Proofreading and Copyediting Course

Lesson 1 • The Proofreader's Mindset and Workflow

Introduces the disciplined, detail-oriented approach required for accurate proofreading. Connects mindset to consistent, repeatable output quality.

Lesson 2 • Core Proofreading Marks and Notation

Teaches standard proofreading symbols used in print and digital markup. Accurate notation ensures clear communication with authors and designers.

Lesson 3 • Defining Style and Proofreading

Clarifies the difference between style, grammar, and mechanics. Establishes the conceptual baseline for all subsequent proofreading work.

Lesson 1 • Semicolons, Colons, and Dashes

Explains when each mark is appropriate and how style guides differ on dash usage. Builds on comma knowledge to handle more complex sentence structures.

Lesson 2 • Comma Usage and Common Errors

Covers serial commas, introductory clauses, and restrictive vs. nonrestrictive modifiers. Directly addresses the most frequent punctuation errors in professional text.

Lesson 3 • Ellipses, Brackets, and Parentheses

Teaches correct formatting of ellipses and the functional difference between brackets and parentheses. Completes the punctuation toolkit for professional proofreading.

Lesson 1 • Spelling Consistency and Variant Forms

Addresses American vs. British spelling, preferred dictionary use, and variant spellings. Ensures uniform spelling throughout a document regardless of author input.

Lesson 2 • Capitalization Rules by Context

Covers title case, sentence case, proper nouns, and job titles. Connects capitalization choices to style-guide authority and document register.

Lesson 3 • Hyphenation of Compound Words

Explains open, closed, and hyphenated compound forms and when each applies. Builds on punctuation chapter knowledge to handle compound-word decisions confidently.

Lesson 1 • Tables, Lists, and Numerical Data

Applies number-formatting rules to structured data in tables and lists. Connects individual numeral rules to document-level consistency checks.

Lesson 2 • Numeral vs. Spelled-Out Number Rules

Covers the threshold rules for spelling out numbers and exceptions by style guide. Establishes the decision framework used throughout this chapter.

Lesson 3 • Units of Measure and Scientific Notation

Teaches when to abbreviate units, spacing between numeral and unit, and scientific notation style. Ensures accuracy in technical and scientific documents.

Lesson 1 • Modifiers: Dangling and Misplaced

Teaches recognition and correction of dangling and misplaced modifiers. Builds on agreement knowledge to address sentence-structure errors that distort meaning.

Lesson 2 • Verb Tense and Mood Consistency

Addresses tense shifts, subjunctive mood, and sequence of tenses. Ensures narrative and instructional documents maintain consistent temporal logic.

Lesson 3 • Sentence Boundaries and Run-Ons

Covers fragments, run-on sentences, and fused sentences. Completes the grammar toolkit by addressing the most disruptive sentence-level errors.

Lesson 4 • Subject-Verb and Pronoun Agreement

Covers agreement errors with collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and compound subjects. Provides the grammatical foundation for all sentence-level proofreading.

Lesson 1 • Terminology and Word-Choice Consistency

Addresses synonym variation, preferred term lists, and jargon control. Connects word-choice consistency to brand and professional credibility.

Lesson 2 • Inclusive and Bias-Free Language

Covers style-guide guidance on inclusive language, avoiding stereotypes, and person-first phrasing. Positions the proofreader as a guardian of respectful, professional communication.

Lesson 3 • Voice Consistency: Active and Passive

Teaches how to identify voice shifts and when passive voice is stylistically appropriate. Builds on grammar chapter knowledge to apply voice rules document-wide.

Lesson 1 • Structural and Formatting Consistency

Checks heading hierarchy, list formatting, and spacing for document-wide consistency. Extends sentence-level skills to the full document structure.

Lesson 2 • Proofreading Long and Complex Documents

Addresses fatigue management, section-by-section tracking, and version control for lengthy documents. Scales individual proofreading skills to book-length or report-length work.

Lesson 3 • Multi-Pass Proofreading Techniques

Introduces dedicated passes for different error types to improve catch rates. Builds on the single-pass mindset introduced in Chapter 1 with a structured multi-pass system.

Lesson 4 • Cross-Reference and Citation Accuracy

Teaches verification of internal cross-references, footnotes, and citation formatting. Prevents factual and navigational errors that undermine document reliability.

Lesson 1 • Academic and Formal Report Proofreading

Covers citation style compliance, abstract accuracy, and formal register maintenance. Applies the full proofreading skill set to structured academic and professional reports.

Lesson 2 • Technical and Scientific Documents

Applies number, unit, and terminology rules to technical reports and scientific papers. Builds on Chapters 4 and 5 to handle the precision demands of technical writing.

Lesson 3 • Marketing and Promotional Copy

Addresses brand voice, tagline consistency, and call-to-action phrasing in promotional materials. Applies tone and consistency skills to high-stakes, audience-facing content.

Lesson 4 • Proofreading Digital and Web Content

Covers hyperlink text, metadata, alt text, and on-screen readability standards. Extends print proofreading skills to the specific requirements of digital publication.