Professional Editing & Proofreading Course

Study our Professional Editing and Proofreading Course.

Editing and proofreading is a highly portable and marketable skillset. The publishing industry, book companies, government departments, printing companies and businesses mainly use freelance editors and proofreaders to review the thousands of novels and non-fiction volumes published every year.

The Cengage Education Professional Editing & Proofreading course introduces students to proofreading marks – the essential tools of the proofreader’s trade. You’ll learn about copy editing, structural editing and continuity.

The course is ideal for freelance and in-house wordsmiths wanting to add these specialist skills to their portfolios.

On completion of your course:

Upon completion of this course you will be awarded a Cengage Education Professional Editing & Proofreading Certificate.

* Terms and conditions apply
Course Number 90120
Course Type Correspondence
Course Duration Max 24 months
Study Hours Approx 180 hrs
Qualification Cengage Certificate

Learning periods

This course is divided into 3 learning periods.

Assessment details

  • 12 written assessments

Computer requirements

To complete this course you will need access to:

  • A computer with Windows® 95/98 or higher
  • CD-ROM drive

Extra learning materials included

  • Style manual for authors, editors and printers
  • Mark up pen

Entry requirements
Cengage Certificate, Statements of Attainment, Certificate I & Certificate II courses

No entry requirements apply to these courses.

English Language Requirements:

If English is your second language and you did not complete the last two years of secondary education in English you are required to provide evidence of English language competence before enrolling. Examples of appropriate evidence are:

Evidence

Example

IELTS

Overall score of 5.5

TOEFL

530 (paper), 197 (computer) or 71 Internet.

Evidence of employment in an English speaking country.

12 month period of employment: Letters of Appointment, Letters of Reference, Testimonials, Performance Appraisals etc

Not sure if you meet the entry requirements?
Please call 1300 853 033

Subjects You’ll Cover

Introduction to editing & proofreading

  • Introduction to your course
  • Grammar - part one
  • Making a living as a freelancer
  • Mistakes people make
  • How the course is structured
  • The industry of editing and proofreading
  • Introducing proofreading marks

Proofreading marks

  • Creating the perfect environment
  • Proofreading marks - part one
  • The successful career of a freelance proofreader
  • Welcome to the wonderful world of proof correction marks
  • Computers and editing
  • Test your knowledge

Structural editing

  • Structural editing of novels
  • Structural editing of non-fiction
  • Editing versus proofreading - an update
  • The spelling debate
  • Language is going global

Continuity

  • The importance of consistency and continuity
  • Looking out for continuity
  • The importance of reading

Copy editing

  • How to get started in the freelance editing and proofreading industry
  • What is copy editing?
  • Becoming a copy editor
  • Freelance and editing rates
  • Publishers' requirements
  • Standards of punctuation
  • The copy editor's task
  • Proofreading tips

The editor and the author

  • Establishing a good relationship with an author
  • Who has the final say?
  • The editor and political correctness

Editing notes and colloquial speech

  • Presentation of editing notes
  • How to mark editing notes on a document or manuscript
  • Understanding colloquial language
  • What is colloquial language?
  • Colloquial language is essential to many documents

General knowledge and playing with words

  • What is general knowledge?
  • Case study
  • How do you fact check a document?
  • Grammar part eight – compound verbs and adverbs

Computer editing and electronic publishing

  • Editing using a computer
  • Making editing corrections on-screen
  • Electronic publishing and e-books
  • Test your general knowledge
  • Grammar part nine - What is a split infinitive?

Copyrighting and author's style

  • Protecting your work
  • The pitfalls of copyright and defamation
  • The difference between defamation, libel and slander
  • When is a document out of copyright?
  • Are titles of songs covered by copyright?
  • How does an editor protect himself or herself from breach of copyright?
  • Australian standards for editing practice

Proofreading and design

  • Proofreading
  • Design
  • Welcome to the efficient world of computers!
  • Illustrations, photographs and graphics

Getting down to business

  • Tutorial review
  • Reference guide
  • Parts of speech
  • Setting yourself up as a freelancer
  • Starting out
  • Getting paid
  • Promoting yourself

* Fortnightly payment plans also available –     call our Sales team on 1300 853 033 .

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