I’ve signed up for the first course in a Berkeley certificate program called the Professional Sequence in Editing (external link). It starts on September 2d. From now until then I will be deliberately drowning in every thing I can find regarding grammar (internal link). Only with a good grounding in grammar will I have a chance of passing the course.
What is the goal of the program? In part, their website puts it like this:
“Offering proficiency in copyediting, line editing and developmental editing, the Professional Sequence in Editing is the ideal training for those with a passion for fine-tuning the written word. The curriculum builds from grammar and usage to editing for various goals and audiences and culminates in the art of substantive editing to refine an author’s style.”
I’ll need these books:
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
The Chicago Manual of Style
Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English in Plain English
A Writer’s Reference
It’s now up to me to get my freelance work done while preparing for the class. Wish me luck.
Update: I decided not to take the course because I felt my command of basic English grammar was not good enough.(external link) As I prepared for the course, by studying grammar, I became more and more aware of my inadequacy. If I were to take such a course I would first take a college level refresher.
2 replies on “Entering an editing course”
Hello Thomas, how are you sir?
I am thinking about beginning this course in the fall of 2016. I would like to know how this course has helped you and if you would recommend this to someone else?
Hello. I decided not to take the course. My English grammar is simply not good enough to pass a course like this. If I did take such a class I would enter and pass a college level English refresher course first.