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P R O O F R E A D I N G &
E D I T I N G
Proofreading and Editing
is an interesting, rewarding and exciting industry.
Working with words is mentally stimulating, challenging and a lot of fun. You get to work
with editors, publishers, authors and people from diverse interests and industries.
This is an ideal training course if you like reading and relish the idea of finding and
correcting other people's mistakes. If you have an objective eye and can easily spot errors
in spelling and grammar – you will enjoy this course. It will benefit your command of
English even if your aim is not to actually work in the editing or proofreading profession.
There may be other reasons why you would want to do this course. You could be a creative
writer, perhaps writing your first novel, you may be a journalist or business documents
writer and you want to improve your writing skill level. You may be a manager who writes
reports and proposals, or an advertising copywriter. You need to know what is correct
English usage.
You might also take this course simply because you love the English language and enjoy
working with words. If you’ve had a good education and you enjoy reading, this is the next
step forward.
New Zealand Institute of Business Studies
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Learn. Earn. Anywhere. Learn how to earn an income working from home.
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C O U R S E C O N T E N T STutorial 5: Legal issues &
Relationships in Publishing
Understanding electronic digital
rights. Learn about copyright and
trademarks. Basic definitions and
implications for publication of
copyright, trademark symbols,
intellectual property, libel and
defamation, plagiarism and moral
rights. Techniques for applying
professional objectivity and
confidentiality. Cultural issues.
Tutorial 6: Substance and
Structure
Responsibilities in the publishing
house. Challenges of self-
publishing. Structuring different
styles of writing. Challenges of
structuring. A range of mark-up
techniques. Making suggestions
for changes. Choosing the right
word.
Tutorial 7: Referencing
Direct and indirect referencing.
Understanding the way a book is
put together. How to proofread or
edit references. Features of
commonly used reference styles:
Harvard, Oxford, APA and
Vancouver. Endnotes, footnotes,
margin notes. How to handle
colloquial language. Formal,
standard and informal writing.
Tutorial 8: The Writer’s Craft
Discover classifications of the
literary world. Recognise writing
styles, economical writing, jargon,
clichés, similes, metaphors,
alliteration, personification,
hyperbole, onomatopoeia,
abbreviations and acronyms. Look
at the length of sentences. Learn
how to deal with punctuation.
Tutorial 1: The World of
Proofreading & Editing
How big is this industry? Where
are the opportunities? What do
editors, and proofreaders do?
Basic tools for the job. Useful
reference books and websites.
First steps in proofreading.
Introduction to grammar. What
are style sheets?
Tutorial 2: Inside the publishing
house
Different responsibilities.
Understand the meaning of house
styles and style sheets.
Understanding grammar and
common errors. Proofreading
marks and how to use them.
Standard editing tools and guides
to correct documents.
Tutorial 3: Perfecting the
Manuscript
The publishing process. The book
proposal, basic publishing
decisions, perfecting the
manuscript. The printing process.
Basic techniques for proofreading
publications. How understanding
the style and appearance can
improve documents being
prepared for publication.
Tutorial 4: Computer
Proofreading & Editing
The publishing process and
technology. How to use
technology for proofreading and
editing. Techniques for handling
electronic files. Principles for
online proofreading. How to
report electronically proofread
documents. Sample correction
reports. Understanding technical
jargon.
Tutorial 9: Basic Elements of
Publishing
How to handle technical
materials. Alternative spelling and
punctuation conventions and how
to use them. How to handle tables,
how to correct vertical alignment,
horizontal alignment and move
text. What to look for when
dealing with photographs and
captions.
Tutorial 10: The Art of Consistency
Editing for completeness and
consistency in documents. Useful
tools. Develop your own style. How
to handle various kinds of lists.
Personalise your mark up style.
Tutorial 11: Proofreading & Editing
Business
Understand publishing in the
digital age. Business skills for
proofreaders. Managing freelance
projects. How to understand the
client’s needs. Components of a
project. Preparing briefs and
quotes, learn about GST and
decide about insurance. Prepare
the stationery you need. How to
write a brief. Draw up a
confidentiality agreement and a
delivery contract. Meeting
deadlines, setting up service
guarantees. How to handle
conflict.
Tutorial 12: Setting Up in
Business
Working in the industry. Draw up a
CV. Freelancing as a professional
proofreader and/or editor.
Marketing practices. Using
advertising to develop your
business. How to find work.
Developing contacts. Professional
best practices and self-
development. Find work on the
Internet. The benefits of joining
Graduates Club.
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I N T R O D U C T I O NThis course is not only about the theory of
proofreading and editing. It's also very practical.
You'll learn about the industry – from the
acquisition of a manuscript through to the final
publishing processes. You will also learn how to run
a freelance editing business. How to market yourself
and your business services. How much to charge.
This course offers a genuine opportunity for people
with no previous publishing experience to break
into a rapidly growing worldwide industry.
The qualifications you require to do
this course are:
• a competent knowledge of the English
language
• an interest in proofreading and editing
• a genuine desire to learn new skills
• the ambition to succeed.
What does a proofreader do?
The proofreader checks spelling and grammar.
Proofreaders also use the same standard
international proofreading marks as copy editors.
In many instances, the roles of the freelance editor
and proofreader can merge. Therefore it is highly
advantageous to be skilled in both areas as then the
work opportunities and financial return is greater
for you.
What does a book editor do?
Editors (or copy editors as they are referred to in the
trade) correct errors in manuscripts and other
documents. This is brain work. Corrections can be to
grammar, spelling, punctuation, language
inconsistencies, missing text, ambiguities of timing
and dozens of other errors. Although there are rules,
guidelines and industry standards, most editors rely
heavily on instinct, experience and the intangible
extra which comes from being avid readers.
Proofreading marks are internationally recognised
symbols, like squiggles, circles, strokes, underlines,
strikeouts and so forth. The copy editor does more
than a proofreader as he or she also checks
illustration placement, caption labelling,
preliminary pages (table of contents, publication
pages, etc.), and end matter such as indexes,
glossary, appendixes and bibliography.
Spot the errors...
Here is a text that has several errors. Take the
proofreader test. Find as many errors as you can
find.
It was the summer of 1959', the year before Jane-
Marie was born, all golden an bubbling with
laughter, that I first discouvered my desire for
painting. It wasn't anything special that drew me to
the canvas, brush in hand, just a faint need two
cover the white backdrop with color. The brush
moved of it's own accord - sweeping strokes of blue
and splashes of yellow. Light was coming in through
the small window in the garage,casting a soft glow
across the canvas and filling me with a sense of
renewed purpose. Until now it had seemed such an
empty life, only patches of joy coloring the dull
existence. No more though. Suddenly the sun was
shining The canvas filled began to fill with life.
Who needs proofreaders and editors?
A large amount of content is written and published
in this digital age. Proofreaders and editors are
required by international book publishers, content
writers, website makers, magazine editors, real
estate agents, lawyers, medical practitioners, ESOL
students, book authors, and businesses with
catalogues, manuals, instructions, newsletters,
invitations, etc.
Categories where you could find work:
Animals & Pets
Art Catalogues
Biographies
Boats, Yachts, Cars
Business Documents
Children’s Stories
Computer Magazines
Cooking, Food & Drink
Current Affairs
Dance & Entertainment
Diet & Recipe Books
Farming & Fishing
Fiction Literature
Foreign Language Books
Geography
Health & Wellbeing
History
Home & Garden
Humour
Maps
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Marketing
Military Memoirs
Music
Non-Fiction of all kinds
Online Blogs
Photography
Poetry
Recreation
Reference Books
Religion
School Text Books
Science Reports
Social Media Articles
Software Manual
Sports of all kinds
Stamps & Collectibles
Tertiary Theses
Travel Reports
Web Development
Youth Media
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A B O U T T H E C O U R S EWe know you learn best when you enjoy your
studies. There is no pressure to go faster than you
find comfortable. Tutor service is the same whether
you go fast or slow. We know every student’s
circumstance is different, so you proceed at your
own pace. If sickness or personal matters disrupt
your time, you can defer your studies for weeks or
months during your studentship. There is no penalty
or disadvantage if you delay your course. Extension
to take a second year for completion may be sought.
There may be a further charge to cover costs.
Who is my tutor?
Your personal tutor is an experienced, New Zealand
based current or former editor, skilled in all kinds of
editing and proofreading. Students say they learn in
six months what would take ten years of trial and
error and heartache to discover by themselves.
That’s because our experienced tutors pass on every
trick of the editing profession to ensure your early
success.
How is the course delivered?
You study at home and at your own pace. You
choose the day and time to study which suits you
best. You don't have to take time off work or travel
to classes. You schedule your studies when it is
convenient, and you set your timetable for
completing assignments. The course material and
books are sent to you, and you also have the option
of accessing tutorials online. You can submit your
assignments by post or by email or online.
Can I communicate with other students?
All students are invited to participate in NZIBS
activities and network with other students, tutors
and graduates using our online Student Portal and
Forum. The Forum is like a senior common room
where students post messages, share their
proofreading experiences and ask questions. Anyone
(tutors or students) can answer these questions.
Proofreading & Editing distance learning course
comes in 12 parts. Train for a new career at home, and
in your own time. An experienced tutor will assist you
throughout the course. Your course also includes all
the support texts and materials you need. We have
been training students since 1991 and have thousands
of graduates all over the world.
What does the course cover?
Our comprehensive course focuses on different
concepts of proofreading, including marks, style
sheets, correction reports, copyrights, referencing,
punctuation, tables and photo captions. There are
twelve assignments to test your knowledge – they
focus on marking of book pages, technical
documents and scientific papers to ensure you learn
the concepts in depth. The course also covers
business aspects (rates, quotes, New Zealand
requirements, GST, contracts, conflicts, etc.) and
marketing essentials in the last few tutorials.
You will learn about grammar, style, consistency,
vocabulary differences and the subtleties of gender
and racially neutral language. Right from your first
lesson, you'll be working with your tutor learning how
to edit and proofread manuscripts, documents,
articles, and other material.
How will this course help me?
With contributions from successful editors,
proofreaders and publishers, this course will help you
develop all the skills you’ll need to achieve success in
this expanding field. You’ll learn grammatical and
structural editing and on-paper and electronic
editing. You’ll learn how to start your own freelance
editing business and, most importantly, how to get
paid a good fee!
Over time your ability to mark up text, correct
grammar and punctuation and revise and suggest
changes to text will develop. You’ll become skilful
and quick. As your knowledge and skills develop so
too will your career opportunities and potential to
earn decent money.
How long does the course take?
The course comes in 12 parts. Most students require 9
-12 months to complete this course. However, if you
want to go faster or slower than the average, we can
speed up or slow down.
To boldly go, where no man has gone before
Did you know this famous line from STAR TREK
contains a split infinitive? How should it read? ‘To
go boldly, where no man has gone before ...’ But
that doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it?
Sometimes, correct grammar doesn't result in the
best impact on readers. Editors will always need
the human touch!
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W H A T Y O U R C O U R S E
I N C L U D E SYou’ll be
• correcting editorial and linguistic errors
(punctuation, grammar, spelling, etc.)
• checking proofs and marking up text, using proof
marks
• using style manuals and references
• doing on-screen editing and electronic markup
• understanding the whole publishing process
• setting up and running your own freelance
business from home.
There are good reasons to become a proofreader
and/or editor
Your knowledge of the English language will
improve vastly and you will learn techniques for
correcting your own and other people's texts. With
continued development there are a number of roles
you can move into, including editing, publishing,
publicity, journalism, public relations, advertising,
desktop publishing, e-publishing and creative
writing.
You will be able to assist family and friends with
their studies, work documents, manuscripts or any
other writing where being correct matters.
When you enrol in this Proofreading & Editing course
you will receive your first two tutorials and editing
assignments. These require about 3-4-5 hours each to
master. You will receive tutorials on a regular basis,
so you always have one on hand. Each tutorial takes
you further into the career of proofreading and
editing. You’ll also learn how the publishing industry
works.
By the completion of this course, you will have edited
a variety of documents, proofed several book
extracts, and learned the most useful proofreading
symbols. You'll have earned your DipEdit Diploma.
The Institute will train you to find work in the
industry or getting your own freelance business
started if that is your aim.
Your personal tutor will guide you
An experienced editor and mentor will be your tutor
throughout the course. You and your tutor will work
together to develop your knowledge and skills so you
can achieve a professional level of competency in
editing and proofreading.
When each assignment is returned to you, you will
receive a detailed, personal work critique, plus advice
about your proofreading and editing techniques.
Your tutor's role is to assess your assignments, help
you develop your skills and coach you to a level of
competency so you'll have earned your Diploma. Your
tutor will provide you with valuable feedback and
insight into every aspect of your work. You’ll get one-
on-one tuition. This can be by email, phone or
Student Portal online. Whether your aim is to become
a professional editor and proofreader or not, your
tutor will help you develop your skills so you can
apply them in all areas of your own reading and
writing. Some students take this course purely for
self-improvement. Excellence is a worthy goal.
Some of the work areas you can aspire to include:
• working with a publisher, editor, copy editor
• mixing with other editors and meeting authors
• building trade relationships within the publishing
industry and online.
A Poem by Anon
I have a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marquees for my revue
Miss steaks eye cannot sea.
When eye strike a quay, right a word
I weight four it two say
Whether eye am wrong oar wright
It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee four two late
And eye can put the error rite
It's rarely, rarely grate.
I've run this poem threw it
I'm shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect in its weigh
My chequer told me sew
My chequer tolled me sew.
This poem is an amusing tale which shows why people can’t
rely on their computer spellchecker to correct their work.
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O P P O R T U N I T I E SIf anything, the Internet has contributed to a
revitalised and thriving readership of books,
magazines and newspapers. What nobody counted
on, it seems, was that the Internet has opened up
the world and made information much more
accessible. E-books are now downloaded
electronically. They still need editors and
proofreaders! Paper books are bought over the
Internet in staggering numbers. This means the
price of books is now more affordable to the
average person. Booksellers are able to obtain any
title from anywhere. Publishing is thriving. There is
plenty of work for trained editors and proofreaders.
You can work full-time, part time, or just earn a little
extra income when you need it. You can fit the work
around the demands of home and family. You can
have a career that is not bound by set hours, and you
don't have to go outside the home to work.
You can begin a career in editing and/or proofreading
at any age, and continue for as long as you enjoy it.
(Minimum course entry age is 16.) You can edit and/or
proofread from any location, town or country. You
don't need to live in the heart of a city. A phone,
computer and Internet connection will link you to
publishing houses and businesses worldwide. You
could have clients in Matamata, Mumbai or
Melbourne. On the printed page you have no accent!
You will gain an enormous sense of satisfaction not
only from establishing a fulfilling career, but you will
experience your own personal development. You will
develop professional relationships with people from
across a range of industries. You’ll be entitled to join
professional associations and publishing industry
groups that can lead to a network of exciting social
contacts and new friends.
The opportunities for editing and/or proofreading
are almost unlimited. If you think there is only a
limited number of editing and proofreading jobs out
there, think again. There was a time when many
people thought the Internet would kill off written
books. Not so.
Many new freelancers wonder how much to charge as
a text proofreader. We will show you how to quote for
jobs, so you earn a decent pay rate.
We have all under quoted a job at some time, but
when you have expert guidance, it gets easier to
quote accurately.
Tip: Never give a fixed-price quote without seeing at
least a quarter of the manuscript. If you can't check
the whole document, ask for a few sample pages
from the middle or the end. (Because the first
chapter has probably been well polished by the
author, whereas the middle and end text will be fairly
raw.)
Charging an hourly rate
Most freelancers have an hourly rate they use to
calculate a quote for an editing or proofreading job.
Tip: Most freelancers don't have a single hourly rate.
What you charge per hour varies depending on the
job, how complex the text is, how familiar you are
with the subject, whether prior specialised
knowledge is required, how quickly you work, how
much you want to do the work, what the delivery
deadline is, etc.
Other factors are any on-going relationship with the
client, the state of the manuscript including the
quality of the writing, and any complicated
formatting or formulae.
P R I C I N G & Q U O T I N G
How many errors did you find?
Well done if you found ten.
It was the summer of 1959', the year before Jane-
Marie was born, all golden an bubbling with
laughter, that I first discouvered my desire for
painting. It wasn't anything special that drew me to
the canvas, brush in hand, just a faint need two
cover the white backdrop with color. The brush
moved of it's own accord - sweeping strokes of blue
and splashes of yellow. Light was coming in through
the small window in the garage,casting a soft glow
across the canvas and filling me with a sense of
renewed purpose. Until now it had seemed such an
empty life, only patches of joy coloring the dull
existence. No more though. Suddenly the sun was
shining The canvas filled began to fill with life.
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W W W . N Z I B S . C O . N Z
What reasonable questions should you ask a
client?
• When do you want the work done?
• What is your budget for this?
• Can I charge you by the hour? By the number of
words?
• How much of the manuscript can I see before I
quote?
• Who is the contact person for queries?
• Do you want handwritten changes on a printout,
an emailed list of corrections, or editorial changes
made to electronic copy?
• Will I need to attend meetings?
• Can I charge for attendance?
• Do you reimburse me for expenses? Or do I build
them into my quote?
• Can I make progress charges?
You’ll need to know how to handle all of the above
when you have your own business.
What should you put in a written quote?
You’ll learn what to include and what to show as
extras. You’ll also know when to specify what you
won't be doing within your price. There’s a lot to
learn, so get it right from the start.
This industry is huge!
Millions of books are published each year. Each
book needed checking. Magazines and newspapers
are a multi-million dollar industry. Publishing is a
big employer. Add to these figures press releases,
blogs, websites, newsletters and bulletins. Don’t
overlook the need for skilled editors and
proofreaders by trade journals, paper-shuffling
industries like insurance and freight; plus private
clients who want their websites, annual reports,
newsletters, catalogues and blogs to be free of
embarrassing errors.
Are you beginning to realise how big the
proofreading market is? To meet this huge demand
publishers rely heavily on freelance workers. All they
want to know is; “Can you make this text error free?”
“How much is your fee?” “How soon can you do it?”
When you graduate from this course you will be
recognised as a competent proofreader and editor,
with specialised knowledge of the publishing
industry. In short, a very employable person.
Charging by the page
You’ll get requests from people who tell you how
many pages their document is. They’ll assure you the
quality is outstanding. But unless you have seen a
sizeable portion of the text, page numbers don't tell
you much. An A4 page may have 250 well-written
words in 12 point Times, double-spaced. Or it can
have 550 poorly-written words in Arial Narrow,
single-spaced. When you have seen the text, you can
send a quote. If the client prefers to pay by the page,
fine. We show you how to work out what you need to
charge by the page, based on your hourly rate.
It’s not just the words on a page
We show you how to add a percentage for extra work
like checking facts, making or responding to calls
and emails, and other relevant tasks besides straight
proofreading work. A five-minute phone call about an
unrelated item can cost you up to 30 minutes in
finding and supplying the required information.
During this course, you will discover how much work
you can actually do in a working day. It’s different for
everyone. For a fulltime editor, it might be 7-8 hours.
Whereas a mother working part-time might be happy
to achieve 3-4 hours.
When the client asks you to quote
What do you say when people ask for ‘a ballpark
figure’? Soon you’ll know how to estimate accurately.
Until then, be careful. Unless you have seen the
manuscript and even if you have edited similar
material for the same client in the past, you can only
guess how long it will take to edit. Remember, people
believe your ‘ballpark figure’ is accurate. Estimate too
high and you won’t get the work. Quote too low and
you’ll be working for peanuts. Finding out how to
charge correctly could recover the cost of this course
from your first few editing jobs.
How fast should you be working?
There is no set answer to this question. It depends on
your knowledge of the document's subject, whether
you are a quick and disciplined worker, the quality of
the manuscript, any formatting of pages, the number
of words on a page, how much fact-checking you
need to do, how many questions you need to ask the
author or project manager, the number of mid-job
interruptions you get from the client, etc. Some parts
of a job may require an hour for just one page. Other
times you may be able to edit 6-10 pages an hour.
P R I C I N G & Q U O T I N G
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This course has been a
great investment, it is
well structured and
well managed. The
whole administration
from first registering
interest, to payment,
to receiving online details
and paper tutorials was a very easy, user-friendly
process. The tone of the tutorials is excellent: I got
the sense of classroom learning without being in a
classroom. Easy to read, follow and understand,
plenty of time to go back and re-read, and plenty of
opportunity to ask for help and advice when unsure.
The student forum proved very useful. I liked the
format and variety of each assignment to affirm the
learning in each tutorial. Suggestions for wider
reading and research were very useful and relevant,
and even that process sometimes lead to further
reading on a tangent (time-permitting!). The last
two tutorials on setting up a business were very
thorough and helpful for a beginner with no prior
experience in this area. I can honestly say there is
nothing I disliked! I was very happy with the service
and experience. I will look to NZIBS again when I am
ready to take my next course, and will highly
recommend to others looking for a similar
challenge. Thank you for providing such a fantastic
course and opening up a new world of opportunity!
- Jessica Wood, Wellington
I have not studied for
many many years, but
this experience was
amazing. I found the
course material
excellently presented,
the tutors helpful and
the course itself is
everything and more than I expected. It is certainly
wonderful knowing I will now be able to contribute
financially to our family through being able to work
in my new found career.
Yesterday I completed my very first paid job! I have
also acquired another contract. So although just a
few weeks after qualifying, seems I am already well
on my way. This doesn’t feel like work as I am just
enjoying it so much. Thank you NZIBS ‐ you have
helped me to do what I love and get paid for it!!
- Robyn Van Duyn, Opotiki
I did the course while
working 30 hours a
week and having two
children under four. It
was a busy time but I
thoroughly enjoyed the
course, and learning
and doing something I loved
and was passionate about made the journey easier.
NZIBS and the way their courses are developed are
very supportive. I found the NZIBS student forum very
helpful . My tutor was always easy to contact if I had
any questions. With my diploma and some very
helpful tutorials towards the end, I set up my own
freelance proofreading and copy editing business
Crucial Corrections which is still going strong today.
- Nikki Crutchley, Cambridge
I would recommend this
course to anyone
wanting to further their
knowledge on the
correct grammar and
punctuation to use, not
just someone wishing to
make a career form
proofreading! It is a very informative, enjoyable,
detailed 12-month journey with the guaranteed
outcome of increased understanding of the English
language and the correct way to portray it. I have just
completed my first (quite) big job, paid! I hope to
grow my business (Pro Writings) into a successful
one, I know I can do the work to a high standard,
thanks to the knowledge and skills I received.
- Sarah White, Putaruru
The staff at NZIBS gave me
excellent support. My
skills in punctuation,
grammar and spelling
have vastly improved.
The course renewed my
enthusiasm for English.
The information about
starting up your own business was both enjoyable
and pragmatic. The course helped me to venture into
being a sole trader. I have attained new skills for CV
writing (cvwriter.nz). I have a future in helping people
with job applications. I highly recommend the course
as it can open up new possibilities.
- Martin Turner, Featherston
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W H A T G R A D U A T E S S A Y
A B O U T O U R C O U R S E
W W W . N Z I B S . C O . N Z
I have thoroughly enjoyed
my year of learning
with excellent
guidance from my
tutor. The need to
allow for different
styles and genre of
writing and, most
important of all, the need for strict attention to
detail. Each assignment presented challenges to
find all the errors and the first time I missed a
quotation mark in a different font I realised that I
was on a hiding to nothing! The extensive literature
provided has been very useful. The very practical
advice on how to market oneself is also very
important to become a professional proofreader.
- Dr Stephen Connellan, Auckland
The biggest advantage
of this course is that,
when you finish, you’re
not faced with starting
to look for work from
scratch. You’ve already
learnt the skills to
effectively and
efficiently market yourself, as well as the actual
skills needed for the job. The skills taught are useful
across many industries – you can’t lose!
- Karin Waldhauser, Switzerland
My experience has two facets:
firstly, the course is
extremely thorough,
well thought out and
superbly presented. I
would have no
hesitation in
recommending it to anyone
who is contemplating either honing their skills or
learning the 'trade' to make it their profession. It is
simply excellent. Secondly, my experience on a
personal level has been marred by a lot of issues
that have nothing whatsoever to do with the course,
and which resulted in a lot of disappointment in my
performance. The bright side of that has been the
stellar performance of the Institute, who very kindly
allowed me the extension. I am thrilled to have
completed it and have no doubt that I will use what
I have learned. The possibilities are exciting!
- Joan Davies, Auckland
You would think that getting
a PhD would provide me
with a sense of certainty
about my own writing,
but it did not, and my
confidence took another
blow when I lost my
proofreader. I have always
loved working with words and I decided to take the
NZIBS course as a test to see if I really did have the
skills. I loved the course and I grew from the feedback
I received from my tutor. It pushed me back into the
land of verbs and nouns, it made me face my
punctuation demons and it helped me ascend my
grammar woes. I have now carved out a niche for my
freelance services (swiftsolutions.co.nz). But even
more than this, I have developed the belief in myself
that I can write and that I have a few stories worth
telling, so I am enrolling on a NZIBS writing course.
- Donna Swift, Upper Moutere
I thoroughly enjoyed
doing this course. I
learned about how
much I don't know and
have yet to learn. I have
done proofreading in
my job as a personal
assistant and also
proofread for family and friends for years but had
never considered it to be something that I could turn
into a business. My husband would often ask me why
I did not charge people. I would always say "because I
don't have the pieces of paper" meaning any formal
qualifications. I was especially pleased to find that
there were tutorials on how to set up a business and
about marketing. I do not have a business
background so did not feel confident. I now feel that I
have the skills I need to set up my own business.
- Jacqueline Davey, Ashburton
The course provided an
avenue for employment,
either freelancing or
establishing my own
business. The tutorial
staff were extremely
helpful throughout,
endlessly patient and equally
timely with their responses. Money well spent.
- Robert McKenzie, Christchurch
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W H A T G R A D U A T E S S A Y
A B O U T O U R C O U R S E
W W W . N Z I B S . C O . N Z
O U R T U T O R S
JANICE MARRIOT
PHIL LINKLATER
JOAN ROSIER-JONES
JEAN DREW
DICK WARD IAN JONES
JILL MALCOLM
TINA SHAW
CHAS FOXALL
BRIAN MILLER
VAL GYDE
ATHOLL ROBERTSON
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W W W . N Z I B S . C O . N Z
Principal - Dr Liza Pujji
PhD (University of Auckland)
BE Hons (University of Auckland)
Registrar - Dr Harry Tamber
PhD (University of Otago)
MA (University of California)
Student Advisory Officer - Barbara Dargan
HR Management, Employment Relations, HR Development
Proofreading & Editing and Creative Writing (New Zealand Institute of Business Studies)
Our vision is to provide superior programmes which enable you to earn an income and/or express your creativity.
Follow your passion! Do what you love, and you'll never work another day in your life.
A B O U T U SThe New Zealand Institute of Business Studies was founded in 1991. The Institute is a New
Zealand organisation teaching to international standards and recognised as a leader in the field
of distance learning.
The Institute welcomes students from all over New Zealand and worldwide.
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Proofreading & Editing
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Journalism & Non-Fiction Writing
Creative Writing
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Write Your First Novel
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P O Box 58 696
Botany, Auckland 2163
09 272 3974
0800 80 1994
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Enrol Online @ www.nzibs.co.nz/enrol
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W W W . N Z I B S . C O . N Z
E N R O L M E N T F O R M
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Sex: Male Female
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Please enrol me in the Correspondence Course: Proofreading and Editing Course Fee = $3250 including GST
Step 2: Please choose fee option
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Step 3: Please choose payment option
New Zealand-based students: Pay By Instalment = $550 deposit and $270 per month for 10 months
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Step 4: Please read the Terms & Conditions on the following page and send the form byEmail ([email protected]) or Post (PO Box 58696, Botany, Auckland 2163)
By sending this form, you are agreeing to the Terms & Conditions on the following page. If you have any questions, email [email protected] or call 0800 80 1994.
Enrol online (www.nzibs.co.nz/enrol) OR Complete the form below
Step 1: Please provide your details
W W W . N Z I B S . C O . N Z
T E R M S A N D
C O N D I T I O N S
1. New Zealand-based students may examine the first tutorials of the course for 28 days.
• If you decide for any reason whatsoever not to proceed you will receive a refund less course deposit
(as the initial pack costs), if you have paid your fees in full.
• If a deposit only has been paid the student will keep the supplied pack and no more fees are
payable. The studentship contract will be deemed cancelled.
2. You can live anywhere and still study with NZIBS. Overseas-based students must pay their course fee in
full when they begin training. There is no discount or refund. The fees includes international postage of
course material, books and graduation documents.
3. NZIBS reserves the right to decline this application in which case all money paid will be refunded. If your
application is accepted by the Institute, you undertake to make full payment of course fees in the manner
described.
4. Student fees are for the duration of the course – six months for life coaching and creative writing (short
course) and one year for all other courses. If you have not completed your course by this time, an extension
can be granted at the discretion of the Principal based on your performance and consistency.
5. At the successful conclusion of this course, provided you have met the required standards of tuition, you
will receive your graduation documentation from the Institute.
6. If the Examining Board decides that graduation standard has not been achieved, the course will be
extended at no cost for a further period of tuition determined by your tutor.
• If even after further tuition the Examination Board determines that graduation standard cannot be
achieved, your course fees will be refunded in full.
• It is agreed that to be eligible for a refund, students must complete the course and demonstrate
that they have made a reasonable effort to their tutor’s satisfaction. The Institute cannot accept
responsibility for any changes in personal circumstances, including work commitments, once the
course commences.
• Course fees and deposits are not otherwise refundable.
7. It is mutually agreed that upon the refund of course fees the Institute has no further liability or
obligation to the student.
8. It is agreed that students must submit their own work. Any form of plagiarism found will incur a written
warning. Should the plagiarism continue, the student will be excluded from the course with no entitlement
to a refund.
Fees do not include computer or photographic equipment. A receipt, including GST (if applicable), will be
issued for all fees paid.
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W W W . N Z I B S . C O . N Z
T H E I M P O R T A N C E O F G O O D
G R A M M A RTell people over dinner you have
spent seven years writing a book on
geology and you might generate
polite questions about fossils while
waiting for the pudding.
Tell them you have spent seven years
writing a grammar textbook of the
English language and calm, rational
human beings break out in valve-
bursting apoplexy.
Opinions will flow faster than the
Chardonnay. What is it about
grammar that generates such heat?
Well, we don't all do geology, but we
all do grammar, all the time.
Grammar is something we care
about, sometimes for good reasons,
other times for downright dotty
reasons.
Let's get the dotty ones out of the
way first. People get upset about
split infinitives, prepositions ending
sentences, speech habits such as
saying “dunno” and “gunna” and
“aks” (instead of ask).
There is the greengrocer's
apostrophe ("carrot's $1.85 kg").
Using a singular verb when logic
demands a plural ("there's five boys
in the band"). Double negatives
("I haven't done nothing") and so on.
We can understand the meanings of
most of these as long as they're used
in an appropriate context. We know
exactly what people mean when
they say or write them and often
they're a mark of local dialect, of
relaxed informal styles.
In the case of "there is" followed by a
plural, it is a genuine example of
grammar on the move, changing
before our eyes and ears.
A check on transcripts of BBC
programmes will reveal "there is"
followed by a plural from the lips of
prime ministers and leading
journalists who work for the BBC
itself.
So, getting upset about this is just
plain silly. "There is" plus plural is
here to stay. It's the white butterfly
of grammar.
Double negatives can be heard and
read all the time, from all social
strata.
Recently I heard: "I wouldn't be
surprised if we didn't get a green-
friendly budget this time around".
And: "I don't know of anyone who
hasn't been to Rome who doesn't
long to go back".
English is very good at double
negatives. But we understand the
intended meaning, so let's celebrate
its versatility.
People also get disproportionately
upset about foreign word imports,
often introduced through American
television shows such as Friends
"How fabulous is that!" and "I am so
not going to do that!"
Grammar changes over time. We
don't use the same grammar as
Chaucer so, again, let's not be silly
about it changing during our tenure.
But are there things we really should
be getting upset about? Probably,
though grammarians try not to get
upset, preferring instead to explain
the issues.
But what about university students
not knowing what a noun is or
writing ‘could of’ instead of ‘could
have’? This simply reveals a lack
of basic knowledge of how the
English language works.
By Michael McCarthy. Abridged.
Reproduced for educational purposes.
It also shows an ignorance of the
relationship between speech and
writing.
But whose fault is this? Maybe it's the
fault of professional educators, for
jumping on and off fashionable
educational bandwagons.
Or perhaps there is so much other PC
dross on the national educational
curriculum that teaching how
language works gets sidelined.
But let me give you an example of
something you really should get
upset about. One major airline plays
a pre-recorded message just before
takeoff which includes the following
words: “Use of laptop computers and
battery-operated equipment can be
used once airborne and the fasten
seatbelts sign has been switched off.”
This is simply bad grammar, the
worst there is. The repetition of "use"
in the subject and "used" as a verb is
lazy, sloppy communication rather
than a violation of some sacred rule.
The amazing thing is, no one at the
airline seems to have noticed. This is
not speech-in-action, so there is no
excuse. Think of its provenance. This
message was first written down,
shown to a supervisor, then approved
by a committee, then carefully
recorded by a professional voice
actor.
Grammar matters deeply when it's a
question of good and bad
communication. What we should be
teaching is not a set of prescriptions
that people won't remember anyway,
but how grammar weaves threads
into the tapestry of meaning and
how easily those threads can become
snagged. It's not a question of
following grammar rules, but a
question of understanding what
communication means and how it
works.
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