on screen proof reading

[merlion7]

I am looking for a distance learning on screen proofreading/editing course. Does anyone know who may be offering any such course? most of them seem to be £200-£300, any free ones or cheaper ones?

[factor-fiction]

I've always assumed these were scams. I've never seen a genuine advert for a proof reading job- most that appear to be so turn out to be selling a training course.
I'm sure authors use them but I suspect there are more than enough proofreaders around to meet the limited demand

[cathfromsaron]

yes, you won't get any work from them!

[factor-fiction]

I'd be interested to know whether anyone here knows anyone who has ever done any paid proof-reading work.
(There are some on here- and I've been one of them at times- who provide a free proof-reading service on AB.)

[atalanta]

I have done a lot of proof-reading, but I was head-hunted because of my languages, and then taught to proof-read. These courses might teach you a few things, but they can't get you more than trivial amounts of work. If that. If you really want to do proofreading, first get a job with a publisher, but don't expect to get paid more than peanuts.
Even before computers, spellcheckers and grammarcheckers, you hardly ever saw an advertisement for a proofreader. Best of all, get a book out of the Library on proof reading or copy-editing, and buy some cheap newspapers or books from charity shops to practice on.
But it is an overcrowded profession. Look at all the course there are, churning out hundreds of workless proof-readers every year. You might get more work as an indexer, actually.

[buildersmate]

Whilst it is a few years ago, a family member was Head of Editorial Services at a major publishing house. I know they head-hunted freelance people to do this work - never picked people who had just done some cheapo course.
I therefore agree with Atal regarding his analysis of how this industry works.
Freelance proof-readers are invariably self-learning people and have a deep interest in English Language and Literature, more often than not backed by a tertiary level qualification in the subject. It is only very specialist topics like indexing that my family member had to teach people.