learning course you will be quizzed on all aspects of proofreading.
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Top tips and checklists
Handy tips and checklists at key stages of the course. These cover vital topics including: developing a fresh eye; using a dictionary; making multiple passes; checking corrected proofs against marked up proofs; 10 ways to effective proofreading.

Feedback from the trainer
Our expert trainers are here to provide you with invaluable one-to-one feedback on your progress. Email your work and the trainer will supply you with individual guidance, comments and practical suggestions. This unique feedback really brings your e-learning to life and makes sure you have truly grasped - and applied - all of the key principles.

Timing: You can dip in and out of this e-learning course as often as you like. It should take you approximately 1.5-2 hours in total to complete. You can work at your own pace and go back at any time, to any part of the course.