free online proofreading courses uk

Learn How To Edit Like A Pro With 2024‘s 7+ FREE Best Online Proofreading Courses

Working as a proofreader is a great way to find some part-time freelance work. But you want to make sure that you are delivering the quality that your clients are expecting!

Below are some of the best online proofreading courses that you can take in order to establish your skills and build good proofreading techniques and habits.

If you want to start a proofreading business and become a copyeditor, you can certainly benefit by honing your proofreading skills/copyediting to increase your overall abilities.

Take a look at this list of copyediting courses and see which of these awesome courses looks like the “write” fit for you!

• #1 Top Recommended Proofreading Course
• Taught By Professional Editor & Proofreader
• Covers Proofreading, Content Structure, Punctuation & More
• Beginner Friendly Course
• 29,000+ Other Included Classes
• 1,000+ Students Enrolled
• 1-Month Free Trial
• Activate Free Trial Now

Table of Contents

Top 9+ FREE Best Online Proofreading Courses & Certifications 2024

1. skillshare: writing editing masterclass (skillshare).

Up first on my list is a great all-around editing course with many modules that focus specifically on proofreading. On top of that, this free Skillshare course also dives deeper into the larger context of the editing process for copyediting and proofreading.

In this 3-hour-long course, you’ll learn about the following proofreading topics: typos, proofreading strategies, spelling errors and homonyms, the comma, question marks and exclamation marks, colon and quotation marks, apostrophes, hyphens, and dashes, and parentheses.

Another great component of this training is that there is an optional final assignment that will test your skills and act as a great overview of what you have learned.

As this course is hosted on Skillshare, students get to take the classes at their own pace via the desktop portal or the smartphone app. Skillshare also offers a 1-month free trial , so there’s no losing! Hands down one of the best online proofreading courses!

• Can be accessed for free with the Skillshare free trial, making this a free course
• Beginner friendly and suitable for all levels of freelance proofreaders
• Good overview of fundamentals of the editing process in general for English grammar
• Low time commitment

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

2. Editing and Proofreading Made Simple

For beginners looking to quickly improve their proofreading skills, Erin Rickard ’s LinkedIn Learning course is a great place to start. As a longtime freelance copywriter, she’s well-versed in what it takes to effectively communicate; as a professor, she’s adept in connecting with her students and helping them improve their craft.

This efficient course packs a lot into 40 minutes. You’ll learn how to develop personalized templates, tools, and tactics necessary for effective editing including checking content, spelling, and grammar as well as the proper use of formatting. You’ll practice applying these skills and spotting errors across presentations, emails, and website articles.

This course is on LinkedIn Learning, a subscription platform that gives you access to a full catalog. So for one price, you can take this course as well as other highly-rated related courses: Grammar Foundations , Business Writing Principles , Social Media Marketing Foundations , and Writing Emails People Want To Read .

There’s even a 1-month free trial. Even better, you earn a certificate for each course that appears on your LinkedIn profile and helps you rank higher in jobs searches.

• 102,406 students have taken this course
• 40 minutes of videos across 3 chapters
• Continuing Education Units available
• Certificate of completion appears on your LinkedIn profile
• 30-day free trial gets you access to full 15,000 course catalog

3. Proofreading Your Own Work

Next up is a proofreading course from Heather E. Saunders , owner of Just the Write Type Editing. She’s been called on to edit everything from medical journals to fiction novels, so her techniques are timeliness and universal.  

What I love about this course is how practical her advice is. She’ll teach you how to come back to your own writing with the fresh eyes necessary to catch even your most common and easily overlooked mistakes. And while it may seem simple to read it aloud or take a break, applying her proofreading tricks can be the difference between a great submission that gets published or an embarrassment that gets set aside. 

Once you’ve completed this class you’ll know the common proofreading mistakes, your personal writing blind spots, how to create an ideal environment for editing, and how to fact check efficiently. 

This course is available on CreativeLive, which frequently runs sales that put each course below $10. Even better, they have an all-access Creator Pass to 2000+ courses starting at $13/month. While they don’t technically have a free trial, they do have a 7-day refund window.

GET 20% OFF THE CREATOR PASS WITH CODE CREATIVELIVE20 THRU 10/31!

• 7,600 students have taken this course
• 100% of students recommend it
• 8 videos running just over 1 hour 
• Lifetime access via  desktop or mobile
• Satisfaction guarantee

4. The Writer’s Toolkit: 6 Steps to a Successful Writing Habit (Skillshare)

Hopefully, if you like proofreading, you like to read. And hopefully, if you like to read, you also like to write! Being a strong writer can help you to be a stronger proofreader. You get an eye for what good writing looks like and what makes sense on paper.

This course will help you to foster a healthy writing habit . By following the six steps laid out by award-winning author Simon Van Booy you will be able to increase the amount that you write and your level of writing ability.

He will discuss each of the steps in detail in this 38-minute-long course. The steps include making your own space, finding your medium, reading inspiring works, setting the conditions, sticking to a routine, and sketching to stay inspired.

This  Skillshare course will also give you the possibility to view other students’ projects and to submit your own project to the course webpage. Looking at what other people have done can inspire you and help to spark your creativity.

This course is for anyone who wants to learn how to be a better writer, beginners included. All you need is an open mind and a blank screen or notebook that you can fill with your own wonderful words!

• Lots of student projects to view for inspiration
• Very popular! 14,255 students
• Designed for students of all levels

5. Udemy: Proofreading Power Basics (Udemy)

Up next on my list is great course hosted on Udemy, which is all about teaching the tricks of the trade and give students a new confidence in their proofreading skills. This course is also aimed towards beginners, but knowing intermediate grammar and writing skills will be extremely beneficial.

Taught by English professor Ashan Hampton , he provides students with helpful assessments, exercises, and quizzes that will keep students learning experience productive and keep them on the right track.

While the course is brief (1 hour long), it is jam-packed with information! Over the course of 23 video lessons, students will learn about topics like proofreader expectations, proofreading tips, strategies, marking, proofing for capitalization and numbers, and proofreader error hotspots.

Overall, this is a fantastic course that caters to those of all experience levels!

• High 4.3-star rating
• Popular course – 1,271 students!
• Includes a module on proofreading marks
• Lifetime access to course materials
• 10 downloadable resources + 9 articles
• Certificate of completion

Visit Udemy.com

6. Udemy: How to Find & Correct Writing Errors: the Proofreading Guide (Udemy)

Moving on is another Udemy course taught by University professor Duncan Koerber. While the course is brief, coming in at only 50 minutes, the 19 video lessons are filled with a wealth of knowledge!

In this course, students learn about good habits for proofreading, practical proofreading tips, professional proofreading symbols, using lists and guides in the proofreading process, tips for proofreading the format, design, and graphics of a document.

Professor Koerber will also teach students about important final tasks that people forget to do when proofreading. The resources and techniques students will gain from this course truly make it one of the very best online proofreading courses.

• Popular! 1,631 students
• Suitable for all levels

7. The Publishing Training Centre: What is Proofreading? (Publishing Training Center)

Are you new to editing and looking to find out if proofreading is something you might be good at? Then this entry-level course will prepare you for what you need to do as a proofreader, and give you the chance to test your skills to see if you have what it takes.

In this class, students learn how proofreading is applied in four different sectors: book and journal publishers, other organizations that have information or messages to share, independent authors, and students.

Divided into two sections, the first section will provide students with information on proofreading. The second section involves a practical exercise that will help you gauge your proofreading abilities.

After completing this course, students should have a strong sense of their skill level and an idea of what steps you should take next in order to keep progressing as a proofreader. Or you can pair this with an online journalism course and start writing for one of the millions of online publications.

• One of the most extensive courses on this list: about 5-7 hours of course material
• 8 months of access to the course material
• Course certificate awarded upon completion of the course
• Suitable for beginners

Visit Publishingtrainingcentre.com

8. Udemy: Kickstart a Freelance Editor and Proofreader Career on Upwork (Udemy)

If you want to work as a proofreader, chances are your first paid jobs might be on a freelance basis. It’s not always easy to find good jobs and many people will try to underpay you or even avoid paying you at all.

This course walks you through how to use the Upwork platform to find work as a proofreader. And to ensure that you get paid for your effort! Using Upwork might not seem like rocket science but there is a bit more to it than meets the eye.

Professor Duncan Koerber will share some great insight into this two-hour-long course. He covers topics such as getting started on Upwork; bidding for jobs; ratings and repeat clients; macro-level tips for doing a great job; and some practical concerns for an online editor or proofreader.

Throughout 25 lessons you will gain valuable knowledge that can help you to succeed as a freelancer. This course is for all levels and all you need to get started is Microsoft Word software and a keen eye that’s ready to spot the best new job! You can also take your skills on the road and get a digital nomad job that will allow you to work from anywhere in the world!

This is easily one of the best online proofreading courses available!

• Very high 4.5-star rating
• Popular course! 1,430 students
• Lifetime access to course material

9. Skillshare: Proofreading Your Articles: Tools (Skillshare)

There are lots and lots of tools available that can help you to be a great proofreader. This Skillshare course will teach you some excellent tips and hacks that will make your proofreading process quicker and more accurate. This is a good course to take if you are just starting out as a proofreader.

In this course, you’ll cover topics such as punctuation, word tips, and proofreading hacks. But the main focus of the course is how to use online grammar checkers like Grammarly , ProWritingAid, and other free auto-proofreaders to check your work.

These grammar checkers will basically do your proofreading for you. However, some (like Grammarly) aren’t free so ideally, you can learn to proofread without relying on them. But it can be a good idea to use them to check your work while you are first starting out.

Nothing makes you lose clients faster than handing in an assignment filled with mistakes. This course will help you figure out how you can use online grammar checkers to improve your own skills. But you should never discount the effectiveness of good old fashioned paper and (red) pen!

If you want to learn more, you can read my comprehensive review of Skillshare .

• Low time commitment: 48 minutes
• Possible to access this course for free using a Skillshare free trial
• Positive student reviews – the course met or exceeded student expectations
• Links to 2 helpful articles included with course content

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this guide on the best online proofreading courses helps you to better your skills or even land that next job! For more upskilling, you can see our guide on other online classes and training here .

Or if after reading this, you’d rather just hire a proofreader for your project or website, I’ve had great success with Fiverr . Check out the profiles below for pros who can start today!

My name is Lewis Keegan and I am the writer and editor of SkillScouter.com. I'm extremely passionate about online education and what it can do for those to better their lives. I spend most of my time blogging, hiking, and drinking coffee. I also have a Bachelor's Degree in Education and Teaching.

FREE PROOFREADING COURSE

Proofreading 101

Let go of doubt in this free 5-day proofreading eCourse. Learn from an editor how you can turn your joy of reading into a profitable proofreading business or side hustle.

Let's Set You On The Right Path

Dicover how proofreading can be a rewarding career path for those with a passion for language and a desire to help others succeed in writing. After this eCourse, you’ll become a proofreading insider with the right knowledge and momentum to take on your editorial journey.

What You’ll Learn In This Free Proofreading Course

• bullet Learn what proofreaders do and why proofreading is in demand.
• bullet Discover the mindset technique that’ll prepare you for learning a new skill and leveling up your life.
• bullet Find out what industry mistakes you must avoid, and what you really need to focus on.
• bullet Discover strategies freelance proofreaders use to market their skills and find clients.
• bullet Get details about other issues related to working as a professional freelance proofreader.

Hey there, Eagle Eyes!

This free proofreading course will teach you what it takes to get paid to read..

Proofreading is an essential part of writing and content creation. It’s a highly valued skill that is in demand. On top of that, it involves a lot of reading!

I created this intro to proofreading course so you can gain the foundational knowledge you need to become a proofreader. When you sign up, you’ll get a free lesson sent to your inbox for 5 days. Get ready to learn from my 20+ years of experience and sign up for the free lessons today!

You're Already Halfway There If...

• You love to read, and can see yourself working with words
• You've always wondered what it would take to proofread professionally
• You'd love to learn strategies that will help you start something new, and on your own terms
• You're eager to start a new career or side hustle that fits your lifestyle

Get free proofreading lessons sent to your inbox!

We respect your privacy and promise to keep your email safe

Best Online Proofreading Courses

by Rebecca Salter

When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. However, this does not influence our evaluations.

Whether you’re proofreading for books, online print, or any other form of literature, a well-edited and proofread text is key to communicating accurately and professionally.

With that in mind, the courses on this list are here to help you contribute to your chosen field – whether you’re writing for business or pleasure. So, if you’re looking for the best proofreading courses of 2022, this list is for you.

Recently, I’ve immersed myself in the world of online proofreading classes to find the best out there.

I’ve looked at proofreading for different levels, as well as for different types of media.

So, here are my top picks for the best online proofreading courses:

What is the best online proofreading class?

Overall, here are our picks for the best online proofreading courses:

• Editing and Proofreading MasterClass (Skillshare)
• Proofreading to Perfection (Udemy)
• Writing Editing Masterclass (Skillshare)
• Certification in Editing and Proofreading (Skillshare)
• How to Find and Correct Writing Errors (Skillshare)
• Writing for Business (Coursera)
• Kickstart Your Freelance Editor & Proofreader Career on Upwork (Skillshare)
• Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization (Coursera)
• Business Writing Techniques (edX)
• Editing and Proofreading Made Simple (LinkedIn Learning)

In short, our top pick is Skillshare’s Editing and Proofreading MasterClass .

This is because the class covers 64 lessons and 3+ hours of content without breaking the bank. It’s also one of Skillshare’s most popular and highly viewed proofreading courses, which speaks to its value.

Skillshare also offers over 40,000 courses on any topic you can think of. So, with a single membership, you can take various classes alongside your proofreading course. You can also mix and match proofreading classes to get the best value for time and money – and many of them feature on this list!

That being said, a strong competitor to Skillshare is Udemy . For a single-course purchase especially, Udemy’s Proofreading to Perfection class covers a lot of material in a short space of time. It’s also taught by a published author who lets you in on a wealth of professional secrets.

Thirdly, Coursera’s Writing for Business is a superb option for anyone more interested in business writing and editing. Taking around four weeks to complete, this course is part of a longer series on persuasive writing and is ideal for students looking for something challenging.

Either way, with the platforms on this list offering a 7-day – 1-month free trial, you have little to lose and a whole lot to gain.

Read our mini review below to get the full details!

Best Online Proofreading Course Reviews

1. editing and proofreading masterclass (skillshare).

Platform: Skillshare | Teacher: Nitay L | Course length: 64 lessons totalling 3 hours and 49 minutes 

Nitay L is a proofreader and translator at Upwork and has a wide range of freelancing knowledge. In this course, he aims to set you up for success and to realize your earning potential right away.

You’ll learn to:

• Hack proofreading with three key methods
• Spot common grammar and language errors
• Clarify text and fix poor syntax
• Make a proofreading career
• Straightforward teaching that is ideal for beginners
• Well-explained concepts and excellent detail
• Engaging presentation of organized content
• Taught by, and geared toward, self-learners
• Less suited to advanced users
• Not all spelling/grammatical errors are addressed
• Mostly for those interested in translation-editing

Who it’s for: This class is for anyone interested in a proofreading career. That being said, it’s most useful for aspiring translation-editors, as this is where Nitay L’s experience lies. If you’re looking to freelance on platforms like Upwork, this course is a valuable guide to getting started.

Overall: A comprehensive class taught by a well-rounded and experienced teacher. You’ll uncover a number of methods for proofreading and editing, and, as Nitay L promises, you’ll be ready to start earning after a few hours of fun video lessons.

2. Proofreading to Perfection (Udemy)

Platform: Udemy | Teacher: Marcia Yudkin | Course length: 12 lectures totalling 1 hour and 29 minutes in length

Marcia Yudkin is a marketing coach and published author of 15+ books. She’s also been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur , and other esteemed journals. So, in this course, she helps you to create a proofreading routine to catch and correct errors – whether for your work or others’.

You’ll also learn to: 

• Exercise skills used by professional editors
• Understand the best systems for proofreading
• Get better at producing error-free text
• Better grasp when and how to proofread
• A great course for proofreaders with many helpful strategies
• Well thought-out class with excellent presentation
• Suitable for beginner and intermediate learners
• Helpful examples and anecdotes
• Only considers American English
• Shorter than other courses on this list
• Udemy certificate is not formally accredited

Who it’s for: This class is ideal for anyone who wants to proofread professionally, either for a company or as a freelancer. Yudkin has a wealth of experience and shares her tips on how to write, read, and edit professionally. So, if these are the skills you need to break into your chosen sector, this class is for you.

Overall: A brilliant class led by an enthusiastic teacher. Despite being under two hours, Yudkin packs in a lot of information for aspiring proofreaders. You can also use this knowledge to proofread your own work.

3. Writing & Editing MasterClass (Skillshare)

Platform: Skillshare | Teacher: Sivakumar Kannan | Course length: 62 lessons totalling 2 hours and 59 minutes

Sivakumar Kanna is a digital marketing expert with a passion for teaching. He runs his own marketing agency and hosts a range of online classes from SEO to email marketing. As he proclaims, this course is for anyone who wants to become a professional editor or enhance their writing by self-editing.

• Understand and execute key proofreading strategies
• Become a world-class editor by mastering the basics and beyond
• Familiarize yourself with writing rules for different media
• Drastically improve error-laden or dull text into something engaging
• Excellent class for intermediate learners
• Recommended for those looking to sharpen their skills
• Clear and enjoyable teaching style
• Applicable knowledge to a range of skill levels
• Resources not always easy to navigate
• Some confusion over British/American English
• More suited to intermediate-level learners

Who it’s for: In my opinion, this course is better suited to those with some prior knowledge of proofreading. This is because the class, while comprehensive, presents a lot of specialist knowledge that could be overwhelming for beginners. So, with that in mind, this course is best for intermediate learners who are looking for a refresher.

Overall: An engaging but fast-paced class that collates a lot of information on proofreading and editing. Kannan includes helpful and well-explained examples that help to cement his points. If you have some knowledge of proofreading but are returning after a break, this course is a good go-to to refresh your memory.

4. Certification in Editing and Proofreading (Skillshare)

Platform: Skillshare | Teacher: Krishna N. Sharma | Course length: 37 lessons totalling 1 hour and 24 minutes

Professor Krisha N. Sharma is an author and teacher with over 40 best-selling publications to his name. Sharma has designed this course with newcomers in mind, so you don’t need any prior knowledge before taking this course. Unlike other Skillshare courses, this class is accredited by Virtued Academy International.

• Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation effectively
• Improve readability through word choice and syntax
• Know your role (and limits) as a proofreader
• Equip yourself with the best strategies to succeed
• Well-organized and informative class
• Certified with end-of-class certificate
• Strong introduction to editing and proofreading
• Ideal for anyone looking to self-edit/sell their proofreading services
• Some grammatical errors are skimmed over
• Fewer examples than with other courses
• Some students did not receive a certificate as advertised

Who it’s for: All in all, this class is perfect for anyone looking to step into proofreading with little to no experience. You do not need prior knowledge to understand this course. In fact, the class is well-rated for being informative and has clear and engaging instruction.

Overall: This class is thorough, beginner-friendly, and offers a great overview for aspiring proofreaders. You’ll learn how to self-edit and proofread for others as well as to recognize your potential as a proofreader.

5. How to Find and Correct Writing Errors (Skillshare)

Platform: Skillshare | Teacher: Duncan Koerber | Course length: 17 lessons totalling 50 minutes 

Duncan Koerber is a university professor who has taught writing and communication courses for 15+ years. Currently working at Brock University in Ontario, Canada, Koerber has a wealth of freelance experience in magazines and newspapers. He even has a writing textbook that was published in 2015.

• Proofread practically for words and punctuation
• Recognize and use proofreading symbols
• Develop and refine your proofreading skills
• Impress readers and employers with your polished text
• Packs a lot of valuable information in a short space of time
• Clear and concise delivery
• Engaging and great for instilling confidence in viewers
• Ideal for those with busy lifestyles who can’t invest in a long course
• Mostly tip-based rather than a guide
• Fewer additional resources than other classes
• Repetitious at times

Who it’s for: This course is curated for those looking to step into the world of proofreading with little to no prior experience. Koerber’s course also teaches you the necessary jargon and symbols to put proofreading into practice as a career. If you’re looking for an introduction to proofreading in this sense, this course is for you.

Overall: A short but useful course filled with practical information and helpful tips and tricks. You’ll learn how to proofread like a professional and gain confidence in furthering these skills. In short, this is a great overview of proofreading basics.

6. Writing for Business (Coursera)

Platform: Coursera | Teacher: Dr. Quentin McAndrew | Course length: 4 weeks of lessons totalling approx. 13 hours

Dr. Quentin McAndrew is an instructor in the Department of English at the University of Colorado Boulder. CU-Boulder offers this course, with financial aid available, as part of their larger series on Effective Communication. As they note, writing well is one of the most valuable skills you can develop in the business world, and this course shows you how to do just that.

• Avoid repetition and cut where needed
• Revise your work to prioritize the active voice
• Simplify sentences and edit out prepositional phrases
• Finalize your proofreading drafts
• A lengthy and thorough course that covers many proofreading aspects
• Excellent as a refresher course or for anyone looking to sharpen their skills
• Acknowledges multiple types of business writing
• Clear and personable teaching
• Can be taken free (without certification)
• Filming style can be distracting at times
• Heavier on exams/quizzes than on lessons
• Considered too basic for some

Who it’s for: This course is most beneficial to those looking for an introductory course to business writing. While it’s too specialist for general proofreading viewers, it’s also basic enough for it to be considered a foundational course for business writers.

Overall: A well-paced and informative class covering several weeks’ worth of content. Unlike some of the other courses on this list, Business Writing specializes in proofreading for business/marketing text.

7. Kickstart Your Freelance Editor & Proofreader Career on Upwork (Skillshare)

Platform: Skillshare | Teacher: Duncan Koerber | Course length: 22 lessons totalling 1 hour and 30 minutes

Another proofreading course led by Duncan Koerber, this class focuses on how to initiate your proofreading career using Upwork. In this course, Koerber distils the complete process for becoming a freelancer on the site. This includes how to maximize your success using Koerber’s key techniques.

• Create an account on Upwork and navigate your earning potential
• Understand the different types of proofreading you can pursue
• Effectively use, and gain from, Upwork’s hire/bidding system
• Sell your services and land the gigs on Upwork
• Highly detailed and well thought-out class
• Extremely valuable for those starting out in freelancing
• A solid overview of how to use one particular platform
• Professional and articulate delivery
• Not up to date with Upwork’s latest policies
• Specific to only one platform

Who it’s for: Anyone interested in kick starting their career in proofreading or editing on Upwork. In this class, Koerber teaches you how to set up an account, refine your profile, and use Upwork’s bidding system to gain jobs.

Overall: A great introduction to how to proofread for a specific freelancing platform. This makes the content easily transferable as there is a clear resource in which to apply the knowledge. If you’re looking to gain some freelancing experience and think Upwork might be the platform for you, this class is well worth a watch.

8. Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization (Coursera)

Platform: Coursera | Teacher: Patrick Barry | Course length: Approx 4 months to complete

Patrick Barry teaches at the University of Michigan Law School and is a visitor of both University of Chicago and UCLA. With a course specialty in speaking, writing, and editing, this class helps you to learn good habits for writing, editing, and proofreading text.

• Understand the difference between editing and proofreading 
• Edit and proofread text to ensure effective communication
• Assess punctuation and syntax professionally
• Obtain life-long habits for strong writing and editing
• Provides transferable skills for writers and editors
• A lengthy course with a wealth of information
• No previous knowledge/experience needed
• Subtitles available + flexible studying
• Pricier than other courses on this list
• Covers many aspects of writing and editing (not just proofreading)
• Could be too long a commitment for some learners

Who it’s best for: This course is ideal for anyone who wants to improve their written voice through attention to syntax, punctuation, and word choice. Barry teaches you how to present difficult information in a reader-friendly way and helps you to cut down on the jargon and fluff that impinges clear reading.

Overall: This class is a lot longer than others on this list, taking around four months to complete. Offered by the University of Michigan, it’s a great and well-rounded introduction to improving communication with the written word.

9. Business Writing Techniques (edX)

Platform: edX | Teacher: Deborah Sepich | Course length: 4 weeks with 5-8 hours per week

Deborah Sepich is an educator and entrepreneur. She currently works at Doane University where she specializes in business, writing, and communication. Another business-focused course, Business Writing Techniques teaches you how to write, proofread, and edit to a strong business standard.

• Apply writing and proofreading techniques to real-world scenarios
• Use the 6 Cs to enhance business messages
• Revise and evaluate text to ensure concise and persuasive writing
• Understand and put into practice proper business writing etiquette
• Self-paced course with flexible learning
• Choose between free and paid options
• Taught by a university professional
• Certificate of completion with paid version
• Focused on business writing specifically
• Longer than other courses on this list

Who it’s for: This class is best for students or freelancers interested in business writing and communication. So, if you’re looking to proofread copy for business, this course is for you. You’ll learn a range of techniques for business writing as well as proofreading, which is valuable and transferable across media.

Overall: A strong university-led course focusing on writing and proofreading for business. However, because it falls under the category of Business Writing, it’s both business-oriented and more focused on writing rather than proofreading alone. That being said, if the field is applicable to you, you’ll get a lot out of this course.

10. Editing and Proofreading Made Simple (LinkedIn Learning)

Platform: LinkedIn Learning | Teacher: Erin Rickard | Course length: 15 lessons totalling 39 minutes

Erin Rickard is a professor, writer, and editor with over 10 years’ experience in freelance writing. So, in this class, she guides you through the effective processes for editing and proofreading as a freelancer or other professional.

• Proofread and edit your own writing to an impeccable standard
• Master the five keys to effective proofreading
• Navigate the rules of spelling and grammar
• Overcome common editing and proofreading mistakes
• A great overview of proofreading and editing in the workplace
• Well-organized course content and sections
• Beginner-friendly and easy-to-understand teaching
• Actionable advice for a range of professionals
• Less helpful for intermediate learners
• Quiz questions and examples can be hard to follow

Who it’s best for: This course is ideal for professionals or students who are about to set out into the working world. It gives a well-grounded overview of the importance of editing and proofreading and is applicable to a range of professional settings.

Overall: A short but informative course, either for beginners or as a refresher. The lessons are well-paced and Rickard explains her subject matter in a clear and concise way. The course also includes examples and quizzes to further your knowledge.

What are the advantages of taking a proofreading course?

In short, there are plenty! Such as:

• Refine your professional image and be self-sufficient in writing
• Progress into a new career path by learning widely applicable skills
• Learn valuable tools for editing, writing for business, and proofing your CV
• Save time and money by being able to proofread your own work

Buyers guide: what to look out for in a proofreading class

Because of how popular e-learning has become, it can be hard to know where to begin when looking for a proofreading course. So, we’ve compiled some points you should consider before committing to any one class:

Experience and instructor ability – if you’re spending time and money taking a proofreading course, you want to be sure you’re learning from someone with the right skills and experience. So, if you’re interested in proofreading for blogs, you’ll want to find a teacher who also has expertise in this field.

Develops skills – a good proofreading course will teach you the foundations of reading and editing for grammar, syntax, etc. But, it shouldn’t only do this. A great class will help you to build upon your own skills and take these further. Hopefully, you should come away feeling inspired and ready to dive into the world of proofreading.

Working professionally – while proofreading is a great skill for anyone to have, if you’re looking to study proofreading as a career step, it’s important that you should learn the practicalities of the role. So, the best course for you will offer advice on managing priorities, working to tight deadlines, and balancing thoroughness with speed.

Syllabus and skill level – many of the courses on this list are beginner-friendly, but you should consider your own level when approaching a class. For example, if you have some prior knowledge of proofreading but want to brush up and revise, you probably don’t need a whole introduction to what proofreading is.

Price – Ultimately, you’ll want a course that you can afford. But, it’s also important to consider the value you’ll get out of the course as well as your immediate budget. For example, if a course is twice the cost but features a professional with more experience, that could end up being a better long-term investment than a cheaper alternative.

How much do online proofreading classes cost?

Prices for proofreading courses vary greatly, and some of the classes on this list are on subscription services. To give you a ballpark, edX’s Business Writing Techniques and Coursera’s Writing for Business Course can be taken for free (though there is a charge if your require certification). While Udemy’s Proofreading to Perfection is $36.

LinkedIn Learning and Skillshare are both subscription platforms, which work out more cost-effective the more courses you take.

At the time of writing, LinkedIn Learning costs $39.99/month or $24.99/month annually. If you do wish to purchase an individual class, you’re looking at around $35-$45 on average.

On the other hand, a Skillshare subscription is $168 annually, working out at about $14/month. And, considering you’re investing in a wealth of knowledge for your personal and professional life, I’d say this is a pretty good deal.

How long does it take to learn proofreading courses online?

The courses on this list vary in terms of length – from 39 minutes to four months!

Many of these classes have built-in assessments, extra resources, and even exercises to try at home.

Because of this, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact time it takes to learn proofreading. Plus, it’s a skill that needs constant revision and practice, so you need to account for this as well as the course length itself.

With the exception of edX’s free course option, you can revisit the paid-for courses as many times as you’d like. This is also true for as long as you’re subscribed to a particular platform. So, if you feel like you need to sharpen your skills, there’s always the option to return to the class.

How do we rank our results?

We rank our results based on the courses we believe to be the best.

Undeniably, this is subjective. However, the factors we consider are:

• Teacher experience
• Provides transferable skills
• Has a strong and relevant syllabus
• Student feedback/ratings
• Production quality
• Overall impressions

Where possible, we complete each course in order to review them. Where we can’t do this, we research thoroughly to grasp students’ honest opinions and course quality.

If you’re looking to start out as a freelance proofreader, or if you have some knowledge and want to brush up on the technicalities, you’re not short of options.

While the best course for you will depend on your own aims, our top pick is Skilshare’s Editing and Proofreading MasterClass . As mentioned at the start of this article, the course covers over 60 lessons and 3 hours of content. This is a great middle-ground for someone who wants a course that is long enough to be informative, but not so much of an investment that it’s inflexible.

Plus, the fact that this is one of Skillshare’s most viewed and highly rated proofreading courses really speaks to the value students recognize in it. And, you can get great value for money by taking as many of Skillshare’s 40,000 classes as you like with their subscription .

That being said, if you are more interested in a one-off course, Udemy’s Proofreading to Perfection is a great alternative. Led by Marcia Yudkin, who is a marketing professional and published author, you’ll learn the best proofreading strategies from a trusted source. Yudkin also lists several downloadable resources for you to revise offline.

So, hopefully, this article has given you a better idea of which proofreading course is best for you!

Related articles: Best online transcribing courses and Proofread Anywhere

Online Proofreading Courses: FAQs

Our top pick for the best online proofreading class is Skillshare’s Editing and Proofreading MasterClass .

The single-purchase classes on this list are between $36 – $150. Generally speaking, these are cheaper than in-person courses.

The courses on this list vary from 39 minutes to four months. But you should also account for time spent putting the lessons into practice.

Rebecca graduated from King’s College university with a first class honours in English Language, followed by a Masters’ Degree in Eighteenth Century Studies.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Join our community

Find the best online courses and get exclusive discounts delivered directly to your inbox

We're here to help you find, research, and select the right online course for your needs, desires, and budget.

• The Open University
• Guest user / Sign out
• Study with The Open University

My OpenLearn Profile

Personalise your OpenLearn profile, save your favourite content and get recognition for your learning

About this free course

Become an ou student, download this course, share this free course.

Start this free course now. Just create an account and sign in. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge if available.

1.6 Proofreading

The six steps of writing with Proofreading highlighted.

In the Functional Skills English Level 2 writing assessment, you gain marks for ensuring that your spelling, punctuation and grammar is accurate. Proofreading your work is therefore an important part of the writing assessment.

In both the Essential Skills Wales Communication Level 2 writing assessment, you gain marks for a draft which has been checked to identify and correct any mistakes. Proofreading your draft is therefore an important part of the writing task.

Proofreading means checking for mistakes. The aim of proofreading is to ensure that what you have written is what you mean to say.

Proofreading is the careful reading of your final draft. You should allow as much time as possible between finishing your final draft and proofreading it. It is very important to bring a fresh eye to your work at this stage. If you try to proofread too soon after finishing writing, you are likely to see only what you think you have written and you may miss mistakes.

Activity 6 What to look for when proofreading

What should you look for when proofreading? Note down your ideas.

You may have thought of some of the following:

• punctuation
• choice of words
• readable handwriting/accurate word processing.

You will be looking at spelling and some aspects of punctuation and grammar in the next section.

When you have proofread your final draft, try using the spell check on your word processor to help you. Remember to check suggested spellings before you press accept as they may not be the most appropriate for your context!

Activity 7 Spot the errors

Have a look at the text below. There are three spelling mistakes and three punctuation mistakes.

Highlight the incorrect words and punctuation errors and then correct them in the text box.

The words that are spelt incorrectly are:

• critism (criticism)
• obversations (observations)
• carefulley (carefully).

The words that were punctuated incorrectly are:

… but you did ask for feedback, the best policy is …

(Needs a full stop rather than a comma.)

… and say ‘thank you’ (They have taken the time …

(Needs a lower-case ‘t’ in ‘They’.)

… normally it is worth looking carefulley at anything they had a problem with?

(Needs a full stop rather than a question mark.)

Here’s the corrected text:

If you ask someone to read what you have written and point out any problems, be prepared for criticism. You may not like being told that your writing doesn’t make sense (or is poorly punctuated or full of spelling errors), but you did ask for feedback. The best policy is just to accept the other person’s observations and say ‘thank you’ (they have taken the time to read your work, after all). You can ignore everything they said, of course, but normally it is worth looking carefully at anything they had a problem with.

In this section you have looked at:

• how to prepare for and plan your writing and write a first draft
• how to redraft and proofread your work so that it is accurate and says what you mean.

How to become a proofreader

Free proofreading courses – are they worth it?

If you spend a few minutes online you will quickly find a whole host of free online proofreading courses. You are sure to ask yourself: “Are they worth it”?

Step 1 – Before you do consider training we recommend that you focus on your language skills.

Why is this?

Proofreading courses will not teach you grammar!

Professional proofreading and editing courses teach the how and when to amend or annotate a document. They assume an existing above-average knowledge of spelling, punctuation, grammar, capitalisation etc. according with English-language convention.

Back to the free online courses

The answer is generally no, they are not worth it if they are not associated with a reputable proofreading course provider. 

So, if they are a) taster courses for a longer course, in which case I would say they definitely are worth it or b) you use them to see what proofreading entails and if you would really enjoy the work involved.

As the owner of a proofreading company I would not pay any attention to free courses not associated with reputed course providers as a way of building experience as they can be of varying quality and depth.

Rather work on getting experience by proofreading for friends and family. Even better if they are non-native English speakers.

If you really want to become a proofreader then you will need to invest the time and money in completing a paid course that is recognised in the industry and I will get to those a little later.

When should you take a free online proofreading course?

In my opinion the only really one situation in which you should take a free course and that is when it is offered as a taster to a large, ratified qualification.

Two leading UK proofreading course providers offer brief yet useful taster courses for their full paid online courses – and those are the ones that are industry recognised.

The taster courses allow you to experience the course as if you were paying for it. They will allow you to familiarise yourself with the layout, tools and technology and help you decide if you want to take the full course.

So, in that case then definitely yes, take the free course.

A free course in itself will never be considered a legitimate qualification

However, in other circumstances free online proofreading courses that are not affiliated with a recognised organisation are not worth it as publishing houses and academic proofreading companies will not consider them as qualifications .

A quick Google search will reveal the following free proofreading courses.