Editing and Proofreading

How to Become a Proofreader

Easy steps to learn how to become a proofreader

So, you have no formal training, but you’re curious about how to become a proofreader because you have seen proofreading jobs that you think fit your skills and expertise well. If you paid attention in your high school English classes, you already have the basics. You know all about correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. But, there is much more to proofreading than the basics, and that’s where specialized classes and training come in.

How to become a proofreader

One way to learn how to become a proofreader is to search your public library for books on proofreading. If there is a particular field that interests you (e.g., science), you might contact the larger institutions in that field and ask them to recommend the training or qualifications they look for in job applicants. If your goal is to work directly with writers or an advertising agency, talk to people in those fields. It is always beneficial to research proofreading by consulting the end user.

Another path to becoming a proofreader is taking online proofreading courses. These courses will teach you how to apply the correct style, formatting, and layout to a document. A good proofreading course will teach you about margins, lists, bullets, headlines, headings, subheadings, captions, vocabulary, and alphabetized copy.

When you become a proofreader, you will deal with more than just words—you will also have to examine numerical charts, tables, and graphs. In addition, if you proofread online, you will need to become familiar with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, and LaTeX.

Becoming a proofreader also involves learning a variety of stylebooks and formats, including the Associated Press Stylebook, The Chicago Manual of Style (often called Chicago or CMOS), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (often called APA), the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (MLA is the Modern Language Association), and A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (often simply called Turabian, after the author who composed the guide).

Why take a proofreading course?

In the process of learning how to become a proofreader, it is important to take into account your expertise in a particular field as well as your experience. However, without formal training, you may have difficulty getting a job. Publishers and employers generally like to see evidence of your education, which you will enhance after taking a certified proofreading course.

Which proofreading course should you take?

There are many commercial course options for those seeking to learn how to become a proofreader, but it’s hard to know whom to trust. A good way to embark on discovering how to be a proofreader is to talk to someone who is already a proofreader. If you don’t know anyone personally, you can find proofreaders online, on blogs, on LinkedIn, and on Twitter. Another good source of information is a national organization for editors and proofreaders. Some of these organizations may offer their own proofreading programs. For example, in London, England, the Publishing Training Centre at Book House, an educational charity, offers an online proofreading course. So does the Society for Editors and Proofreaders, also in London.

How Do I Become an Editor?

A simple guide to becoming an editor

Are you wondering “How do I become an editor”? Well, the answer is actually quite simple: the same way you get to Carnegie Hall. Practice, practice, practice!

While there is no single educational or occupational path to becoming an editor, those interested in editing as a career tend to have one main thing in common: obsessive–compulsive editing disorder (OCED). They also share the following traits: a passion for language, reading, and learning; attention to detail; an overwhelming urge to improve communication; and a qualification in a subject such as English, journalism, technical communication, or teaching. Some people plan to be editors right out of school, and others come to the profession in a more roundabout way. But one thing they all have in common is a natural predisposition for wordsmithery.

Education and training

Years ago, there were no formal training programs for those aspiring to become editors, but this is no longer the case. Some U.S. educational institutions that offer editing courses include the following:

A list of Canadian institutions that offer editing courses can be found on the Editors’ Association of Canada web site. This association, and others like it—such as the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors, and the Society for Editors and Proofreaders—also offer training courses, certification, workshops, and seminars.

Editing as a career

To become an editor, you must have an excellent understanding of grammar, strong analytical skills, sound computer skills, a working knowledge of various style guides, good people skills, strong organizational skills, the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, and an overwhelming desire to help people communicate as clearly as possible.

There are many types of editors and many industries in which editors work, ranging from the publishing and educational fields to the scientific and medical fields. Editors can work alone or in collaboration with others, such as writers, publishers, or project managers. Whether you are interested in being a freelance editor or being part of an editorial team, the road to becoming an editor is an educational adventure. If you choose to do freelance work, keep in mind the importance of building and maintaining a strong network of colleagues, acquaintances, and friends. You never know who may be able to tip you off to a good job in the future. It is also important to market yourself, something that is easy to do using the various social and professional networking sites available.

So, what’s stopping you? Start on the path to editing as a career, helping others communicate more clearly and learning interesting new things every day. While there is no cure for OCED, becoming a professional editor is a great outlet for your compulsion!

Basic English Grammar: What It Is and Why It’s Important

What is basic English grammar?

English grammar is defined as the body of rules that describe the structure of words, phrases, clauses, and sentences in the English language. Whether you have just started learning English or are a native speaker, you need to know the basic rules of the language. Developing a solid foundation in basic English grammar helps you construct sentences correctly and makes it easier to improve both your spoken and written communication skills.

FYI: A simplified history lesson

The Indo-European family of languages dates back to 3,000 BC and consists of nine language groups: Indian, Iranian, Anatolic, Albanian, Celtic, Hellenic, Balto-Slavic, Italic, and Germanic. The Germanic tribes occupied central and western Europe, and the Anglo-Saxons partly descended from the Germanic tribes who migrated from continental Europe and settled in the south and east of Britain beginning in the early 5th century. The term Anglo-Saxon is also used to describe the language that is today more correctly called Old English, which was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons in England (and parts of southeastern Scotland) between the mid-5th and mid-12th centuries. After that time, the language was known as Middle English. Even though the English we use today is a Germanic language, its parent is Indo-European. The first published English grammar rules were contained in the Pamphlet for Grammar, written by William Bullokar in 1586. Over the centuries, basic English grammar rules have evolved continuously.

Why is basic English grammar important?

Language clarifies relationships, regulates interactions, increases an individual’s persuasive power, reveals discrepancies, and manages impressions.

The English language has historical, social, and regional variations (dialects). Standard English can be formal, such as the English used in published works, business meetings, classrooms, school reports, and formal speeches. Standard English can also be informal, such as the English used in our conversations with friends and in casual letters. Another form of English is classified as nonstandard English; it is characterized by faulty word usage, slang, and incorrect grammar. Using nonstandard English can make your writing seem as though it was written by an uneducated person.

Written standard English is shaped by the occasion, audience, purpose, and setting. It includes ordinary language (such as that used in everyday speech and writing), scientific language (which is more precise than ordinary language and is typically used to report technical data and facts), and poetic language (which is descriptive and meant to appeal to a reader’s senses). It is important to note that there are grammatical differences between the standard forms of British English, American English, and Australian English.

As you can see, the diverse forms of the English language, as well as their associated grammar conventions, are quite complex. As you might also expect, your use of basic English grammar will indicate your level of education or professionalism to your audience, be it a prospective employer, a potential partner, or the general public. Your grasp of the basic rules of English grammar could be of major significance to your future—economic or otherwise!