The best proofreading courses are programs that involve practice jobs, exams, tutoring, a certificate of completion, and a community of fellow students and graduates.
Is an Online Proofreading Course Right for You?
Are you the person your friends turn to when they need someone to proofread a letter before sending it? Maybe you were “that one kid” in class who actually looked forward to grammar assignments while the other kids groaned.
Let’s face it, if you’re on a proofreading blog, you’ve likely always had a knack for spotting weird sentence structure and all things grammar-related. Very few people are blessed (cursed?) with this gift, and even fewer people have figured out how to use their blessing to make money and form a career!
Did you know that the demand for transcript proofreaders has been on the rise every year since 2010?
Now that we live in a post-pandemic world that’s friendly to freelance work, the demand for proofreaders is higher than ever. As a result, online courses are popping up left and right! Proofread Anywhere has offered high-level general and transcript proofreading courses since 2014.
While Proofread Anywhere has plenty of glowing student reviews, proofreading is not easy work, and you will not become rich overnight. That said, you are in complete control when it comes to how many hours you work and the income you ultimately earn.
Essential Proofreading Skills
To become a proofreader, you don’t need previous experience but you do need to produce error-free documents to be a professional proofreader. The Proofread Anywhere courses will not only give you an introduction to proofreading but also the skills to correct writing errors and become a successful freelance proofreader.
Proofreaders will need:
- Strong attention to detail: This is a no-brainer. You must be able to catch those pesky errors that editors and writers might miss.
- Grammar, punctuation, and spelling skills should be far above average: If errors such as using “your” vs. “you’re” or random apostrophes added into plural nouns make you restless, you could be a natural!
- Dedication: Working multiple freelance proofreading jobs can be difficult and stressful, so you need to be willing to continue to work through tough times in order to find success.
Optional Skills and Experience
Editing
Even if you are a natural at proofreading, English is a dynamic language that progresses over time, so be prepared to stay up to date with your grammar education. Many of our students have reported that rules they learned in English class 20 years ago aren’t even correct anymore!
If you have experience in editing, grammar, and spelling, it may be easier for you to become a professional proofreader.
Language evolution is the #1 reason why choosing an online proofreading course with lifetime access to updates is in your best interest. As the industry evolves, we update the content — so you can update your brain!
Writing and Publishing
Whether you have experience writing emails, guides, or novels, having publishing and writing experience can help you understand the editing and proofreading process and how it feels to have your work edited or proofread.
Having connections within the writing and publishing industry can also help you to find clients once you have your proofreading certificate and training finished.
proofreading career
What is Included in the Best Online Proofreading Courses?
No course would be complete without a thorough overview of the most common errors writers make in their copy.
The best online proofreading courses include modules that cover English grammar skills such as:
- Apostrophes
- Capitalization
- Commas and semicolons
- Commonly misused words
- Hyphens
- Numbers
- Noun and pronoun agreement
- Quotation marks and italics
- Subject and verb agreement
- Common spelling errors
Choose a proofreading course that covers the nuances found among different English-speaking countries like the UK and Canada. It’s not just spelling that varies; punctuation varies as well.
Proofreading courses should also include access to tutors, downloadable resources, support, and a community so you can find answers when you are stuck.
Not All Online Proofreading Courses Are Created Equal!
Some proofreading courses focus heavily on the “theory” of proofreading but include very little practice. What’s the point in knowing how to do the work if you have no idea how to get the work?
The best online proofreading courses teach you:
- Common proofreading strategies
- How to ask for feedback from proofreading clients
- How to ask for referrals
- How to organize your business (including taxes)
- How to set up your freelance website and social media for maximum exposure
- How to network with potential proofreading clients
There’s so much more to becoming a proofreader than just proofreading services.
Learning how to market your services and communicate with your clients effectively is paramount. The best proofreading courses include step-by-step instructions for everything you need to do — including how to register a domain name and craft each page of your website.
How to Choose a Proofreading Course for You
Of course, any online proofreading course can claim to be the best. You need to do thorough research and ask questions to ensure you’re choosing the best course.
Here are some questions to ask to help you choose a proofreading course:
- Does the proofreading course offer the proofreading skills needed for a successful career? If an online course suggests that you can finish the coursework within a few days, then the course is not comprehensive enough. You should learn more than the basics of proofreading if you want to be successful.
- Does the course offer how-to information relating to business and marketing? While most proofreading courses cover how to become a proofreader, learning to think like a business person is an entirely different set of skills. Make sure the course you choose offers regularly updated information on business setup, accounting/taxes, and marketing.
- Does the proofreading course include access to a student community? Working alongside fellow students can dramatically improve your course experience. Online proofreading classes can be difficult, so having support can really help.
The best proofreading courses also cover how to work with various software and style guides that your clients may use. The more clients you take on, the more likely it is that you’ll need to use different tools. You can receive proofreading work in Microsoft Word, another in Google Docs, and still another in PDF format.
Not tech-savvy? No worries! If you choose a proofreading course with a community component, you can easily find help from a fellow student or support staff.
How To Join a Course
You can join our General Proofreading: Theory and Practice course or you can specialize with the Transcript Proofreading course. Proofread Anywhere also offers an intro course for those who aren’t sure if proofreading is right for them.
Since 2014, Proofread Anywhere has offered the best online proofreading courses — courses that cover it all: proofreading techniques, practice, business setup, accounting, marketing, and even mastering your mindset as a freelancer.
With our lifetime support, lifetime access, all updates at no additional cost, hand-graded exams, and an incredible student community, you’ve got a recipe for success that grows right along with you.
With our holistic approach to becoming a proofreader, we guarantee you won’t find a better course anywhere else!
Grab a seat in our free online workshop to get started now.