Basic Proofreading by Distance Learning
by Gillian Clarke and Margaret Aherne
Estimated study time:
At least 35 hours over 5 - 6 months
Price: £395
Download an enrolment form (PDF - 50 KB)
"I found this an excellent course that helped me get a long way towards where I want to be. The course more than paid for itself with the first job I was given. I would heartily recommend it to anyone considering a career in proofreading and editing."
C Donagher
See what other students said about the course.
Proofreading is the process of checking books, magazines and journals for errors before they are published. It is an important role, which carries a high level of responsibility. Proper training through a recognised proofreading course is therefore essential.
Basic Proofreading is run by the industry training provider for book and journal publishing and was written by founder members of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP). It has recently been revised to ensure that it's fully up to date. The SfEP also recommends the course to those who are planning to take its accreditation test.
Basic Proofreading begins by taking you through the proofreader’s place in publishing and the differences between proofreading and editing. You’ll learn the British Standards Institution symbols and, more importantly, how and when to use them. It's not just about spotting mistakes! An important aspect of the course is understanding the implications of the changes you make and knowing when it's best to leave good enough alone.
You’ll cover different kinds of proofreading (e.g. ‘blind’ proofreading) and learn how to deal with common problems. There are five units, each containing four self-check exercises and a marked assignment. These will get harder as the course goes on, ensuring that you are always challenged and always improving.
The course includes examples from many different areas of publishing. This will give you the confidence to deal with anything from children's fiction, to promotional material, to academic and educational texts.
Basic Proofreading is designed to give you the skill, judgement and understanding of the publishing process that you'll need to succeed as a proofreader (click on the link to read a case study about how two of our former students got started).
On successful completion of the course, you will receive a certificate, showing the level of pass you have achieved (pass, merit or distinction). If you're an SfEP member, the course is worth between 10 and 20 points (depending on your grade) towards upgrading your membership. You will also be eligible to enter your details on the Publishing Training Centre's Freelance Directory.
Programme summary
- The place of a proofreader in publishing
- The British Standards Institution symbols
- How to deal with non-standard characters
- Types of proof: galley proofs and page proofs
- Promotional material
- Proofs from authors’ disks
- Passing the page proofs for press
- Indexes
- After page proofs
- What to do when you complete the course
- Glossary
- Book list
Basic Proofreading - full programme ...
About the authors
Gillian Clarke has been a freelance proofreader and editor since 1975. A founder member and honorary member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP), she was also responsible for setting up its training programme. Gillian also teaches on the one-day Proofreading for Editors course.
Margaret Aherne has worked as a freelance editor, proofreader and project manager since 1986, specialising in academic books and journals in the arts and humanities. She is a founder member and advanced member of the SfEP and is also a tutor on its mentoring scheme.
Your tutor
When you begin the course, a tutor will be assigned to you. All tutors for Basic Proofreading either are or have been working proofreaders and / or editors. They have all been carefully selected according to their experience and ability.
Support from your tutor will continue to be available for up to three months after you complete the course. You may want to use this to help you with any points you need to revise or to get some additional guidance on finding work.
Online training and support
During the course, you'll also have the option of accessing additional training and support online (although it is not necessary in order to complete the course).
Free copy of the Oxford A-Z of Grammar and Punctuation
If you're thinking about enrolling on Basic Proofreading, you almost certainly already have a sound understanding of English grammar and punctuation. However, it's always useful to have a reference work to hand and the Oxford A-Z of Grammar and Punctuation is ideal for this purpose. A copy will be sent to you free of charge when you enrol on Basic Proofreading.
Course fees
Basic Proofreading by Distance Learning is £395, which can be paid in instalments. This covers all course materials, marking of modules and professional tutor support. It does not cover your postage costs or the cost of telephone calls to your tutor.
Money back guarantee
If, within 30 days of receiving your course materials (and before any assignments have been marked), you decide that the course is not for you, simply return the materials to us, in perfect condition, to receive a full refund.
How to enrol
To enrol, download and print the PDF enrolment form (file size: 50 KB) and fax it to 020 8870 8985 or send it to the Publishing Training Centre, 45 East Hill, Wandsworth, London SW18 2QZ (to view PDFs you may need to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Further questions?
You might find the answer on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Alternatively, you can request a brochure or call us on 020 8874 2718 with any queries.