Learn to become a better editor or proof reader.
Building on the foundations of Editing I, this course covers more in-depth material on layout, graphics, charts, and other specialty inclusions.
Learn to:
- recognise different types of editing and editorial tasks
- compile a stylesheet
- understand the differences between headings, captions, and other stylesheet and layout technicalities
- understand style and its relationship to context
- process graphics
- stick to a brief
- liaise with client
Develop your specialty and receive in-depth, relevant feedback from our experienced industry professionals.
Lesson Structure
There are 8 lessons in this course:
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Introduction to Editing
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State of the Art
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Scope and nature of the work
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Traditional and modern editing
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Editing terminology
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Writing job specifications.
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Refining Text Editing
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Common traps
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Proofing documents
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How much editing is appropriate
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Who does what
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More terminology.
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Editing Headings in something
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Headlines and Captions
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Heading
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Captions
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Supporting material
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Headings
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Headlines
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More terminology
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Proofing Graphics
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Line drawings
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Technical illustrations
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Half tones
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Maps
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Charts
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Tables
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Diagrams
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Electronic processing of graphic images
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Bits and colour depth
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Pixels and resolution
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Colour and black and white
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Image formats
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Types of files
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Processing graphics
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Choosing and designing with photos
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What does the editor need to do with graphics
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Electronic publishing
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Terminology.
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Editing and Design
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Layout and design
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Page layout
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Desktop publishing software
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What is desktop publishing
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Image manipulation.
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Matching Style and Context
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Targeting the reader
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Style
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Terminology.
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Legal and Ethical Issues
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Legal and ethical issues in publishing
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Copyright
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Copyright free materials
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Copyright misconceptions
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Defamation
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Libel
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Contract law
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Right to privacy
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Reporting restrictions
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Law and the internet
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CD/film and other electronic publishing
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Terminology.
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Editing Project
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A practical editing project to end the course and utilise your new skills.
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims
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Review the current state of editing, determining its scope, nature and trends
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Identify and edit text errors that commonly occur in a variety of publishing situations.
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Write and edit a variety of different headings and captions.
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Select, edit and mark up graphic illustrations.
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Edit the layout or design of a publication.
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Identify an appropriate style for the context of a publication, and edit the text to match the determined style.
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Edit text in order to remove legal and/or ethical risks
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Apply a broad range of skills to editing of a lengthy manuscript in a balanced way.
What You Will Do
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Discuss differences in spelling and grammar in different areas
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Discover common editing traps and their solutions
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Analyse, edit, and rework texts
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Create dummy copies of work
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Discuss copyright, legal issues, and editorial ethics
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Edit a manuscript
What Type of Editing are You Doing?
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Perhaps you have studied the subject before.
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Maybe you have experience.
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You might have even been trained on the job at work or elsewhere
Editing may just be a minor part of what is involved in some jobs; but in other jobs editing is most of what that job is all about.
Developmental editing
The developmental editor usually consults with the writer before commencement of the project then helps to plan the features as well as the organisation of the work. At this stage the editor will also review and analyse the work as well as suggest communication formats. The following processes are usually incorporated:
- Rewriting and restructuring the text to fit the format;
- Improving flow of sentences and paragraphs;
- Ensuring consistent structure by adding or deleting headings;
- Identifying gaps in content, and forwarding this information to the author to allow changes;
- Deleting content that is outdated or that does not achieve the desired marketing focus or tone;
- Developing an effective system for handling trademarks and notes;
- Altering content if needed after recommendation;
- Passing the manuscript on for copy-editing.
Production editing
Production editing involves managing the entire production process from manuscript to finished product. This involves the following:
- Planning, scheduling and tracking the entire production process;
- Obtaining quotes and choosing printers;
- Supervising copy editors and designers;
- Ensuring that the author’s changes are implemented;
- Overseeing quality control of printing and typography;
- Implementing procedures of administration, eg. copyright, ISBN.
Project editing
A project editor manages the entire project and this will include the following duties:
- Reviewing all aspects of the editorial and production process and ensuring that standards are consistent throughout the project;
- Ensuring that the editorial and design team communicates effectively.
Acquisitions editing
The role of the acquisitions editor is to find new business and authors for the company. This involves the following:
- Analysing and researching marketing data within an identified market, taking into account current events and trends as well the output of other publishers;
- Finding publishable material for a given market;
- Finding and signing on authors;
- Ensuring that the editorial team understands the marketing strategy organised for the project.
Proofreading
A proofreader checks typeset copy for errors. This involves the following:
- Marking typeset copy word for word against a manuscript;
- Identifying deviations for correction;
- Querying editorial errors;
- Checking copy for conformity to type specifications;
- Creating a style sheet;
- Ensuring attractive and consistent typography by checking kerning, margins, word spacing, repetitive word breaks.
Where Editing is Part of Your Job
Anyone who contributes to reports, newsletters, marketing material or any other writing may well be called upon to use editing skills in their job. Editing might not be the most important part of the job; but to be able to edit can often help you to be more effective as an employer, manager or business owner.
WHY DO YOU NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EDITING?
Some people understand everything they read. Others understand only some of what they read.
Some are so distracted in our modern world that they don't absorb anything they read unless it jumps up and bites them!",
When you learn more about editing, you get better at "grabbing the attention" of even people who might have otherwise not even noticed your writing.
This course will give you the knowledge and understanding to avoid pitfalls in writing which could lead to problems of all sorts. It will help you to make life easier for the people who use what you have written; and give you deeper insights into how and why things should be changed in a peace of writing before it is used.
Editing may involve correcting grammar, spelling and clarity; but it also involves ensuring a piece of writing has been made appropriate to the situation in which it is to be used.
This course will deepen your capacity to ensure writing is appropriate for its purpose.
Who can benefit from taking this course?
Existing editors wanting to improve their skill set or upskill. This course is well-suited to editors wanting to move into fields with a greater focus on technical writing and layout, including academic editing.
Freelance writers seeking to offer editorial services to their existing clients, or bring in new business. It is also helpful for writers wanting to expand into technical writing or cover new fields like data science, which may require more specialist detail regarding charts and other diagrams.
In house agency designers or writers across a variety of B2B and B2C companies. Improving readability scoring and general grammar and punctuation helps staff create better material, from white papers and pitch decks to client-side briefs and press releases.
Students at a tertiary level wanting to improve their academic writing, editing, and layout skills to achieve better grades.
At the end of this course you will:
- Understand the differences between headings, captions, and other stylesheet and layout technicalities
- Possess a deeper understanding of types of editing
- Understand how to work with technical illustrations, diagrams, and other specialist pieces of copy
- Know how to revise and polish existing copy to a high standard
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