Proofreading

Proofreading or Proof reading? Whatever you choose, one of ContentETC's proofreading top tips is that you have to be consistent. 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."

Suitable for:

Anyone who needs to proofread anything, for professional, corporate, academic or personal use. Ideal companion for our Top 20 grammar mistakes and how to avoid them course.

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.

	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.
	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. Then, once you've improved your work, the trainer will appraise your revised content and provide a second set of constructive comments. 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.

If you have any queries, we’d be delighted to help, just email us.

Please note that this course is intended for speakers of English.