PROOFREADING COURSES SHOULDN'T
COST A SMALL FORTUNE
(this one certainly doesn't)
Read on to find out why you don’t need to spend a fortune on a proofreading course and why, in the real world, proofreading qualifications aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.
But first, let's hear from just a few of those satisfied customers...
“I am one of those many fools who paid a huge amount of money for a useless proofreading course. I now look on Mike as my mentor as I embark on a career. Thank you Mike.” Emma Steel, Proofreader and International Structural Editor.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the proofreading course and am so glad that I decided to take it... the whole experience was invaluable. My... proofreading service is now well established and your course played no small part in getting it off the ground.” Hache L. Jones, Proofreader.
“I'd just like to thank you first of all for writing such a great, straight forward guide, and then going above and beyond what I would even expect as a customer by providing us, completely free of charge, updated versions months later!” Rachel Gee, Trainee Proofreader.
“What can I say? Worth every penny and then some! God Bless! This is a fabulous proofreading course.” Teresa Richardson, Proofreader.
“As someone who has effectively been proofreading for thirty years, I found Mike’s No-Nonsense Proofreading Course an invaluable and very useful practical guide to many aspects of the discipline. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.” Jeremy Meehan, Proofreader.
Why are other proofreading courses so ridiculously expensive?
Most proofreading courses follow the traditional lesson-exercise-assessment-qualification route. This particular method incurs a great deal of cost for the course provider. The overheads of such a traditional training operation – administration, salaries, correspondence, materials and the sheer logistics of it all – can be very steep indeed. That’s where your $250, $400 or even $750 is going.
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And the fact is, many people are only too willing to part with these exorbitant sums of money when they discover that proofreaders can charge more than $35 per hour for their services. But don't let these potential rewards tempt you into parting with more cash than you need to as you take your first steps on the road to becoming a proofreader.
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Is all this expense really necessary?
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The information is great, as it outlines in detail what you need to know to start performing this type of work. It describes how to build your own business. It covers every aspect of the proofreading process. The price is great, a real bargain for all the information that you receive.
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Does what it says on the cover, no-nonsense! It was a quick and easy read with lots of helpful information. I've been thinking about becoming a proofreader for 6 years and this is by far the cheapest course out there that tells you everything you need to know!
I'm confident in my ability thanks to this course. I just started setting up my website last night. Excellent.
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I am finding this course enjoyable and learning a lot from it. It also provides a great deal of supplementary material that I haven't had time to read yet.
Whether this will all translate into paid work at a later date I don't know, but I certainly feel more confident now saying that I can proofread.
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Assessments, what are they good for?
To quote the late, great Edwin Starr, "Absolutely nothing." Most proofreading courses tell you how to proofread then assess your progress. You send course work in and someone marks it. By and large, this course work consists of proofreading exercises. These exercises are likely to take the form of out-of-copyright material – extracts from Pride and Prejudice or A Tale of Two Cities, for example – with deliberate errors incorporated into the text. You receive marks for spotting these deliberate mistakes.
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But wait a minute. What exactly are these assessors marking? With a proofreading exercise, you either spot the errors or you don’t. Do you really need someone to point out the errors you’ve identified and those you’ve missed? Surely, you can do this for yourself. As long as the answers are made available to you, you’re perfectly capable of assessing your own progress.
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Proofreading qualifications, are they worth the paper on which they’re printed?
I’ve been proofreading and copy editing in one shape or form for over 30 years. As a freelancer I’ve proofread and edited everything from novels and short fiction to complex clinical data and in-depth technical prospectuses.
As Operations Manager in the publishing department of one of the UK’s largest retailers, I hired proofreaders, managed them and their workload, supported them and took responsibility for their professional development. |
I have never once been asked to produce a proofreading qualification.
Not once. What’s more, I never once asked a candidate for a proofreading post to produce a proofreading qualification. Nor did the Human Resources department include the possession of a proofreading qualification in their recruitment criteria when producing |
the job specification for the proofreader role.
Not once in over 30 years. But don’t take my word for it. Visit any online recruitment website, search for proofreader opportunities and see how often qualifications are mentioned. Don’t get me wrong, they may come into play as a deal-breaker between equally matched candidates, but that’s about it. |
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Clear instructions, really useful advice. Especially liked all the information about finding proofreading work.
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I'm loving this proofreading course. It is to the point and it truly delivers great value. I have been transcribing, drafting, editing and proofreading Governance Documents for the US Law Firm I work at in-house since 2013 and confirm it took my proofreading skills to the next level. Thank you!
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A big thank you for your proofreading course. I have learned a great deal the last week going through it.
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If I don’t need assessments and qualifications, what do I need to become a proofreader?
It’s remarkably simple. You’ll need to learn the meaning and application of proofreading symbols. Then, you’ll need to learn a robust and effective proofreading methodology. Armed with these symbols and this methodology, you’ll need to practice. And practice. And practice. Once you’re confident you can proofread, you’ll need to gain some experience. Once you have a little experience behind you, you’ll just need to put yourself out there, market yourself.
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So, where can I find these ‘proofreading symbols’, and this ‘robust and effective proofreading methodology’?
In The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course downloadable guide. What’s more you’ll find an abundance of advice on how to gain proofreading experience and how to approach potential employers and make yourself visible in the freelance proofreading marketplace. |
As for proofreading exercises...
And all for just $53.99.
I don't need to tell you that's a fraction of the cost of other proofreading courses.
Because you’ll be assessing your own progress and because I won’t be trying to sell you a qualification that’s of virtually no use in the proofreading job market, I don’t have any of the costly overheads that most proofreading courses pass onto their students. I’ve simply distilled 25 years of proofreading knowledge and experience into an easy-to-digest, simple to download manual. It's packed with tips, techniques and sound advice.
So confident am I that you’ll find everything you need in my proofreading guide and associated learning materials, I offer a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee!
If, after reading my guide, you don’t feel that it's set you on the road to confidently pursuing genuine, professional proofreading opportunities, just let me know within 30 days of purchase and I’ll refund you in full, no questions, no quibbles.
The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course
A Fraction of the Cost of Other Proofreading Courses
NOTE: Stock is currently limited to 10 per day, so we can continue to deliver exceptional after-sales service, answer queries and provide open-door support.
- Learn to proofread like a professional
- 30 years of experience distilled into a single easy-to-follow package
- Over 1,000 pages of FREE bonus eBooks and learning materials
- 30-day money-back 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Follow my advice and you will earn your money back in just two hours!
- Download it now and start learning and earning right away.
- I operate a virtual 'open door' policy after purchase, generally answering any and all email queries and concerns within 48 hours and usually sooner.
Credit card and PayPal payments accepted.
“As someone who has been proofreading for 30 years, I found Mike’s course an invaluable introduction and a very useful practical guide to many aspects of the discipline. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.” Jeremy Meehan, Proofreader.
Still want to find out more? Click here.
So, what will I find in The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course?
Here's what's in The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course:
Module 1 Proofreading is not an innate talent. It can be taught. That’s precisely what this proofreading course promises to do. Or your money back. Module 2 What a proofreader does and doesn’t do. This proofreading course gives you a day-in-the-life of the proofreader and covers the differences between proofreading and copy editing. Module 3 Proofreaders’ marks and how to use them. No proofreading course would be complete without this module. But this proofreading course also tells you when proofreading symbols can be dispensed with entirely. Module 4 Nothing gives the false impression that a skill cannot be learned than apparently impenetrable terminology. This module of the proofreading course cuts through the fog. Module 5 Rather than being about innate talents, effective proofreading is about methodology and technique. This proofreading course teaches my own personal methodology developed over more than 30 years. Module 6 What separates the amateur proofreader from the professional proofreader? It’s how they approach the supposedly corrected proofs. It’s during this messier phase of the proofreading process that serious errors can creep in. This proofreading course tells how to avoid these catastrophes. Module 7 There was a time when a proofreader checked a proof (hence the job title). However, in this digital age, proofreading electronic media is becoming increasingly prevalent. This module of the proofreading course explores the pitfalls and the opportunities. Module 8 How to bridge the gap between proofreading and copy editing. The move from ‘accuracy control’ to ‘quality control’. This module of the proofreading course tells all. Module 9 How to set up your proofreading business right now, for next to nothing. A proofreading course alone is useless if it doesn’t tell you how to promote yourself once you’ve acquired the necessary skills. This proofreading course doesn’t shirk this responsibility. Many of the bonus learning materials listed below will also contribute significantly to the success of your proofreading venture. Module 10 "How much should I charge for my proofreading services?" is a question I get asked all the time. In this module, I provide you with a rough-and-ready formula to help you quote competitively whilst ensuring you remain profitable. Module 11 Another thing most proofreading courses fail to prepare you for: what to do when it all goes wrong and you let an error sneak through into a completed publication. Don’t panic! This module tells you how to prepare for this eventuality. Module 12 The proofreader’s toolkit. An inventory of a few things you’ll need in order to operate as an effective proofreader. Along with The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course, obviously! |
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The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course
A Fraction of the Cost of Other Proofreading Courses
NOTE: Stock is currently limited to 10 per day, so we can continue to deliver exceptional after-sales service, answer queries and provide open-door support.
- Learn to proofread like a professional
- 30 years of experience distilled into a single easy-to-follow package
- Over 1,000 pages of FREE bonus eBooks and learning materials
- 30-day money-back 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Follow my advice and you will earn your money back in just two hours!
- Download it now and start learning and earning right away.
- I operate a virtual 'open door' policy after purchase, generally answering any and all email queries and concerns within 48 hours and usually sooner.
Credit card and PayPal payments accepted.
“As someone who has been proofreading for 30 years, I found Mike’s course an invaluable introduction and a very useful practical guide to many aspects of the discipline. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.” Jeremy Meehan, Proofreader.
Still want to find out more? Click here.
My open-door policy.
That's why I operate a virtual open-door policy. All my customers are free to email me via the contact form, any time. I'll endeavor to get back to you within 48 hours (but it's usually sooner!). To date, I haven't failed to respond to a single email. Obviously, I don't quite have the resources to coach every one of you, but I have always done my very best.
Order NOW and receive NINE essential eBooks ABSOLUTELY FREE! That's over 1,000 pages of indispensable material to help launch you on your proofreading career!
OVER 1,000 PAGES exploring the finer points of English grammar, punctuation, spelling, linguistics and the role of the proofreader. Plus pages and pages of proofreading exercises (you know, the kind of thing most proofreading courses will expect you to pay through the teeth for?).
An English Grammar by W.M. Baskervill and J.W. Sewell
Covers everything you need to know about English grammar, from the parts of speech, through sentence analysis to syntax. Packed with invaluable information as well as heaps of challenging exercises to help you hone your skills, this is an essential volume for any budding proofreader.
The Importance of the Proof-Reader by John Wilson
A paper read by John Wilson before the Club of Odd Volumes in Boston. Originally published by the Cambridge University Press. Here’s a little sample, "Many intelligent persons regard the duty of a proof-reader as consisting in simply following his copy and in securing the proper spelling of words. If this, however, were the sum of his accomplishments, many an author would come to grief.”
Stops. Or How to Punctuate, a Practical Guide for Writers and Students by Paul Allardyce
This handy guide details the uses (and abuses) of every punctuation mark: the full stop, comma, colon, semicolon, question mark, exclamation mark, parenthesis, inverted commas, apostrophe, ellipsis, dash and hyphen (and, yes, there is a difference between a dash and a hyphen).
Write It Right by Ambrose Bierce
This is a compendium of literary and linguistic pet peeves by Ambrose Bierce, the prolific satirist and journalist, author of the much-loved Devil’s Dictionary. Interestingly, some of his targets have now crept into popular usage, while others are still hotly debated. Bierce’s withering tones are irresistible.
American and British English: Key Differences in Grammar and Spelling
As a proofreader, you’ll doubtless be hunting for work online. This is almost certain to result in offers from the other side of the Atlantic. So, it helps to know your ‘tap’ from your ‘faucet’, your ‘nappy’ from your ‘diaper’ and your ‘boot’ from your ‘trunk’. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This eBook explores everything from verb morphology and use of tenses to vocabulary and idioms. Essential.
A Spelling Book for Advanced Classes by William T. Adams
Although we live in the age of the spell checker, there really is no substitute for the human brain. These 163 spelling tests will challenge and develop even the most enthusiastic Scrabble or Boggle fanatic, with words like ‘succedaneum’, ‘hornblende’, ‘mucilaginous’ and ‘auscultation’. Fun and educational.
1001 Questions and Answers on Orthography and Reading by B.A. Hathaway
Orthography is the science and art of the letters of a language and concerns the nature and power of letters, and correct spelling. A useful (not to mention fascinating) bedrock for any up-and-coming proofreader. Why become just a proofreader when you can become a knowledgeable and captivating proofreader?
20 Proofreading Exercises
The 20 FREE proofreading exercises available on this website conveniently bundled into a single easy to download, easy to access eBooklet. A crucial part of any proofreading training course and the kind of thing most proofreading classes will fully expect you to pay for.
The Internet’s First Novel-Length Proofreading Exercise
Available to buy elsewhere on this site, this unique proofreading exercise is available FREE with The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course. Approximately 100 subtle, hard-to-spot errors have been secreted within this distractingly readable text (the wonderful 'Peter Pan'). Not just a proofreading exercise, this is a proofreading concentration and endurance test that will help prepare you for the real world of professional proofreading, whether you'll be proofreading from home or in a busy office or studio environment. Your proofreading training will not be complete until you've persevered through this arduous little proofreading test. Forget proofreading qualifications; this is all you need to prove to yourself that you've got what it takes to chase after those proofreading jobs with confidence.
All of these volumes should form an essential part of any proofreader's arsenal before they set out to defend the written word. Most proofreading courses will charge you a pretty penny for this crucial information. But not The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course.
The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course
A Fraction of the Cost of Other Proofreading Courses
NOTE: Stock is currently limited to 10 per day, so we can continue to deliver exceptional after-sales service, answer queries and provide open-door support.
- Learn to proofread like a professional
- 30 years of experience distilled into a single easy-to-follow package
- Over 1,000 pages of FREE bonus eBooks and learning materials
- 30-day money-back 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Follow my advice and you will earn your money back in just two hours!
- Download it now and start learning and earning right away.
- I operate a virtual 'open door' policy after purchase, generally answering any and all email queries and concerns within 48 hours and usually sooner.
Credit card and PayPal payments accepted.
“As someone who has been proofreading for 30 years, I found Mike’s course an invaluable introduction and a very useful practical guide to many aspects of the discipline. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.” Jeremy Meehan, Proofreader.
Still want to find out more? Click here.
Copyright © Michael Sellars and Jeff Fullerton 2023