How to Find & Correct Writing Errors: The Proofreading Guide (Udemy.com)
Identify and Remove Embarrassing Mistakes from Documents
Created by: Duncan Koerber
Last updated August 2026
What you will learn
- See and remove embarrassing typos and spelling errors
- Find errors in design and graphics
- Use lists and guides to ensure proofreading consistency
- Work comfortably with professional proofreading symbols
How it compares
Against the other 392 rated Udemy courses in Communication Skills on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.5 out of 5higher than 42% of them
- Reviews1,216#156 of 393 by number of reviews
- Length1.1 hoursshorter than 78% of them
- Last updatedAugust 2026more recently than 91% of them
Course Description
Did that spelling mistake in your cover letter cost you the job interview? Did you annoy a client by misspelling her name? Have you edited and read over your writing 10 times but still worry that errors remain?
Proofreading is your last chance to catch errors before colleagues, publishers, application committees, and the general public read your writing. Yet it doesn't get enough attention — it's often rushed or avoided altogether. And proofreading is not copy editing. Copy editing is about significant changes to sentences and paragraphs. Proofreading is about polishing your documents to impress readers with pristine prose and design.
This course is for writers and editors of any genre who want to develop their proofreading skills and prevent embarrassing errors in written documents.
First, I explain how to develop the right mindset to catch errors.
I then show where most errors lurk.
I examine the most common errors in words, punctuation, and design.
I provide unique techniques for making your proofreading work easier and more effective.
The course now includes lessons on how A.I. has changed the proofreading workflow and how to use A.I. as a final proofreading pass, with a real-world example using a professionally edited book manuscript. You'll see the right way to integrate A.I. into a human-led proofreading process: not as a replacement, but as a powerful last line of defence against errors that even experienced editors miss.
These tips come from my 20+-year career in editing and proofreading. I've edited thousands of written documents and use these techniques every day.
86.8% all-time rating · Taught by a university professor with over 10 years of experience in newspaper and magazine writing and editing.
What students say:
"Great information on subtle things to look for when proofreading." — Bonny Napolitano
"Concise, well-written and narrated." — David Parlier
"I learned loads of practical tips." — Natalie Psaila
"The course was well organized. It covered a lot of important points. I learned a lot." — Theodora Aina
Enrol now to learn tested tips for getting those annoying errors out of your documents and the documents of clients and colleagues.
Instructor Details
- 4.5 Rating
1,216 Reviews
Duncan Koerber
Dr. Duncan Koerber has taught writing and communication courses to thousands of students for almost twenty years at eight Canadian universities.
Oxford University Press recently published his writing textbook, Clear, Precise, Direct: Strategies for Writing (2015). Available on Amazon, the book considers the seven most common errors (interfering factors) in writing and how to improve them (enhancing factors). His second book, Crisis Communication in Canada, was published by University of Toronto Press in 2017.
Currently an Associate Professor at Brock University in Ontario, Canada, Duncan Koerber worked for nearly 10 years in reporting and editing roles for the London Free Press, the Mississauga News, and the University of Toronto Medium. He has freelanced for magazines and newspapers, including the Toronto Star.
Duncan Koerber has been a successful freelance editor, earning a 95% success rating on Upwork.
Duncan Koerber has a bachelor of arts degree in English, Professional Writing, and Political Science from the University of Toronto (2001), a master of arts degree in Journalism from the University of Western Ontario (2003), and a Ph.D. in Communication and Culture from York University and Ryerson University (2009).
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Reviews
By Earl Roger Spencer on 2/7/2022
I'm establishing a solid foundation in proofreading through Dr. Koerber's clear, concise, and practical method of teaching. Additionally, I love Dr. Koerber's brevity, he cuts right to the point, equipping the student with key proofreading tools! I am in enjoying this engaging course so far! I strongly recommend this course to anybody who wants to improve their proofreading skills or even pursue proofreading professionally like me. Thank you Dr. Koerber!
By Rachel Barron on 11/22/2020
This was a well paced class with lots of good information! Highly recommend this course.
By Lauren Davie on 11/15/2020
So far great!
By Elizabeth Vesper on 11/1/2020
The beginning of the course goes over a lot of stuff I already knew or thought was common sense, but it goes over a lot of information and things I wouldn't have necessarily thought to check!
By Linda Smith on 10/15/2020
Good overview of things to look for when proofreading.
By Lynn Osband on 10/9/2020
So far so good.
By Laura Allen on 10/6/2020
good validation and refresher on what I already know plus new ideas on approach
By Eric Jackson on 9/26/2020
This is my first time learning about Proofreading. Honestly, it's a learning curve. Learning the basics, what to do right or wrong, what supplies to have. It's a challenge for anyone who wants to become a proofreader/copyeditor.
By Doris-Chinn Reese on 9/23/2020
Great match!
By Thuliswa Nkomo on 9/20/2020
it was awesome
By Juan Canache on 9/11/2020
Duncan gives the nuts and bolts of proofreading. His lectures are to the point and easy to digest. The only issue I found was the long proofreading exercise that could have been broken into smaller parts to do throughout the course.
By Amy Armstrong on 9/8/2020
This is a good match for me; it's easy to follow, the pace of the lecturer is just right and everything is easy to follow and understand.
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 90 / 100









