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As a professional proofreader with several years of experience, I often get asked by aspiring proofreaders how they can learn to proofread too. As a result, and because I like to keep my skills up to date too, I keep my ear to the ground when it comes to online proofreading courses.
After getting asked several times about the Proofreading Academy/Knowadays course, I decided to look into it to see if it was any good. I took the free trial of the course and signed up to be an affiliate to get more information. Knowadays (formerly Proofreading Academy) gave me limited-time access to the full course so that I could review the content and provide an educated assessment to my readers.
This is my honest Knowadays review that includes everything I liked about the course and everything I didn’t like! (It’s a long one, so feel free to click the links in the table of contents if you want to skip sections.)
Note: In early 2022, Proofreading Academy became Knowadays. However, the Become a Proofreader course still contains the same excellent content as it did before.
Table of Contents
What is Knowadays?
Knowadays (formerly Proofreading Academy) is a UK-based company that has been operating since 2017. It was created by people with years of real-life experience and research into the support proofreaders need.
Its flagship course, Becoming a Proofreader, was created in conjunction with the team at Proofed to provide a comprehensive proofreading and editing training program for the modern age. A second course, Becoming an Editor, is currently in the works.
Although based in the UK, the course is suitable for English-speaking people all around the world and covers a range of dialects including British, American, and Australian English.
The course teaches you how to proofread in a variety of different genres, providing well-rounded training as well as helping its students get comfortable with the tech aspect of proofreading. After completing this course, you will have honed your skills in the following areas: grammar, spelling, punctuation, referencing styles, and readability.
Is Knowadays Legit?
Having reviewed the course material, I can confirm that Knowadays is legit. The course content is of a very high standard and is professionally presented.
Knowadays currently has a 4.8/5 trust rating on Trustpilot. Many of the reviews mentioned how good the customer service is. I agree with this assessment as I received detailed responses to my emails very quickly.
Who Should Take the Knowadays Course?
If you’re good at spotting errors in writing and you want to turn it into a career, proofreading and editing are great options that allow you to work from home doing work you enjoy.
Whether you want to make it your full-time job or you’re just looking for a side hustle to do in your spare time, completing the Proofreading Academy course will make sure that your skills are up to scratch. Also, because there is a work guarantee with Proofed for students who get 80% or higher in the final assignment, this course is a good option for people who worry about not being able to get proofreading work. (Not that you need to worry about that because there are tons of proofreading jobs out there.)
While the course has excellent modules on grammar and punctuation, if you are not a native English speaker, you may find this course difficult. Consider taking a dedicated grammar course first.
Course Breakdown
The Becoming a Proofreader course is broken down into 15 modules and includes a final assignment. The course content is mostly text-based, but it also includes interactive quizzes, short tutorial videos, and assignments in Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat.
In this section is an overview of what each module covers. I included some of my thoughts on the course in this section, but make sure you read the pros and cons section below to hear what I liked and didn’t like about the course. That’s where you’ll find the meat of this Proofreading Academy review.
Module 1: Introduction
The introduction is a very short module that lays out how the course works and how to navigate it.
Module 2: Proofreading And Editing
🕑 Estimated time: 1–2 hours
Module 2 covers the differences between proofreading and copyediting, the type of tasks you will be expected to do as an editor, what skills you need, and what modern on-screen proofreading involves. Importantly, it also includes an introduction into the ethical issues you might encounter as a proofreader.
Module 3: The Basics Of Microsoft Word
🕑 Estimated time: 2–3 hours
If you don’t have much experience with Microsoft Word, this module will bring you up to speed, no matter whether you have a Windows or Mac PC. You’ll learn basic skills like how to change the user name and proofing language, how to make comments, and how to use the Track Changes and Compare features.
You can also avail of an on-demand webinar regarding common Word issues.
(I had never used the Compare feature, so I found this section very useful! I also learned a new shortcut for adding a comment. And I liked how they provided text-based and video instructions for this module.)
Module 4: Common Spelling Mistakes
🕑 Estimated time: 2–3 hours
Module 4 covers the spelling differences between UK, US, and AUS English (there were some I wasn’t aware of). You’ll also improve your knowledge of closed, open, and hyphenated compounds, homophones, irregular plurals, silent letters, and other common typos.
Almost all of the modules include mid and end module quizzes to test what you’ve learned so far. Your results from these quizzes are not included in your final grade, and you can take them as many times as you want.
Module 5: Common Grammar Mistakes
🕑 Estimated time: 2–3 hours
If your grammar is a little rusty, you’ll learn a lot from this module from prepositions to parenthetical clauses to parallelism to fragments to faulty agreement! It also covers dangling and misplaced modifiers as well as regional differences and common grammar myths you can let go of.
Module 6: Common Punctuation Mistakes
🕑 Estimated time: 2–3 hours
I’ll let you in on a little secret; fixing punctuation is my favorite part of being an editor!
In this module, you’ll learn how to spot all the common punctuation errors you will come across including punctuating restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses, dealing with run-on sentences and comma splices, using the wrong dash, punctuating dialogue, etc.
Module 7: Other Common Errors
🕑 Estimated time: 2–3 hours
Here you’ll learn how to deal with other common issues you’ll come across like Latin terms, abbreviations, acronyms and initialisms, number use, and capitalization.
Module 8: Proofreading In Practice: Style
🕑 Estimated time: 3–4 hours
In this module, you’ll learn the difference between a style guide, a style sheet, and a referencing style. It covers written tone, authorial voice, technical jargon, offensive language, and how to deal with repetition and redundancy as well as sentence structure and length. You’ll also learn how to work well with native, dyslexic, and English as a Second Language (ESL) clients, which is very useful.
Module 9: Academic Proofreading
🕑 Estimated time: 3–4 hours
Since a lot of Proofed’s clients are academics, this module is gold!
You’ll learn what the proofreader’s role is in academic work. You’ll get an in-depth look at proofreading academic documents, ranging from undergraduate essays to journal articles to PhD theses. This module covers how to work with LaTeX, how to make sure quotes are used properly, when the active and passive voices are appropriate in academic writing, and how to avoid plagiarism.
Module 10: Academic Proofreading: Referencing And Citations
🕑 Estimated time: 3–5 hours
Here you’ll learn how to use several different referencing styles like Harvard, APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, IEEE, OSCOLA, Bluebook, ALWD, and AGLC. It covers species and classics citations, secondary citations, citation order, and what to do (and not do) about missing and incorrect information.
Module 11: Creative Writing And The Publishing Industry
🕑 Estimated time: 3–4 hours
This module looks at both fiction and non-fiction, as well as non-standard English, authorial voice, and proofreading dialogue. It covers a wide range of different document types including screenplays, which I was completely blown away with. I haven’t come across any other resources for proofreading screenplays!
This module, as well as several of the others, has exercises you can download and proofread. Then you can compare them against the corrected versions.
Module 12: Proofreading Business Writing
🕑 Estimated time: 3–4 hours
In this module, you’ll learn how to proofread for different business clients. It covers working with brand voices and understanding how grammatical point of view works in different types of business writing. You’ll learn how to create a style sheet for business writing, the importance of knowing the intended audience, and how to edit for skim reading, accessibility, and SEO. Some of the documents you’ll learn how to proofread include formal reports, website copy, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and Google Docs.
Module 13: Finding Work And The Final Assignment
🕑 Estimated time: 3–4 hours
The final module! Here you’ll learn about how to find work as a freelance proofreader (including some tips on how to find clients).
You’ll get an idea of what you need to go back and revise before taking the assignment and get the opportunity to take a mock assignment. There’s also the opportunity to get extra tutoring if needed.
The final assignment contains two proofreading tests, after which you’ll receive detailed feedback. If you score 80% or above, you can start freelancing with Proofed.
After you successfully complete the final assessment, you will also receive a digital certificate. The Becoming a Proofreader course is accredited by Continuing Professional Development UK (CPD).
Course Requirements
To complete the course, you will need access to a laptop or desktop computer, a reliable internet connection, and Microsoft Word (2016 version at minimum). The free version of Microsoft Word is not suitable for the course, but you can get a subscription for a reasonable price. It is a tool that you will use every single day as a proofreader, so it’s an essential expense. You can pay for Microsoft Word on a monthly or yearly basis (around $70 per year).
I don’t recommend completing the course on a cellphone or tablet.
Knowadays Free Trial
One huge plus of this course is that it offers a free trial of the material so you can make sure it’s really for you before you sign up and fork over the money.
Proofreading isn’t for everyone, so going through the trial will give you a good sense of whether you would enjoy the work or not.
Guaranteed Work with Proofed
One of the biggest benefits of the course is that it includes a work guarantee with Proofed if you earn a distinction grade from both the proofreading and copyediting courses.
What is Proofed?
Proofed is a proofreading and editing company that hires proofreaders and editors to edit documents for its clients, which include big names like Harvard University and Samsung.
Proofed prides itself on hiring proofreaders that have been through Knowadays and so are trained to a high standard.
The company was founded in 2010 by Kiran Chauhan to meet a need in the industry, and he was joined by CEO Adam Harvey in 2017.
Requirements for Working with Proofed
To work with Proofed you need to earn a distinction grade of at least 80% on the final assignment of both the proofreading and copyediting courses. After that, you will have a call with a member of the Proofed team within a couple of weeks after completing the course, and once you’re onboarded, you get access to the job board.
Proofed is a US-based company, so you will need to make sure your country of residence has a dual-tax treaty with the US.
(Another little perk of passing the course is that you get added to Knowadays’s LinkedIn group of professional proofreaders. In my experience, editing groups are invaluable because you have a network of colleagues you can ask for advice.)
How Much Do Proofreaders Make?
Does proofreading pay well? It can! According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report from May 2020, the mean annual wage for a proofreader is $44,670. Other freelancer websites and job boards report similar or higher figures.
According to Knowadays, an entry-level proofreader can earn $15–$20 per hour with Proofed once they have proofread their first few documents. This can rise to $25–$50 once they have more experience and become more efficient.
Pros of the Becoming a Proofreader Course
Guaranteed work with Proofed:
Let’s start with the biggest pro of the course. If you score 80% or higher in the final exams of both the proofreading and copyediting courses, you will get access to Proofed’s jobs board where new jobs are posted daily. As far as I know, none of the other proofreading courses on the market offer this perk. You get three attempts to pass the final assignment. (Be aware that the more people who pass the course, the more competition there will be for these jobs.)
The course covers proofreading and editing:
The course highlights the difference between proofreading and editing. While the course appears to be mainly marketed as a proofreading course, it also covers what copyeditors do including tips on how to deal with issues like redundancy and repetition in sentence structure.
It covers a wide variety of documents and genres:
The course teaches you how to proofread academic, business, and creative documents. It even includes tips on how to proofread scripts and screenplays, which I thought was very interesting, and I learned a lot of new information from this section.
The quiz platform is very user friendly:
I really enjoyed working through the course and found the course platform very easy to use except for some of the drag-and-drop quiz questions that didn’t seem to want to cooperate with me. 🙂
The course covers gendered and biased language:
These days it’s very important for editors to be aware of gendered and biased language so that we can help remove this type of language from published content and make the world a more inclusive place.
It includes a group tutorial:
As a student of the course, you get access to a complementary group tutorial to troubleshoot common issues and help you prepare for the final assignment. This tutorial is held three times per week at different times to support different time zones.
It teaches you technical skills:
As well as improving your grammar and punctuation skills, you will also learn how to use Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat to proofread (although it focuses more on Word). It includes video instructions on basic and advanced features of Word and shows you how to use it on both Windows and Mac computers.
Cons of the Becoming a Proofreader Course
It’s not possible to download the entire course:
As many of the slides contained very detailed information, I would have liked to be able to download a complete copy of the course material so I could reference it later when working with clients. As far as I could see, it’s only possible to download individual slides, which is a bit cumbersome.
(When I looked at reviews on Trustpilot, I noticed that Proofreading Academy replied to a similar comment with the following: “While you do not receive an eBook summarising the course, you do have lifetime access to the course once you start working with Proofed.” The new Knowadays website also states the following: “When you buy a Knowadays course, you get lifetime access to it, including all future course updates.”)
The marketing module is kind of sparse:
I would have liked to see more detailed marketing material. However, I think the guaranteed work with Proofed if you get 80% in the final assignment somewhat makes up for this.
Speed:
It may just have been my browser or internet connection, but I sometimes found it slow to move to the next module. I also couldn’t find a way to speed up the videos. I sometimes like to watch videos at 1.5 speed, but since the majority of the videos in this course are quite short, not being able to speed them up wasn’t a huge problem.
There’s no group or forum to ask questions in:
Unlike some other proofreading courses, you don’t get access to a Facebook or Slack group or forum where you can interact with other students and ask questions. The course does include a weekly group tutorial though, so you can sign up and ask questions there.
There could be more exercises:
Although several of the modules contained practice proofreading exercises in addition to the mid and end module quizzes, I felt there could have been more. Practicing what you learn helps boost your confidence in your skills.
It doesn’t cover the proofreading symbols:
You won’t learn how to use the proofreading symbols in this course. The course is focused on modern freelance proofreading. In my experience, you don’t need to know how to use proofreading symbols when working directly with businesses, bloggers, or individuals. You may need to use them when working with traditional publishing houses, but you can learn how to use them if the need arises.
How Long Does It Take to Complete the Course?
The Knowadays website says that the course takes 45–50 hours to complete.
However, I think it’s possible to complete the course in less time as I found I was able to get through each lesson in half the time the course said to allow. However, please note that I am an experienced proofreader, so if you’re a complete beginner, it might take you longer.
There’s no need for you to rush through the course as it is self-paced. You have 12 months to complete the course. Take your time and enjoy the learning experience! It’s a fun course. (Update March 2022: When I was looking around the new Knowadays website, I noticed this statement: “When you buy a Knowadays course, you get lifetime access to it, including all future course updates. If your account is inactive for 90 days, it may be deactivated, but your progress will be saved. Just let us know and we’ll reactivate it.”)
How Much Does Knowadays Cost?
Knowadays’s Becoming a Proofreader course costs $499 at the time of writing this review.
Although this sounds expensive, having taken several other proofreading and editing courses, I can confirm that this is a very affordable price. It’s on the lower end of the scale in comparison to other courses I’ve taken.
Knowadays’s course is also extremely comprehensive, so it’s well worth the money.
According to the FAQs, Knowadays is willing to set up a payment plan if you prefer to spread the cost over two or three months.
Can You Get a Refund If You Don’t Like the Course?
Yes, it’s possible to get a refund on your course tuition under certain circumstances.
Here’s what the website says as at July 23, 2021:
“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.”
Other Courses Offered by Knowadays
A second course, Becoming an Editor, has just launched. This course will help you grow your business by adding another service to your business.
This in-depth course covers:
- Line editing to refine documents at a line and paragraph level
- Developmental and comprehensive editing, covering structure, content, and style
- How to work with academic clients on scholarly writing
- How to edit creative fiction and non-fiction
- How to work with business clients, formal business writing, and commercial copy
According to the Knowadays website, you do not need to have taken the Becoming a Proofreader course in order to take the Becoming an Editor course, but it is recommended. Save 15% by purchasing them both at the same time.
Proofreading Academy/Knowadays Reviews
As at July 2021, Proofreading Academy/Knowadays has 289 reviews and a trust rating of 4.8/5 with 87% saying the course is excellent.
Here are some reviews from graduates of the course:
The good…
This course is worth every penny and absolutely invaluable in developing proofreading skills. There is no way I would attempt to freelance without the instruction and knowledge gathered here. Communication (with real people!) was wonderful and help available whenever needed. Feedback was thoughtful and immensely helpful. Not one bad thing to say about this course. Even if I never make a cent proofreading, the knowledge gained was informative and presented with humor. Thank you so much for the time and care put into developing these classes. They have a quality and excellence rarely found today.
—Mary Jean (United States) 5 stars
The Proofreading Academy course is a valuable resource for anybody wanting to start a career in proofreading. The content is interesting and covers a broad range of topics, including proofreading academic, creative, and business writing. It can be challenging at times, but Proofreading Academy offers plenty of support along the way. Their tutors are wonderful and offer helpful advice.
I can confirm that I was offered the opportunity to work with Proofed after passing the Proofreading Academy test. If you are thinking about taking the course with the aim of working for Proofed, please be aware that it is a bit of a lengthy process. It took almost a month from the time that I passed my course until I was able to start working with Proofed. There is also not an abundance of work available, particularly for new proofreaders. That said, the Proofreading Academy course also offers advice on other avenues of work available to proofreaders.
Overall, I found the Proofreading Academy course to be challenging, interesting, and useful.
—Jessica (Australia) 5 stars
(Proofreading Academy replied to this review confirming the following: “When you first start working with Proofed, you start off on a lower word count. When your word count increases, there will be more work available to you.”)
The not so good…
I think the pre-marketing material slightly misleads potential applicants….if you pass the coure (which is tough..you need 80%) then you will be offered a proofreading / editing role working for Proofed but a lot of the work Proofed has is mainly academic. The work is not simply proofreading in it’s traditional form – it also involves a lot of editing. If this is not what you’re looking for, you may want to give the course a miss.
Having said that the course content was really comprehensive in terms of grammar and spellings. A large part of the course focusses on editing academic work and the referencing systems required. It is easy to follow and well written. It is interspersed with videos too which is helpful.
The support from the team is fantastic. They were brilliant, all the way along.
I would recommend the course if you’re looking for a proofreading/editing role. If you only want to do traditional proofreading this may not be for you. If you love editing and proofing academic work, this is definitely the course for you!
—LC 3 stars
(I wanted to include this review because it covers my concerns about working with Proofed since, personally, I’m not interested in editing academic material. However, if you are interested in editing mostly academic material, this won’t be of concern to you.)
How Does Knowadays Compare with Proofread Anywhere?
If you’ve visited this site before, you might know that I took Proofread Anywhere at the start of my proofreading career, and I’m a huge fan of the course. I can highly recommend both courses to anyone who wants to become a proofreader.
However, there are some differences between the courses that may mean that some people might prefer one over the other.
Proofread Anywhere is perfect for people who prefer to learn in a group. It includes a very active Facebook group for students as well as a separate group for graduates. If you’re having trouble grasping the course material or you’re struggling with mindset issues, you can jump into the group and get help straight away. Proofreading Academy doesn’t offer a student group, but it does hold a weekly group call. Depending on how many people attend the calls, you may or may not get to ask your question.
Proofread Anywhere includes more practice essays with 10 worksheets and 40 practice essays making it a very hands-on course. You will have lots of practice under your belt by the time you finish the course, which will boost your confidence. In addition to mid and end module quizzes, Proofreading Academy includes several practice exercises/essays, but I felt like it could include more, longer exercises.
Proofreading Academy offers guaranteed work! This is a huge benefit of the course. One of the biggest fears aspiring proofreaders have is not finding work after investing in training and setting up their business. Even if you only complete a few jobs with Proofed and then decide to branch out to other clients, you will have gotten some experience under your belt. Proofread Anywhere does not offer guaranteed work at present. Students who purchase the Ignite Plus version of the course and get 90% or higher on the final exam can get listed on the Hire a Proofreader job board, but work is not guaranteed from this.
Proofreading Academy covers grammar and punctuation in more detail. The grammar and punctuation modules are very comprehensive, include tons of quiz questions, and cover the differences in American, British, and Australian English. Proofread Anywhere assumes you already have a good grasp of grammar and punctuation. It does include 10 worksheets to test your knowledge, but it directs you to the Chicago Manual of Style to hone your skills if needed.
Proofread Anywhere helps you hone your knowledge of the Chicago Manual of Style. If you want to proofread books and blog posts for clients based in North America, it’s essential that you become very familiar with the Chicago Manual of Style. When you complete the Proofread Anywhere course, you will be very familiar with this resource because all the essays and worksheets are based on its rules.
So as you can see, there are pros and cons to both courses, but I personally found both of them to be worthwhile.
Final Thoughts in This Review of the Knowadays Course/Is Knowadays Worth It?
After reviewing the Knowadays course material, I can happily recommend it to anyone who wants to become a proofreader or editor. I found the course to be extremely comprehensive and enjoyed the variety of genres it covered. The opportunity to get some guaranteed work experience is a huge selling point for new proofreaders. If you want to improve your grammar skills and start working as a proofreader within a month or two, the Becoming a Proofreader course from Knowadays is a solid option. Check out the free trial here to get started!
