ICS Professional Proofreader

ICS Professional Proofreader

Our Professional Proofreader course can take you into a range of proofreader jobs, in publishing, printing or advertising. If you have an eye for detail and are a stickler for correct spelling, punctuation and grammar, proofreading can be an ideal career for you, adding a professional edge to your clients' printed products.

Our proofreading course will introduce you to the qualities that make a successful proofreader. You'll learn proofreading basics, such as the marks and terms proofreaders use to convey their corrections, and how to work with house styles and style sheets.

Common issues in spelling and grammar will be explored as part of the Professional Proofreader course, and you'll discover the importance of rules governing covering topics such as capitalisation and hyphenation.

So that you'll be ready for a professional proofreading position, you'll not just learn how to proofread, but will explore the role of the proofreader in a variety of publishing and printing settings. You'll look at just how proofreaders interact with other members of their team, such as the copy editor and typesetter.

Entry Requirements

You don't need any previous experience or qualifications to enrol in our Professional Proofreader course. That's because we believe in making home study - and a rewarding future - as accessible as possible.

Where will I go from here?

As a professional proofreader, you could find opportunities for work in publishing, printing and other communications-based businesses. Many clients use freelance proofreaders, allowing you to successfully establish your own business and work from home.

What will I gain?

On completion, you'll receive the ICS Diploma in Proofreading.

Assessment

Assessments are a great way of checking your progress. Throughout the Professional Proofreader course, you'll complete five assessments.

By completing all five assessments you will demonstrate that you are able to perform all aspects of proofreading, from spotting basic spelling and grammatical errors to ensuring that a document adheres to a house style.

Generally, assessments can be sent to us online via the ICS Student Community: it's the fastest way to receive your results.

What will I get?

Teaching support

  • We won't leave you on your own. Your experienced personal tutor is available online and over the phone, ready to help you with all the guidance and motivation you need.

Peer support

  • When you enrol, you become part of the ICS Online Student Community. As well as being able to contact tutors and submit work online, you'll have instant access to your fellow students, and the chance to discuss your work, ask questions and make new friends.

Specialised texts

  • All of your teaching materials have been prepared by experts in your chosen field. They've also been devised with the unique requirements of home study in mind, making them highly effective distance learning tools.

Study Period

12 months

Hours of study

120 hours

Support period

12 months

Course code

D51

Course cost

£399.00

Additional fees

There are no registration or examination fees for our Professional Proofreader course.

See your course content

Key Topics

Introduction to Proofreading

  • This unit covers an overview of the publishing process and the role of the proofreader in this context. It will explore the qualities needed by a good proofreader and introduce you to the concepts of proof, editorial style, house style and style sheet. You will learn to break a book down into components and begin examining various texts to identify mistakes.

Mechanics of Mark-Up

  • You will learn to recognise proof correction marks and how to use them, and explore some common problems you might come across when working on proofs. You will also learn about special treatments of text and making appropriate changes. You will familiarise yourself with the colour coding system and discover how, why and when you use it.

Spelling, Hyphenation, Punctuation and Grammar

  • You'll explore some spelling rules and problems, as well as the essentials of grammar and common grammatical errors. You will understand the principles of hyphenation and word division and consider a number of questions surrounding compound items. And you'll study the key aspects of punctuation and practice further marking-up errors using standard proof correction marks.

House Style, Layout and Design

  • You will study style sheets and learn about the role of the design team. You will learn about design specifications and deepen your knowledge of technical design matters, including typefaces, fonts and picas. You will practice text alignment and structure and understand the coded heading system. And you'll learn about electronic copy-editing and compile a proof correction reference chart.

Working Freelance

  • You will review your progress and explore the world of working as a professional proofreader. You'll learn about the pros and cons of working from home, and consider how to build your client-base and promote your services. You will also learn about professional standards and of the costs involved in setting up and running your own proofreading business, and finally gain some practical advice in finance and administration.

You can either pay for your Professional Proofreader course in full or opt for a monthly payment plan.

Course fee: £399 (excluding discounts)

Or speak to one of our course advisors now for payment plans.