Proofreading Academy Review: Legit or Scam? (Proofready Anywhere or this?)

Proofreading Academy Review

In this post, we will give you an hones Proofreading Academy review and comparison with Proofread Anywhere (by Caitlin Pyle)

Proofreading is a very important part of the publishing process.

Unfortunately, many people think that proofreading is something you can just do on your own and don’t realize how hard it actually is to get things right.

This leads to lots of errors in published books, magazines, etc. which makes readers lose trust in publishers and authors alike!

To combat this problem, there are now some great services out there that offer courses for aspiring proofreaders like Proofreading Academy.

They have been working with clients since 2008 and they’ve helped over 10,000 students learn this skill so far!

And while they’re not the only company offering proofreading courses online, their prices are definitely among the most affordable ones around (especially when you take into account everything included in their course).

Plus, you get excellent support with Proofreading Academy.

I know you most heard of Proofread Anywhere and I have talked a tonne of good things about it, but Proofreading Academy is a great alternative. So, find out who wins Proofread Anywhere vs Proofreading Academy

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What is Proofreading Academy?

Proofreading Academy is a trading name of Interactive Learning, a company registered in the United Kingdom, that teaches you all the fundamentals of proofreading.

It’s as detailed as an instruction manual to help you read with a more discerning eye and become an effective proofreader for your own or others’ written work.

Name: Becoming a Proofreader

Description: ‘Becoming a Proofreader’ from Proofreading Academy equips you with all the information you need to offer high-quality online proofreading and editing services.

Course Duration: 50 hours

What’s Included: 15 modules, 88 lessons/quizzes, 1 final assignment

Work Guarantee: Freelance work at Proofed if you score 80% or higher on the final assignment

Price: $399

Free trial: Sign up here for free trial

Proofreading Academy has a free trial for their course which is ah-mazing right? Grab it here.

Who is behind Proofreading Academy course?

The Proofreading Academy team has collaborated with Proofed to develop Proofreading Academy courses.

Proofed has been operating as a proofreading and editing service provider since 2010 and wanted to establish a benchmark for proofreading standards for its own business.

There were no sufficient qualifications out there that illustrate a proofreader’s skills to the standards that Proofed required.

and, that is how the concept of Proofreading Academy was born.

All freelance proofreading who are presently working with Proofed team has completed Proofreading Academy with the 80% standard.

• Founded: 2017
• Parent Company: Interactive Learning Ltd.
• Located: 30 Stamford Street, 6th Floor, Alto, London, England, SE1 9LQ.
• Founders: Kiran Chauhan | Adam Harvey
• Socials: Facebook | Twitter
• Contact details: [email protected] | +1 888-851-7822

Proofreading Academy has a free trial for their course which is ah-mazing right? Grab it here.

What is Proofed and Why its good?

Proofed’s mission is to provide the highest quality proofreading and editing services in the world.

Proofed was born out of his belief that finding great editors should be easy, not just for himself, but for anyone who needs quality proofreading and editing services.

He discovered that he wasn’t alone, and Proofed quickly grew.

The reason why Proofed collaborated with proofreading academy to launch a proofreading specific course is to ensure there are quality proofreaders (according to their standards)

Who are my tutors at Proofreading Academy?

You can read about their team and tutors’ qualifications here.

It’s great to see that the crew is made up of people from all over the world, including the United States, Australia, and South Africa.

While the firm is located in the United Kingdom, you don’t have to live there to profit from this program.

Is Proofreading Academy legit?

Yes, Proofreading Academy is a legitimate business.

It is registered in the United Kingdom and all of its courses have been developed in collaboration with Proofed.

What is the course structure in Proofreading Academy?

In this article, we’re covering their flagship program Become a Proofreader.

Proofed, the official partner, of Proofreading Academy, has run a proofreading service since 2010.

They wanted to establish a benchmark for proofreading standards, as there were no qualifications that fully demonstrated editorial skills to the standards Proofed required.

This is how the flagship proofreading course was born. However, we don’t just teach you the skills you need to proofread – we also line you up with the work!

And here’s what Shernell had to say about her experience with the course:

After completing our course, you will be able to:

• Proofread any business, creative, or academic document to a professional standard
• Edit copy for tone, flow, readability, and style
• Use major academic referencing styles correctly
• Proofread documents written in American, British, and Australian English
• Make the most of Microsoft Word
• Begin your new flexible freelance career as a professional proofreader

What is the course breakdown?

Module Breakdown

Proofreading And Editing

This module covers

• The differences between proofreading and editing
• Substantive and mechanical editing
• The typical tasks involved in proofreading and editing
• Where proofreading fits into the editing process
• What skills proofreaders and editors need
• What modern on-screen proofreading involves
• Some common client and document types
• An introduction to the ethical issues involved in proofreading and editing

The Basics Of Microsoft Word

This module covers

• The main differences between different editions of Word for Windows and Word for Mac
• Our suggested workflow for proofreading
• How to change the user name and proofing language
• How to use the Track Changes and Compare features
• Using comments
• FAQs from proofreaders and our answers

Common Spelling Mistakes

This module covers

• Homophones
• Spelling differences between UK, US, and AUS English
• Spotting common typos
• Spelling differences between compound, hyphenated and open compound words
• FAQs from proofreaders and our answers

Common Grammar Mistakes

This module covers

• Faulty agreement
• Plural verbs and collective nouns
• Compound subjects
• Faulty parallelism
• Fragments
• Dangling and misplaced modifiers
• Restrictive and non-restrictive clauses
• Adverbs and adjectives
• Determiners and prepositions
• Regional grammar differences
• Grammar myths

Common Punctuation Mistakes

This module covers

• Terminal punctuation
• Double vs. single spaces
• Punctuation in restrictive and non-restrictive clauses
• Commas and conjunctions
• Punctuating quotations
• Colons and semicolons
• Apostrophes
• Punctuating dialogue
• Hyphens and dashes
• Ellipses, parentheses and lists
• FAQs from proofreaders and our answers

Other Common Errors

This module covers

• Latin terms
• Abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms
• Number use
• Capitalization
• Diacritics
• URLs
• Commonly misused terms
• Idioms

Proofreading In Practice: Style

This module covers

• What ‘style’ means in proofreading
• Style guides
• Tone and voice
• Vocabulary: academic, technical, regional and biased language
• Sentence structure and length
• Repetition and redundancy
• Paragraph coherence and organization
• Working with native, dyslexic and English as a Second Language (ESL) customers

Advanced Formatting In Microsoft Word

This module covers

• Customizing the spellchecker
• Using Find and Replace
• Changing text direction
• Working with Styles
• Document layout and spacing
• Page and section breaks
• Headers and footers
• Page numbers
• Images, tables, and charts
• Dynamic lists and indexes
• Shortcuts

Academic Proofreading

This module covers

• The proofreader’s role in academic work
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Commenting
• Terminology
• Quotations
• Grammatical person use
• Active and passive voices
• Proofreading undergraduate, postgraduate and journal work
• Working with LaTeX

Academic Proofreading: Referencing And Citations

This module covers

• Citation styles
• Source types
• Reference lists and bibliographies
• How to work with Harvard, APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, IEEE, OSCOLA, Bluebook, ALWD and AGLC referencing styles
• Species citation
• Classics citation
• Secondary citations
• Citation order
• What to do (and not do) about missing and incorrect information

Creative Writing And The Publishing Industry

This module covers

• The publishing process, including where editing and proofreading fit in it
• Key terminology and ethical issues related to proofreading creative writing
• What to expect when working with an author or a publisher
• Why different types of creative writing may require different approaches
• How to make a style sheet for fiction and non-fiction writing
• The importance of authorial voice and style in creative writing
• How to edit non-standard English and passages of dialogue
• Whether and when to edit or critique content in creative writing
• Proofreading and formatting scripts and screenplays
• The typesetting process and techniques for proofreading typeset texts
• How to use Adobe Acrobat Reader to proofread a PDF

Proofreading Business Writing

This module covers

• The different types of business documents you might encounter as a proofreader
• What to expect when working with business clients, including working with briefs, style guides, and company or brand voices
• How to create a style sheet for business writing
• The importance of knowing the intended audience, style, and level of formality for different types of business writing
• The role of grammatical point of view in business writing
• How to edit vocabulary issues related to jargon and buzzwords
• Editing for skim reading, accessibility, and SEO
• How to approach stylistic issues in formal business documents, commercial copy, and other professional documents such as CVs and cover letters
• How to use the tools in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Google Docs to proofread documents
• Tips for proofreading in publishing packages such as Adobe Illustrator or InDesign

Finding Work And The Final Assignment

This module covers

• Information on how to find work as a freelance proofreader
• Top revision areas
• Mock assignment
• Assessment of students to see if they are ready for professional work
• Detailed feedback
• Extra 1-2-1 tutoring, if needed

How is the course delivered and assessed?

Proofreading Academy includes:

• Text with images
• Videos
• Weekly group webinars with a tutor
• 3 types of quizzes:

The first kind is a mid-module which is designed to assess your knowledge and you can take them as much as you like. They are designed for you.

At the end of the module, there are quizzes. Again, you can take them any number of times and they do not contribute to your final marks.

There are also end of the module exercises. You can download them and proofread them.

Once you have finished the exercise, you can download Proofreading Academy’s answer sheet to compare the results and see where you have the mistakes.

The last kind is the final assignment. It is scored by an outsider and a real person. If you want to work with Proofed, you need to score over 80%. You get three attempts for it.

While it takes 7-10 business days to grade and get your results, you can always schedule a feedback call with a tutor in case you don’t reach the target

What is the pricing for Proofreading Academy?

The Becoming a Proofreader course is only $399.

The good news is – you can reach out to the team and set up 3 monthly installments.

Proofreading Academy has a free trial for their course which is ah-mazing right? Grab it here.

What are the Proofreading Academy reviews like?

There is no better place to look for Proofreading Academy reviews than students who have taken the course.

As of this writing, Proofreading Academy has a lot of favorable feedback. It currently has a 4.7/5 star rating on Trustpilot and 331 reviews (most of them being positive).

There are tonnes of positive reviews and the best part is most of them are recent. That means, people are taking the course and they are happy with how things are right now.

You can also find Proofreading Academy reviews Reddit here. It is great to know when I tried finding proofreading academy complaints, I didn’t find any.

The Biggest Reason You Should Join Proofreading Academy

Guaranteed work

If you have completed our Becoming A Proofreader course and obtained a distinction grade of 80% or above then you will be offered the opportunity to undertake a trial as a freelance proofreader with Proofed.

and, that is why I say, Proofreading Academy is the perfect place to start your proofreading career.

Look at what it says right on the course page:

GUARANTEED WORK After you have completed this course and obtained a distinction grade of 80% or above on the final assignments we will connect you with our proofreader partner to start work as a freelance proofreader!

The course is extremely comprehensive, and once you have completed it, you will be well equipped to start working as a freelance proofreader.

If you are fearful about getting a proofreading job after course completion, worry not. The guarantee works to your advantage.

Proofreading Academy has a free trial for their course which is ah-mazing right? Grab it here.

Certified

This course is also CPD certified, which means it has been evaluated and reviewed by an expert independent group to assure high-quality information and organization.

How Does This Compare to Other Proofreading Courses?

The other proofreading course is “Proofread Anywhere” by Caitlin Pyle. It is an amazing course (read: Proofread Anywhere Review here) but on the expensive side.

While I have only good things to say about Proofread Anywhere as well, I would recommend you go through this comparison.

Proofread Anywhere vs Proofreading Academy’s Become a Proofreader

Price:

Proofreading Academy costs $399 and there are no versions.

Proofread Anywhere costs $499 for the Ignite version and $597 for the Ignite Plus version. Nowadays, most of times the course is on sale so you can grab it at about 40% off.

As you might have guessed, the Ignite Plus version is what has all the bells and whistles. If you get 90% in the final exam, you get

• a certificate
• membership in a marketing mastermind Facebook group
• listing in the Self-Publishing School Preferred Outsourcer Rolodex

Winner: Proofreading Academy

Proofreading Academy has a free trial for their course which is ah-mazing right? Grab it here.

Support: Proofreading Academy vs Proofread Anywhere

The best part about Proofreading Academy is that you can schedule a tutoring call for free if you have problems.

The same is available with Proofreading Anywhere but it comes with a cost of $40-50 per 30 min session.

In short, you have much more support at no additional cost with Proofreading Academy

However, Proofread Anywhere has great peer support on Facebook Group. It has been around for years with strong alumni ready to help you wherever you are stuck.

Winner: Proofreading Academy

Proofreading Academy has a free trial for their course which is ah-mazing right? Grab it here.

Content: Proofreading Academy vs Proofread Anywhere

Proofreading Academy is focused on grammar, punctuations, spellings, etc while Proofread Anywhere also contains information on starting out your own business.

Besides that, Proofread Anywhere deals with The Chicago Manual of Style which is widely followed but Proofreading Academy goes over generic style.

So depending on your long terms, either one would be great for you.

USP: Proofreading Academy vs Proofread Anywhere

Proofreading Academy

• Work Guarantee for people who get 80% distinction: On average, freelancers earn around $15-20 per hour with Proofed once they have proofread a few documents and gotten into their stride. This can rise to $25-50 per hour as they gain more experience and become more efficient at proofreading a wider range of documents.” – Proofreading Academy

• Supportive team

Proofread Anywhere:

• Facebook Mastermind for those who qualify
• Training to set your independent business

Proofreading Academy vs Proofread Anywhere: Which one is the best?

it all boils down to is what you want from your proofreading course. If you want to support and a guarantee of work, then Proofreading Academy is the better choice.

However, if you are looking for more comprehensive training in starting your own business, then Proofread Anywhere is the better option.

Frequently Asked Questions on Proofreading Academy’s Become a proofreader course

What do I need to get started with Proofreading Academy?

You’ll need

• A laptop or desktop computer
• Most recent version of Microsoft Word (2016 or later)
• Internet connection.

What are the Course Requirements

• Age requirement: 18 years old.
  
• Country requirements: Available worldwide. Proofed work opportunity is only available in a country that has a tax treaty with the U.S. (list). Contact them first to be sure if you’re investing because of the guarantee.
  
• Skill requirements: fluent in English and know how to navigate a computer. no previous proofreading or editing experience is required.

Can You Get a Refund with Proofreading Academy?

Yes, in some cases. 

Here are the terms: “All course refunds requested within 14 days from the time of purchase will be refunded in full, unless it is otherwise deemed that the course has already been accessed.

In that case, the un-accessed portions of the course material will be proportionately refunded, less a $30 administration fee.

All refund requests made greater than 14 days but less than 30 days after the course purchase will be assessed using the above methods.

No refunds will be given if the course has been accessed and greater than 30 days have passed since the purchase.” – T&C

To get started, contact [email protected]

Is there a time limit for how long I have to complete the course?

You will have access to the course for life.

Does it matter where I’m based?

As long as you have a PC/Laptop with the latest version of Microsoft Word and an internet connection, you really can proofread anywhere with proofreading academy!

Proofreading Academy Review: Is the proofreading Academy legit?

Yes, Proofreading Academy is legit and is a great investment, and can help anyone looking to start their career as a proofreader.

The support team is amazing and they are always available to help you with any questions you may have.

What are the Other Courses Offered by Proofreading Academy?

Proofreading Academy offers three short courses as well to focus on the specific areas of proofreading:

• Mastering Microsoft Word
• Academic Proofreading
• Basic Business Proofreading

Which is better proofreading academy or proofread anywhere?

Proofreading Academy is more affordable with better support. I recommend that over proofread anywhere. However, if you have specific requirements like business acumen and amazing alumi support, go with Proofread Anywhere.

Are proofreading courses worth it?

Yes, proofreading courses are worth it. Like I said, new proofreaders make a tonne of mistakes and they have no idea how the business works.

So, invest in the best online proofreading course to start right and make money online fast.

Pros: Proofreading academy

• Free Trial: You have a free trial for Become a Proofreader
• Guaranteed Work with Proofed if you get over 80%
• Easy to use and navigate
• Amazing support and accessible tutors
• Great value overall
• Affordable and have a payment plan

Cons: Proofreading academy

• Limited time access. You get access to the course for only 1 year.
• While the guarantee is amazing, the competition is high because all students would aim to get over 80%. Besides that, it is not as easy to get 80% as you think
• Doesnt include proofreading symbols and information on starting your own business.

Proofreading Academy has a free trial for their course which is ah-mazing right? Grab it here.

Final Thoughts – My Proofreading Academy Review

So, this is the end of Proofreading Academy review.

Overall, Proofreading Academy is a great course that can help anyone looking to start their career as a proofreader.

The support team is amazing and they are always available to help you with any questions you may have.

The course is very comprehensive and covers everything you need to know to start proofreading.

If you’re looking for a course that offers a work guarantee and more support, then Proofreading Academy is the better choice.

However, if you’re looking for more comprehensive training in starting your own business, then Proofread Anywhere is the better option.

Proofreading Academy Review