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Course

Copyediting I

WCWP-40236

Grammar Lab is a prerequisite for this ten-week online Copyediting I course. As a copyeditor (or copy editor), you will be expected to proofread text for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling and check for readability, style, and agreement with editorial style. To be successful, you must be meticulous to ensure that material is error-free and matches the style of a publication. Copyeditors suggest revisions, such as changing words and rearranging sentences and paragraphs to improve clarity or accuracy. You may also carry out research, confirm sources, and verify facts, dates, and statistics. Through the Copyediting Certificate Program, you will learn about all of the aforementioned areas. You will also identify your own professional goals and create a personalized plan to help you take the first steps toward a new career in copyediting upon completing the program. The Copyediting I course is the first class in a series of three courses: Copyediting I, Copyediting II, and Copyediting III. It is designed to help you improve your copyediting skills and will begin to prepare you for an in-house or freelance career in copyediting. You will learn light copyediting (also known as copy editing), which involves the correction of errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and usage. You will also explore the tools and techniques the professionals use. The goal of this course is to teach you to execute an effective light edit using standard editing marks and Microsoft Word tools, such as tracking, commenting, Find and Replace, spell-check, and basic macros, as well as learn about style guides, and create style sheets. In addition, you'll practice ways to communicate clearly and professionally with authors and writers via queries and comments.

What you will learn:

 

  • Copyediting (or copy editing) and proofreading symbols to correct indisputable errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and usage on hard-copy content.
  • Identifying the varying levels of editorial depth (light, medium, heavy).
  • The common reference books and resources used to guide and support changes for accuracy and consistency.
  • Effective strategies for communicating clearly, succinctly, and professionally with authors and writers via queries/comments.
  • How to create style sheets and why they are important.
  • Microsoft Word tools and techniques for performing effective light editing (tracking, commenting, Find and Replace, spell-check, and basic macros).
  • Editorial processes, types of editors, and resources professionals use.
  • Career information and personal goal setting to guide you toward your next step in the field.

Quarters Offered: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall | 10 weeks | Online
Prerequisite: Grammar Lab (WCWP-40234)
Requirements: Microsoft Word 2016/Office 365 (PC or Mac) or higher required. Access to a printer and scanner or scanning app required.
Next Class: To continue progress in the Copyediting Certificate, the next class is Copyediting II.
Note: Fulfills 3 units toward requirements for the Copyediting Certificate. This online course is not self-paced. There are assignments and readings with weekly due dates. Please purchase textbooks before class begins. Subscriptions to The Chicago Manual of Style can be purchased here.

Course Information

Online
3.00 units
$675.00

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This course applies to these programs

Copyediting

Course sessions

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Section ID:

188332

Class type:

Online Asynchronous.

This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.

Textbooks:

The Copyeditor's Handbook 4th
by Amy Einsohn and Marilyn Schwartz
ISBN / ASIN: 9780520286726

The Copyeditor's Workbook 1st
by Amy Buky, Marilyn Schwartz, Amy Einsohn
ISBN / ASIN: 9780520294356

The Chicago Manual of Style (ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION ONLY, DO NOT USE PRINTED BOOK) Edition: 18th
ISBN / ASIN: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.

Policies:

  • No refunds after: 4/11/2025
  • 1st no meeting date: 5/26/2025

Note:

This is an online course. You will have access to this class on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed. To login to your course, go to your MyExtension account, select My Courses, select this course and then click the link that appears under Online Provider.<br><b> Prerequisite: Grammar Lab (WCWP-40234).

Schedule:

No information available at this time.
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Instructor: Andrea Ordonez

Andrea Ordonez

Andrea Ordonez is an award-winning editor currently based in Fort Worth, Texas. A Dow Jones News Fund alumna, she currently works as a copy editor and web producer at Texas Monthly. Andrea was the deputy copy chief of BuzzFeed Inc. and an assistant editor at Newsday in New York. She is a member of ACES: The Society for Editing's diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, and the Asian American Journalists Association's programming committee. At UCSD Extended Studies, she teaches Copyediting I and II in the Copyediting Certificate Program.
 

Full Bio
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Section ID:

188330

Class type:

Online Asynchronous.

This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.

Textbooks:

The Copyeditor's Handbook 4th
by Amy Einsohn and Marilyn Schwartz
ISBN / ASIN: 9780520286726

The Copyeditor's Workbook 1st
by Amy Buky, Marilyn Schwartz, Amy Einsohn
ISBN / ASIN: 9780520294356

The Chicago Manual of Style (ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION ONLY, DO NOT USE PRINTED BOOK) Edition: 18th
ISBN / ASIN: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.

Policies:

  • No refunds after: 4/11/2025
  • 1st no meeting date: 5/26/2025

Note:

This is an online course. You will have access to this class on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed. To login to your course, go to your MyExtension account, select My Courses, select this course and then click the link that appears under Online Provider.<br><b> Prerequisite: Grammar Lab (WCWP-40234).

Schedule:

No information available at this time.
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Instructor: Karen Robinson

Karen Robinson
Karen Robinson, PhD English (medieval literature), has been copyediting for over 20 years in fields as varied as financial services, oncology/medical publications, academic writing, and fiction. She has been freelance copyediting for writers of fiction, mostly fantasy and speculative fiction, for the past 8 years. In addition, she is the Managing/Copy Editor for PLY, a quarterly magazine about spinning fiber into yarn (she is also a spinner and knitter). Karen has taught courses at the college level in composition, technical writing, and literature (as well as Latin). For the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, she teaches Copyediting for Fiction.
Full Bio
Add To Cart

Section ID:

188333

Class type:

Online Asynchronous.

This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.

Textbooks:

The Copyeditor's Handbook 4th
by Amy Einsohn and Marilyn Schwartz
ISBN / ASIN: 9780520286726

The Copyeditor's Workbook 1st
by Amy Buky, Marilyn Schwartz, Amy Einsohn
ISBN / ASIN: 9780520294356

The Chicago Manual of Style (ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION ONLY, DO NOT USE PRINTED BOOK) Edition: 18th
ISBN / ASIN: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.

Policies:

  • No refunds after: 4/11/2025
  • 1st no meeting date: 5/26/2025

Note:

This is an online course. You will have access to this class on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed. To login to your course, go to your MyExtension account, select My Courses, select this course and then click the link that appears under Online Provider.<br><b> Prerequisite: Grammar Lab (WCWP-40234).

Schedule:

No information available at this time.
Add To Cart

Instructor: Robin Kelley

Robin Kelley
Robin Kelley earned her B.A. in English Education from Montana State University (MSU). After graduation, Robin followed her wanderlust and traveled extensively before returning to Montana. Her enthusiasm for education and language led her to a position as the managing editor for a continuing education company. She has also pursued her career in community involvement and education through a variety of positions, including teaching communications at MSU and Gallatin College as well as working as a writing coach in the college of business at MSU. Robin completed the Copyediting Certificate Program through UC San Diego Extension and is thrilled to teach with the team at UC San Diego. As the owner of her own freelance editing business, which focuses on editing, writing, and developing educational and business materials, Robin enjoys empowering authors to strengthen their voices through their writing. She teaches Business of Copyediting and Copyediting I for Copyediting Program. 

 
Full Bio
Add To Cart

Section ID:

188331

Class type:

Online Asynchronous.

This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.

Textbooks:

The Copyeditor's Handbook 4th
by Amy Einsohn and Marilyn Schwartz
ISBN / ASIN: 9780520286726

The Copyeditor's Workbook 1st
by Amy Buky, Marilyn Schwartz, Amy Einsohn
ISBN / ASIN: 9780520294356

The Chicago Manual of Style (ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION ONLY, DO NOT USE PRINTED BOOK) Edition: 18th
ISBN / ASIN: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.

Policies:

  • No refunds after: 4/11/2025
  • 1st no meeting date: 5/26/2025

Note:

This is an online course. You will have access to this class on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed. To login to your course, go to your MyExtension account, select My Courses, select this course and then click the link that appears under Online Provider.<br><b> Prerequisite: Grammar Lab (WCWP-40234).

Schedule:

No information available at this time.
Add To Cart

Instructor: Akiko Yamagata

Akiko Yamagata
Akiko Yamagata is an editor of scholarly manuscripts in the humanities and qualitative social sciences. As the owner of Graphite Editing, she helps academic presses, journals, and individual scholars to develop and polish manuscripts by providing developmental editing, line editing, and copyediting services. She also edits translations from modern and classical Japanese. She holds a master's degree from Harvard University in East Asian studies, with a specialization in Japanese art and culture, and a bachelor's degree from Williams College in political science and sociology. Akiko has two decades of experience in educational, arts and culture, and nonprofit organizations in teaching, program development, and management roles. At UCSD, she teaches Copyediting I in the Copyediting Certificate Program. 
 
Full Bio