Proofreading

Course summary

Good proofreading makes a valuable contribution to the clarity of your organisation's written material. It is a tough discipline, but with the right approach anyone can become a competent proofreader by learning how to identify and correct writing mistakes. This training course will give you lots of tips and leave you with a clear understanding of how to proofread. You will be able to put it into practice immediately.


Course outline

The course explains general proofreading strategies and provides you with a comprehensive checklist. Over the day you will cover:

• spelling
• punctuation
• paragraphing
• proofreading symbols
• style - general points
• identifying and applying house style
• sense and logic on the page
• ten ways to read
• more than 30 particular points to look out for when you've been over the piece a hundred times and feel you can read no more
• political correctness and grammatical accuracy
• understanding layout

The training course takes several approaches to proofreading, including training sessions and practical exercises. You will work individually but with plenty of opportunity for group work and discussion.
"A great day. Now that I know what to do, I'm going to be much more organised and thorough about the way I proof. This will definitely improve the standard of my work." TH, Economy and Society "I thought the course was really good in that it touched on areas I may have felt embarrassed to raise." LH, Campden Charities "Trainer taught in lighthearted, humorous manner which made learning much less painful." AN, Institution of Highways and Transportation

Who is this course for?

The course is suitable for anyone who is involved in editing reports, newsletters, brochures, bulletins or leaflets. It is of equal benefit to those new to proofreading, and to those who have some experience but wish to improve their skills.


What will this course help me do: learning outcomes?

This course will help you gain the skills you need to proofread and copy edit your organisation's written material. It will enable you to assess the copy, and approach the task methodically.