Introduction to Editorial Skills: Copy-Editing and Proofreading
Introduction to Editorial Skills offers new editors the opportunity to learn proofreading and copy-editing skills. You will be given expert editorial advice and the opportunity to practise the key skills of the proofreader and copy-editor across a range of different types of content, for both print and digital output.
The course content is regularly revised and updated, to ensure that it stays on top of current trends and systems in publishing. The three tutors are all well-respected editors in the industry with a wealth of experience.
Once you have taken this course, you will have the foundations on which to build a successful editorial career.
Who is it for?
Individuals working in book or journal publishing, in-house or freelance, wishing to develop copy-editing and proofreading skills, including editorial assistants, copy-editors, desk editors and production editors.
Students wishing to start a publishing career with formal training in editorial skills and individuals who have to proofread and copy-edit as part of their job.
What will you achieve?
On completing this course you will:
- have a clear sense of what you are trying to achieve when editing or proofreading a document
- understand your editorial responsibilities
- see how your role fits in with others involved in the publication process
- comprehend the substance of, and differences between, copy-editing and proofreading
Programme
The course promotes active learning through a blended approach of self-study and three online group sessions.
You will learn through a range of short and longer exercises, on-screen and offline completed independently or in small-groups, supported by group discussion and expert guidance and feedback from our highly experienced PTC tutors.
Copy-editing
You will learn to identify and fix:
- poor structure
- ambiguity
- repetition and redundancy
- poor grammar or punctuation
- inappropriate or non-inclusive language
You will also learn:
- why consistency is important
- what editorial conventions, house style and job-specific style are, and why they matter
- how to make and record their own style decisions
- how to approach copy-editing methodically and strategically
- how to follow a brief
- where to to turn for further help and guidance
Proofreading
You will also learn how to proofread effectively:
- layering
- slow reading
- judging how much to change
- marking proofs clearly and efficiently with BSI and PDF mark-up
- distinguishing editorial corrections, layout and queries
- where to turn for further advice on BSI and PDF mark-up
For more information about any of these courses, please email or sign up to receive our newsletter for updates on these and our other offerings.
Please read our Terms & Conditions
Dates
Monday, 25 November 2024
Monday, 13 January 2025
Monday, 03 March 2025
Monday, 07 April 2025
Monday, 19 May 2025
Monday, 16 June 2025
Tuesday, 08 July 2025
Monday, 08 September 2025
Monday, 06 October 2025
Monday, 24 November 2025
Date information for future sessions
November 2024
- Dates: 25, 27 & 29 November 2024
- Times: Each session will run from 9.30am to 2.00pm
- Tutor: Sarah Sodhi
January 2025
- Dates: 13, 15 & 17 January 2025
- Times: Each session will run from 9.30am to 2.00pm
- Tutor: Caroline Knight
March 2025
- Dates: 3, 5 & 7 March 2025
- Times: Each session will run from 9.30am to 2.00pm
- Tutor: Caroline Knight
April 2025
- Dates: 7, 9 & 11 April 2025
- Times: Each session will run from 9.30am to 2.00pm
- Tutor: Sarah Sodhi
May 2025
- Dates: 19, 21 & 23 May 2025
- Times: Each session will run from 9.30am to 2.00pm
- Tutor: Caroline Knight
June 2025
- Dates: 16, 18 & 20 June 2025
- Times: Each session will run from 9.30am to 2.00pm
- Tutor: Caroline Drake
July 2025
- Dates: 8, 9 & 11 July 2025
- Times: Each session will run from 9.30am to 2.00pm
- Tutor: Caroline Drake
September 2025
- Dates: 8, 10 & 12 September 2025
- Times: Each session will run from 9.30am to 2.00pm
- Tutor: Caroline Drake
October 2025
- Dates: 6, 8, & 10 October 2025
- Times: Each session will run from 9.30am to 2.00pm
- Tutor: Sarah Sodhi
November 2025
- Dates: 24, 26, & 28 November 2025
- Times: Each session will run from 9.30am to 2.00pm
- Tutor: Sarah Sodhi
Course format
- Virtual classroom
- 9.30am to 2.00pm
- Six x 1.5 hour sessions plus breaks, comprising three half-day sessions on three days
A number of discounts are available
What you will need
You will need access to a computer or laptop with a camera and microphone and with Microsoft Word and either Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (which is free) or Adobe Acrobat Professional installed. Please check that you have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
To join the course, you will need to activate a Zoom account. This takes two minutes and does not require any payment. It is purely for administrative purposes.