Proofreading & Grammar Course

Available for groups as a self-paced online course, instructor-led virtual or instructor-led onsite training, and for individuals as a self-paced online course.

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Learn exactly how we structure this course to help you or your team proofread effectively and master grammar.

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This course teaches the optimal proofreading process to find and correct errors in business documents. To correct grammar, you need to know grammar. This course is a deep dive into nuanced grammar, punctuation, and format issues to ensure writing is correct and professional.

Learn how to identify and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, format, word choice, voice, tone, style, and more. Practice exercises review all the rules you need for successful proofreading. 

An individualized grammar diagnosis, a correction strategy, and correction resources are included.

This course ends with a final proofreading review of any work document as well as the opportunity to ask your instructor any additional proofreading or grammar questions.

INDIVIDUALS

$645

Online self-paced course available for individuals.

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GROUPS

Online self-paced course and instructor-led training can be customized to match your needs. Group discounts apply.

Customize for Groups

Skills gained in this course:

  • Effectively proofread and correct documents using a proven proofreading process.
  • Understand grammar and apply grammar correctly in business documents.
  • Find and correct errors in less time.
  • Create polished, correct, and professional business documents.
  • Eliminate back-and-forth and rewrites to minimize frustration.

Professional documents through correct grammar and proofreading.

Ten detailed lessons on the fundamentals of business grammar and proofreading.

Downloadable resources and training materials to maintain the practical skills learned throughout the training.

A list of simple tools and outside resources to continually hone proofreading skills.

Detailed, individualized written instructor feedback on actual business documents.

Expert feedback for every student.

During the course, you will proofread for grammar, punctuation, and format errors in documents and in planted errors in the course. You'll discover the errors you habitually miss across these exercises and additional quizzes. 

Your instructor will review your writing and provide a detailed grammar diagnosis, along with a correction strategy and additional resources. 

Flexible training to meet your needs.

Online course for individuals or groups

Online, self-paced classes allow individuals and teams to train on their own schedule with 24/7 access to the course. This method has flexible deadlines for busy professionals and groups across different time zones to all receive the same training.

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Virtual instructor-led course for groups

Virtual training allows for highly engaging instruction, exercises, and discussion. Learners complete proofreading exercises in breakout rooms with fellow students, break down documents individually, and are encouraged to participate in conversations and ask questions.

Onsite instructor-led course for groups

In-person training is highly interactive, with many individual and shared activities. Groups work together at your location to deconstruct documents, deep dive into individual writing concerns, edit an upcoming document, and more.

Schedule a call to find out more about group training options
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Proofreading course certificate

Certificate of Completion

Participants will earn a personalized completion certificate after finishing this course. This can be displayed on a LinkedIn profile, downloaded to print and hang, or mentioned in a résumé.
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What is included in this course?

This business proofreading course is split into several detailed lessons and includes online resources.

Getting Started

An Introduction and Self-Assessment

This section outlines the necessary foundation for the basics of proofreading.

Share specific learning goals that you want to achieve by the end of the course. This will help us to define your specific skill gaps.

Lesson 1

Intro to Proofreading

If you are known in your organization as an excellent proofreader (or you're a freelance proofreader), you become much more visible and valuable.

Learn the difference between editing and proofreading. Also, you'll hunt for planted errors.

Lesson 2

Optimal Proofreading Techniques

Learn the optimal proofreading process, comprised of four steps, to find the most errors most efficiently. This proofreading tip is critical to ensure all of your exercises are following the ideal proofreading method.

Using style guides and helpful proofreading tips, become a professional proofreader in this online course. 

Lesson 3

Most Common Grammar Errors in Business Documents

Learn the top five grammar errors seen in business documents.

This lesson includes a detailed overview of the most common grammar rules and errors. You'll review common problem areas of any document and practice proofing a business memo.

If you have a career in proofreading, these are essential errors to have memorized. (Fortunately, they are also errors that many editing tools will catch.)

 
Lesson 4

How to Punctuate Correctly

Think punctuation doesn't matter? Consider these identical sentences, punctuated differently:

  • A woman without her man is nothing.
  • A woman. Without her, man is nothing.

Learn to punctuate commas, semi-colons, colons, dashes, and quotation marks correctly to become a more skilled proofreader.

Lesson 5

Spelling Errors

Identify where spelling errors are most likely to occur and learn ten tips that will make you a more experienced proofreader.

This lesson will also teach you how to make the most of spell-check tools to catch obvious spelling mistakes and punctuation errors.

Lesson 6

Usage Errors

Business writing has specific usage requirements.

Correct vexing usage issues such as:

  • assure vs. ensure vs. insure
  • compliment vs. complement
  • continual vs continuous
  • less vs. fewer
  • farther vs. further
  • they vs. than

Utilize a specific proofreading strategy to improve your proofreading skills in this online proofreading class. 

Lesson 7

Capitalization Errors

In this lesson, we share the rules for capitalization.

Learn to correctly capitalize titles, names of places, seasons, directions, trade names, literary works, headings, etc. This is a critical aspect of proofreading.

Lesson 8

Number Errors

In this section, learn when to express numbers as numerals or words, and complete a practice exercise to solidify the rules. Numbers are one of the fundamentals to consider when proofreading.

Lesson 9

Format Errors

Formatting a document is an important part of clear writing. While variations in formatting styles are wide, consistency within a document is critical and there are formatting standards one needs to follow.

Learn to format consistently and correctly, especially in bullet lists, headings, navigation, and graphics placement.

Lesson 10

Final Proofreading in Practice Exercise & Instructor Review

Test your skills with this hands-on exercise, receive an individual grammar assessment and correction strategy for your writing, and submit any final proofreading or grammar questions to your instructor. They'll also provide additional resources that may be helpful.

View the full course outline and list of resources
Download the PDF

What will writing look like after this training?

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Documents are correct & error-free.
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Writing time is significantly reduced.
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Formatting is consistent for easy reading.
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Competency and professionalism are apparent.
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Grammar is clearly understood.

Proofreading & Grammar Course Instructors

grace-cuddy
Grace Cuddy

Grace has extensive experience in Instructional Solutions' online business courses and also works with individuals and groups from several multinational companies across Europe as a business writing coach.

She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has a keen sensitivity to global writing and proofreading training. She has a strong background in corporate communication and management and successfully developed cross-functional writing and communication processes in a large corporate team.

She enjoys yoga, travel, and dance. She splits her time between New York City and Madrid.

She is bilingual in English and Spanish. She enjoys yoga, travel, and dance. She splits her time between New York City and Madrid.

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KatieAlmeidaSpencer
Katie Almeida Spencer

Katie is an experienced Business Writing and English as a Second Language instructor, business writing coach, and teacher trainer. She taught Business and Academic Writing at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

She is very skilled at evaluating both the substance and language of business documents. Her writing critiques, instruction, and coaching have received stellar evaluations from our clients at Chartis Consulting, DuPont, Shell, Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council, and the World Wildlife Fund.

She holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Rhode Island and an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her areas of expertise include academic proofreading, professional proofreading, business writing, and non-native writing.

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Course feedback and testimonials

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The individualized grammar information was highly valuable because it allowed us to focus on relevant issues. This training had make a huge impact on my writing.

Customer Support Specialist
CEA Global Education
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I am the last proofreader before the Regional Director signs the official documents. I will be able to provide the RD with accurate documents.

Manager, Legal Review
National Labor Relations Board

Master proofreading and grammar.

Sign up today or schedule a discussion to become a stronger proofreader.

INDIVIDUALS

$645

Sign up today and start learning how to better proofreader and grammarian.
Enroll now

GROUPS

We offer customized online, virtual, and onsite courses, workshops, and trainings that match your organization's needs. 

Schedule a call