Welcome to the Gpuss Online Proofreading Course. It’s a quick and intuitive series of lessons on proofreading to elevate you from someone who has an interest in proofreading professionally to someone who’s ready to enter the workplace. Once you’ve digested this introduction, please visit the sign-up page to purchase one year’s access for £35.
Who is the course aimed at?
The course assumes you’re already comfortable with the rules of grammar and have a good grasp of spelling and something of an ability to spot errors. It is not an English course. However, you do not need a degree in English to become a proofreader. Being well read is enough for many people, as is a constant familiarity with well written material.
How much does it cost?
The course costs £35 in the UK (see http://www.xe.com/ for your local price) and this gets you one year’s access to the complete online resource.
Is there a qualification at the end of the course?
There is no universally recognised proofreading qualification in the UK. This course is designed for self-study, and there are tests and a quiz at its conclusion. If you are satisfied with how you do in these tests, you’re probably ready to start looking for work.
Is there a guarantee of work at the end of it?
Like any course, the Gpuss Online Proofreading Course prepares you for the workplace, but the availability of freelance or full-time employment positions is dependent on factors outside anyone’s control. We believe that our quick and simple method gives you the best chance of hitting the ground running if and when you do find employment, however.
Many employers are complaining of a poor standard of English among school-leavers and even graduates (See BBC, Telegraph, Mail, Mail for example), and we believe that this potentially enhances the employability of proofreaders within companies. Also, a vast amount of material is published online and on paper, and if it is to retain its professionalism in a crowded marketplace, it needs to be proofread and edited. Much of a modern proofreader’s time is spent working on-screen on material intended for digital media.
What support is there?
All students are welcome to email with any problems they encounter with the course, and there is a comment section at the end of many of the course’s pages where you can raise queries in a “classroom” setting, i.e. where all other students can see your question and Gpuss’s response. There is also an active forum, which is free for anyone to join and contribute to.
Learn in a weekend, a week or a year
In summary, the course includes:
- a complete and descriptive section on the proofreading symbols
- and introduction to copy editing
- a glossary of proofreading, typographical and editing terms
- tests in various aspects of the trade that tell you when you’re ready to start looking for work
- a linked, but fully public, proofreading forum
- over 50,000 words of information – two to three days’ study or a week’s worth of evenings
- step-by-step instructions on the mechanics of proofreading
- a further reading list
- a section on US and British English
- an email helpline