Online Class: Proofreading and Copyediting 201 — Tips, Techniques, and Exercises

This self-paced class is geared for those people with little or no experience in these fields but who have a really good grasp of grammar, syntax, punctuation and spelling.

COURSE CLOSED

We're sorry, this course is no longer open for enrollment.
 
  • 15
    Lessons
  • 40
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 16
    Hours
    average time
  • 1.6
    CEUs
 
 

Course Description

We're excited to now provide an intermediate to advanced proofreading and copyediting course for students who have requested more in-depth information about these fields. This self-paced class is geared for those people with little or no experience in these fields but who have a really good grasp of grammar, syntax, punctuation and spelling.  Freelance editors and proofreaders are used not only by book publishers, but also by newspapers, magazines, government agencies, printing companies, large corporations, and internet journals, manuals, newsletters and blogs. Technology is currently changing the proofreader's and copyeditor's requirements and that's why this course will not only cover the basic skills and procedures but will also provide an understanding of computer applications within the publishing industry (i.e. copyediting software, editing electronically without software,  and MS Tracking changes).   
 
For those of you who have a passion for grammar and punctuation, and an eye for finding errors,  find out how you might turn your talents into money as a copyeditor and/or proofreader.
 

  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 

Course Lessons

Lesson 1: What Is Proofreading?

A good editor understands what you're talking and writing about and doesn't meddle too much. Irwin Shaw 54 Total Points
  • Complete Assignment: Lesson 1 Exercise
  • Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 1: What Is Proofreading?

Lesson 2: What Is Copyediting?

Copyediting is a diverse field that can be very rewarding, challenging and lucrative for a person who enjoys working with the written word. 55 Total Points
  • Lesson discussions: Proofreading vs Copy-Editing
  • Complete Assignment: Lesson 2 Exercise
  • Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 2: What Is Copyediting?

Lesson 3: Dealing With Errors

As a copyeditor and proofreader, you will be dealing with many different errors. In this lesson, you will get a refresher on the most common types of errors that you will see as an editor. 35 Total Points
  • Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 3: Dealing With Errors

Lesson 4: Copyediting Symbols

Most likely you will be doing most of your editing on the computer, so putting in computer notations to determine what a writer has to do will be covered here, but you may also be editing paper, which means you will have to write on a piece of paper. 55 Total Points
  • Complete Assignment: Lesson 4 Exercise
  • Complete: Lesson 4 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 4: Copyediting Symbols

Lesson 5: Style Sheets

One of the most important things to do when you are copy-editing is to create a style sheet. A style sheet is extremely important when you want to keep a piece of writing, no matter what it is, consistent. 34 Total Points
  • Lesson discussions: Style Sheet
  • Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 5: Style Sheets

Lesson 6: Copyediting Specialties

Copyeditors can work in a variety of different industries and each industry will require different skills in copyediting. 74 Total Points
  • Complete Assignment: Lesson 6 Exercise 1
  • Complete Assignment: Lesson 6 Exercise 2
  • Complete: Lesson 6 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 6: Copyediting Specialties

Lesson 7: Proofing Magazines and Newspapers

In the previous lesson, we touched briefly on what copyeditors and proofers do when editing magazines and newspapers. In this lesson, we will delve much further into this important and highly profitable field of copyediting. 55 Total Points
  • Complete Assignment: Lesson 7 Exercise
  • Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 7: Proofing Magazines and Newspapers

Lesson 8: Copyediting Software

As with anything, there are easy ways to do things thanks to technology and copyediting software is no different. 35 Total Points
  • Lesson discussions: Editing Software
  • Complete: Lesson 8 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 8: Copyediting Software

Lesson 9: Editing Electronically Without Software

There are several reasons to why you would edit something electronically. 35 Total Points
  • Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 9: Editing Electronically Without Software

Lesson 10: MS Tracking Changes

One of the most important tools you have at your disposal with editing electronically is tracking changes. 34 Total Points
  • Complete: Lesson 10 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 10: MS Tracking Changes

Lesson 11: Translation Copyediting

One of the most profitable areas to be a copyeditor is being a translation copyeditor. 54 Total Points
  • Complete Assignment: Lesson 11 Exercise
  • Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 11: Translation Copyediting

Lesson 12: Subjective Elements in Copyediting

A skill that a copyeditor must have is to be able to take the subjective element of a piece of writing and keep it in its current form. 55 Total Points
  • Complete Assignment: Lesson 12 Exercise
  • Complete: Lesson 12 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 12: Subjective Elements in Copyediting

Lesson 13: Dealing With Footnotes

As a copyeditor, something you need to be concerned with is footnotes. 35 Total Points
  • Complete: Lesson 13 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 13: Dealing With Footnotes

Lesson 14: Employment as a Copyeditor

Through all of the learning and lesson, the end result is always the same. You want to get a job as a copyeditor. Well, that is what this lesson is all about and by the end of it; you will know exactly what you need to do to become a copyeditor. 35 Total Points
  • Complete: Lesson 14 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 14: Employment as a Copyeditor

Lesson 15: Copyediting Exercises

This last lessons contains some copyediting exercises. 189 Total Points
  • Lesson discussions: What do you think about this course?; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments; Course Comments
  • Complete Assignment: Lesson 15 Exercise 1
  • Complete Assignment: Lesson 15 Exercise 2
  • Complete Assignment: Lesson 15 Exercise 3
  • Assessment: The Final Exam
834
Total Course Points