Program Overview

---

Centre for Continuing Education

The Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sydney offers a diverse range of professional development short courses. These courses are designed to enhance career prospects and provide opportunities for personal growth.

Course Subjects

The Centre offers courses in various subjects, including:

• Business and management
  • Business communication
  • Business strategy
  • Business writing
  • Cultural competence and diversity
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Management
  • Organisational psychology
  • Sales and customer service
• English
• HSC preparation (years 10-12)
  • HSC biology
  • HSC business studies
  • HSC chemistry
  • HSC economics
  • HSC English
  • HSC mathematics
  • HSC physics
  • Year 11 (Revision)
  • Years 10-12 study and essay skills
• Humanities and culture
  • Creative writing
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Psychology
• Information technology
  • Adobe
  • AI and machine learning courses
  • Data analysis and analytics
  • Google
  • Microsoft
• Language
  • Arabic
  • Brazilian Portuguese
  • Chinese
  • French
  • German
  • Greek
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Spanish
• Marketing
  • Digital marketing
  • Marketing communications
  • Product development
• Project management
  • Agile methodology courses
  • Change management for projects
  • Stakeholder and people management
  • Technical project management skills

A Course in Editing and Proofreading

This course is designed to help individuals sharpen their written communications and improve their ability to sell, lead, or inform. The course covers structural editing, copy editing, and proofreading techniques to produce clear, concise, and error-free writing.

Course Details

• Duration: 1 session, 8 hours total
• Next date: 2 December 2025
• Location: Face-to-face (CCE Building, Newtown)
• Cost: A$700.00 - A$750.00

Course Information

The course aims to give participants a thorough grounding in the three-part editing process. It will equip them with the skills needed to turn rough copy into powerful and effective writing.

Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants should be able to:

• Use structural editing to maximise the effect of any document
• Employ the principles of copy editing to produce clear and compelling sentences
• Set the right tone for their audience
• Use headings and sub-headings to guide the reader through the structure
• Correct common grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors
• Check that appropriate wording has been used at all times
• Cut out deadwood, removing unnecessary verbiage
• Edit for style, cutting out pompous language and cliches
• Edit for consistency, using house styles and style guides
• Use proofreading techniques to finalise copy for publication

Content

The course covers:

Structural or Substantive Editing

• Focussing on the big picture and key messages
• Avoiding waffle and getting to the point
• Assessing the content to make sure it flows logically
• Cutting out irrelevant material and filling content gaps
• Ensuring the tone is right for the audience
• Using transitional words and phrases to link paragraphs
• Using headings and sub-heads for maximum effect

Copy Editing

• Making sure all sentences have maximum readability and impact
• Correcting grammar, punctuation, and spelling
• Picking the right words to do the job
• Cutting out clichés and pompous, overly formal wording
• Getting rid of redundant words and phrases
• Avoiding business buzzwords

Proofreading

• Eradicating stubborn errors and inconsistencies
• Mastering proofreading techniques
• Adapting reading style for effective proofreading
• Checking all wording against a relevant style guide

Intended Audience

The course is suitable for anyone who wants to edit or proofread their own work or that of others. It is suitable for all who edit content, online or in print.

Prerequisites

None

Delivery Modes

• Face-to-face, presenter-taught workshop
• Online workshop via the platform Zoom

Delivery Style

The course is delivered as a one-day, interactive workshop consisting of an instructor-led lecture, group and individual activities. This training approach allows participants to work through concepts introduced by the instructor in an application-focused teaching environment.

Materials

Course workbooks are distributed electronically using Dropbox. Participants are required to print the course workbooks and bring them to class.

Additional Information

Participants are advised to have a notebook and pen available during class.

Organisational Training

For groups of six or more, courses can be delivered to the team with the option to tailor content.

Meet the Facilitators

Tony Spencer-Smith

Tony Spencer-Smith loves words and has worked with them all his life. He has a thorough understanding of the written and spoken language and is able to pass this on to students.

What Others Say

The course has received positive feedback from participants, who have praised the facilitator's knowledge and teaching style.

Related Courses

• Business Writing Essentials Course: From Core Skills to AI Tools
• Business Writing Masterclass: From Core Skills to AI Tools
• Enhancing Your English Course: Steps Toward Better Writing - Advanced
• Enhancing Your English Course: Steps Toward Better Writing - Standard
• Interview Skills and Article Writing for Content Creators
• The Secrets of Eloquence Course

Frequently Asked Questions

The Centre for Continuing Education has a list of frequently asked questions that provide answers to common queries about applications, payment, short courses, and more.

Contact Us

The Centre for Continuing Education has a student support team that can answer questions about short courses.