Introduction to editing & proofreading 

• Introduction to your course 
• Grammar - part one 
• Making a living as a freelancer 
• Mistakes people make 
• How the course is structured 
• The industry of editing and proofreading 
• Introducing proofreading marks 

Editing notes and colloquial speech 

• Presentation of editing notes 
• How to mark editing notes on a document or manuscript 
• Understanding colloquial language 
• What is colloquial language? 
• Colloquial language is essential to many documents 

Proofreading marks 

• Creating the perfect environment 
• Proofreading marks - part one 
• The successful career of a freelance proofreader 
• Welcome to the wonderful world of proof correction marks
• Computers and editing 
• Test your knowledge 

General knowledge and playing with words 

• What is general knowledge? 
• Case study 
• How do you fact check a document? 
• Grammar part eight; compound verbs and adverbs 

Structural editing 

• Structural editing of novels 
• Structural editing of non-fiction 
• Editing versus proofreading - an update 
• The spelling debate 
• Language is going global 

Computer editing and electronic publishing 

• Editing using a computer 
• Making editing corrections on-screen 
• Electronic publishing and e-books 
• Test your general knowledge 
• Grammar part nine - What is a split infinitive? 

Continuity 

• The importance of consistency and continuity 
• Looking out for continuity 
• The importance of reading 

Copyrighting and author's style 

• Protecting your work 
• The pitfalls of copyright and defamation 
• The difference between defamation, libel and slander 
• When is a document out of copyright? 
• Are titles of songs covered by copyright? 
• How does an editor protect himself or herself from breach of copyright? 
• Standards for editing practice 

Copy editing 

• How to get started in the freelance editing and proofreading industry 
• What is copy editing? 
• Becoming a copy editor 
• Freelance and editing rates 
• Publishers' requirements 
• Standards of punctuation 
• The copy editor's task 
• Proofreading tips 

Proofreading and design 

• Proofreading 
• Design 
• Welcome to the efficient world of computers! 
• Illustrations, photographs and graphics 

The editor and the author 

• Establishing a good relationship with an author 
• Who has the final say? 
• The editor and political correctness 

Getting down to business 

• Tutorial review 
• Reference guide 
• Parts of speech 
• Setting yourself up as a freelancer 
• Starting out 
• Getting paid 
• Promoting yourself