The Copy-editing and Proofreading Course
Turn your sharp eye for language into a professional editing career, with one-to-one training and tutor feedback
8 Months
Intermediate-advanced
10
- Risk-Free for 30 days
- Rated 5/5 on Google Reviews
The Copy-editing and Proofreading Course
Turn your sharp eye for language into a professional editing career, with one-to-one training and individual tutor feedback
8 Months
Intermediate-
advanced
10
- Risk-Free for 30 days
- Rated 5/5 on Google Reviews
Become a Professional Copy-Editor and Proofreader
Build the skills to launch a career in professional editing
If you’re particular about word choice, and typos and clunky sentences drive you to distraction, you may have exactly what it takes to become an editor.
The Copy-editing and Proofreading Course is for grammar experts who want to work professionally in the editing field. It’s also an excellent foundation for anyone who needs to edit documents confidently in the workplace.
This practical, eight-month course teaches you how to copy-edit and proofread fiction, non-fiction and academic writing, so you can make consistent, confident decisions when correcting texts. A professional editor will be on hand to guide you and assess your work every step of the way.
Where this skill can take you:
- Freelance copy-editing and proofreading for authors and publishers
- In-house editorial roles at publishing houses and media companies
- Editing for online content, blogs and digital publications
- Business and corporate document editing
- Academic and thesis proofreading
- Specialist editor of AI texts
- Running your own independent editing business
What You’ll Master on the Copy-editing and Proofreading Course
- Query or correct spelling, grammar and syntactical errors in a given text
- Correct, flag or query content-related errors in a given text
- Proofread hard copy as well as on-screen text with confidence
- Apply a recognised style guide consistently, using industry-standard conventions
- Use MS Word's 'Track Changes' function the way professional editors do
- Maintain a style sheet to keep your editing decisions consistent across a document
- Correct punctuation, capitalisation, hyphenation, homophones, quotations and references
- Understand where to look for work, what to charge and how to invoice as a professional editor
What You’ll Master on the Copy-editing and Proofreading Course
- Query or correct spelling, grammar and syntactical errors in a given text
- Correct, flag or query content-related errors in a given text
- Proofread hard copy as well as on-screen text with confidence
- Apply a recognised style guide consistently, using industry-standard conventions
- Use MS Word's 'Track Changes' function the way professional editors do
- Maintain a style sheet to keep your editing decisions consistent across a document
- Correct punctuation, capitalisation, hyphenation, homophones, quotations and references
- Understand where to look for work, what to charge and how to invoice as a professional editor
Additional requirements for this course:
Students are expected to consult one of the prescribed style guides for every editing decision they make. The style guides are an additional purchase, and are essential reference material for those students wishing to pursue a career in copy-editing and proofreading.
A second-hand edition no more than ten years old will suffice. Please note that we use UK English at the college.
You will also need to use MS Word and the ‘Track Changes’ function. This is considered an industry standard for copy-editing and proofreading work.
Option 1:
(Print)
The Oxford Style Manual
or the
New Oxford Style Manual
Option 2:
(e-Book)
New Hart’s Rules: The Oxford Style Guide. This edition does not include a dictionary, so you will need to buy one separately.
NB: You will only need the style guide from module two onwards.
What makes studying with us different?
No Generic Group Feedback
We use traditional, one-on-one methods of assessing work, as editors at publishing houses would.
A Flexible Schedule
Work wherever and whenever you want. You can easily fit our courses around work and other commitments.
Relevant, Usable Content
Easy-to-digest course notes that capture a lifetime of writing experience, ready for you to apply to your own editing work.
Ongoing Assessment
Your work is assessed continuously as your course progresses.
Expert, Individual Feedback
Get prompt, honest, detailed feedback on every assignment from an experienced professional editor. We focus on your unique editing strengths.
No Peer Reviews!
You will only be assessed by your tutor, a leader in their field. No more guessing and wondering how to edit; you'll be guided line by line.
This course is for you if:
- You have excellent grammar and love catching the errors other people miss
- You want a flexible, structured way to build a genuine, professional editing skillset
- You're already a writer wanting to add editing services to your business
- You want honest, expert feedback from a professional editor, not automated or peer-only responses
- You want to specialise in editing AI-generated content
- You want practical, hands-on training covering the full craft of both copy-editing and proofreading
Course Curriculum
Module 1: An Introduction
Introduction to the course, recommended reference works and resources, using Track Changes and a house style guide. Editing Assignments 1.1–1.3.
Module 2: What is Copy-editing?
What copy-editing involves and how to correct punctuation. Editing Assignments 2.1–2.3.
Module 3: Copy-editing in Practice
Copy-editing in practice, maintaining a style sheet, correcting spelling, hyphenation and homophones. Editing Assignments 3.1–3.3.
Module 4: What is Proofreading?
Correcting capitalisation and understanding the treatment of names and numbers. Editing Assignments 4.1–4.3.
Module 5: Proofreading in Practice
Proofreading in practice, correcting quotations, references and abbreviations. Editing Assignments 5.1–5.3.
Module 6: Common Grammar Gremlins
Correcting common grammar errors. Editing Assignments 6.1–6.3.
Module 7: Facts and Format
Correcting factual and formatting errors. Editing Assignments 7.1–7.3.
Module 8: Copy-editing Assignments
Applied copy-editing practice. Editing Assignments 8.1–8.3.
Module 9: Proofreading Assignments
Where to look for work, what to charge, how to invoice. Editing Assignments 9.1–9.3.
Module 10: Choose One Elective
Choose one of four electives for the final module:
- Hardcopy Proofreading
- Proofreading Academic Theses
- Substantive Editing
- AI Specialist Editing
Each has 3 tasks.
Students may choose to complete more than one elective; these additional electives are invoiced separately at R949.00 each. An extra month is added for each additional elective module.
You can either select a tutor when you apply, or we will discuss with you once your course starts.
Andrew Murton is a copy-editor and English-language tutor with a BA in English and Linguistics from UNISA (cum laude). He also holds distinctions in Copy-Editing and Proofreading from The Writers’ College and the Level 5 CELTA from Cambridge English.
Andrew has extensive experience teaching English to adult learners from diverse backgrounds, both in classrooms and online. He also works with the Writers’ College as a writer, editor and internship supervisor, helping to refine course material, articles and creative writing for publication. He was one of the editors of The Writer’s Journey, a Writers’ College anthology of essays from the My Writing Journey competition.
As a tutor, Andrew aims to provide supportive feedback that helps writers express their ideas clearly and confidently, with a particular focus on grammar and punctuation. He believes that learning to write better should feel useful, accessible and enjoyable.
Our Graduate Students' Successes
Sharné Denner spent years as a medical doctor before discovering that her real passion lay in polishing prose. After completing our Copy-Editing and Proofreading Course under tutor Di Smith at the start of 2025, followed by a three-month internship, Sharné was offered a part-time position helping edit course content and social media copy for The Writers’ College.
Before the course, she had no idea where to even begin with editing a manuscript. Spelling, typos, layout … everything competed for attention at once.
‘The steps and stages recommended in [the course] really helped me develop a consistent approach to editing. And, after all, consistency is one of the most important things in this line of work,’ says Sharné.
Keen to keep building her skills, she signed up for our Advanced English Grammar Course soon after. Within six months of her CEP internship, Sharné landed a freelance editing role at SAMA, where she now edits across a range of their medical journals: a natural fit for a former doctor with a newly sharpened editorial eye.
Sharné isn’t slowing down. She’s currently preparing to sit the PEG editorial accreditation exam, re-reading her CEP and Advanced Grammar course notes as valuable preparation.
From uncertain beginner to trusted SAMA editor in just over a year, Sharné’s progress shows a second career is often just one course away.
More Graduate Students' Successes
We are proud of our graduates who are working in the industry
COURSE FEE
R9495.00
Price includes VAT
Optional additional modules priced at R949.00 each
NUMBER OF ASSIGNMENTS
30
The writing assignments vary in length.
NUMBER OF MODULES
10
These modules include around 100 pages of course notes.
COURSE DURATION
8
Work at your own pace – up to a maximum of eight months. We add an additional month if a course runs over the Christmas break.
START DATE: ANYTIME
Working with an individual tutor means you can start the course at any time.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Excellent grammar knowledge is essential.
- Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required.
- No previous tertiary qualification required.
Get These Additional Benefits
Lifetime Course Access
Benefit from free lifetime access to future course updates and access to our writing resources.
Work at Your Own Pace
Our courses work around you. You can pace your course around your busy life.
Work Opportunities
Top students are invited to join our writers and editors for hire service.
500+ Bonus Articles on Our Blog
A superb, constantly updated resource with articles on writing and interviews with writers.
You will receive an approval email and invoice within one working day.
Should your form not submit, please let admin know at admin@sawriterscollege.co.za
We are so confident that you will love your course that if you’re not 100% satisfied with the quality of our training, simply ask for a refund, minus expenses, within 30 days.
How does the course work?
Detailed course notes covering the content of each module are emailed to you. At the end of each module, you complete several writing exercises. Once the assignment is emailed to your tutor, you’ll receive an assessment and feedback, and the module is considered complete.
Is there a payment plan?
Yes. We offer an interest-free payment plan for the Copy-editing and Proofreading Course. You pay a 50% deposit to secure your place and get started straight away, then the remaining balance is due at the end of the following month.
Just mention in your application that you are choosing the instalment option and we will invoice accordingly.
If you need additional instalments, please contact our admin team at admin@sawriterscollege.co.za and we will be happy to help.
Is it interactive? Can I ask my tutor questions?
Absolutely. You have direct communication with your tutor for the duration of the course. The more questions you ask, the more you will get out of the course.
For how long will I get access to the course?
You will get lifetime access to the course. You will also benefit from future updates and improvements to the course.
Will anyone else see my work?
For the majority of our courses, only your tutor will see your work. It remains completely private unless you get it published.
What career opportunities are there after this course?
Graduates go on to freelance copy-editing and proofreading, in-house editorial roles with publishers and media companies, editing for online content and blogs, business and corporate document editing, academic and thesis proofreading, and running their own editing businesses.
For those choosing to freelance after the course, students will need strong marketing skills, as well as an online presence, including a professional website and social media pages.
What are the conditions of certification?
You’ll receive a Writers’ College Certificate upon successful completion, provided:
- You have completed all assignments.
- A minimum average of 50% has been achieved.
- The course was completed within eight months of registration.
What are the admission requirements?
- Excellent grasp of grammar, punctuation, spelling and English usage. (Consider our Advanced English Grammar Course first if you need to sharpen your grammar skills.)
- Computer skills as well as email and Internet access are required.
- Use of Microsoft Word and the Track Changes function.
- A printer and a scanner or camera, only if you choose the Hardcopy elective in Module 10.
- No previous tertiary qualification is required.
When can I start a course?
Because you will work with an individual tutor, you can start your course as soon as your application has been approved. There are no specific start dates as would be the case with a traditional college.
An application is usually approved within one working day. Once we receive proof of payment, you can start your course.
You could be starting your course today!
What is the minimum estimated time commitment?
Reading time: 20 hours. Editing time: up to 30 hours. You have eight months to complete the course (plus an extra month if your course runs over the Christmas and New Year break).
When will I get access to the course?
Once your application has been approved, you will receive notification of approval and an invoice via email. As soon as we receive proof of payment, the first module as well as your tutor’s email address and your login details will be sent to you. Your tutor will also be in touch to welcome you.