WHEN 4 weeks, Wednesdays, September 10 - October 1, 6:45-9:45 pm WHERE New York (Downtown) LEVEL Intro PRICE $350 ($325 for ) more info

Course Details

Do you love correcting other people's writing? Do you have a sharp ear for language and keen eye for punctuation? Have you ever been plagued by questions like "What's the difference between an m-dash, a hyphen and the pesky n-dash?" and "What's a dangling modifier?" If so, copy editing is for you! Start honing your craft in this introductory class. This course is for anyone who wants to break into copy editing or just feel more confident wrangling words. We'll cover the basics, from understanding copy editing marks to avoiding rookie grammar mistakes. In just 4 weeks, you'll have the tools to enter the field and an understanding of how to create smooth, readable copy. And you'll have another skill you can add to your resume and put into action every day.

In this class, you will learn:

• How to determine when a sentence needs tweaking or is best left alone
• How to understand copy editing lingo, including proofreading symbols
• Which style guide to use when
• How to interact with editors
• How to prepare for and ace a copy editing test
• Commonly misused words
• How to tailor a resume and where to find copy editing jobs
• What kind of copy editing is right for you

By the end of class, students can expect to have:
An overall knowledge of the copy editing field and the tools to enter the field

Admission Requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history).

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Instructor Bio

Magdalena Alagna's Courses

Magdalena Alagna has worked as a copy editor for Infobase Publishing, a copy chief and copy editor for Rosen Publishing, and a proofreader for The National Law Journal. She has edited hundreds of books on subjects that range from the life and times of Abigail Adams to the dangers of cosmetic surgery. She holds strong opinions about split infinitives and serial commas.

Testimonial

Magdalena is the high priestess of grammar. She will teach you how to make dangling participles, misplaced modifiers, and poorly formed sentences disappear from your life. -- Peter Messina

"Magdalena is a walking/talking Chicago Manual for aspiring copy editors. She arms her students with the skills they'll need and readily offers her insider's advice about how to land (and keep) a lucrative job in the field." -- Shell Fischer

"Magdalena's class was fun and easy to follow. I really felt like she cared about us and our future as copy editors." -- Ivonne Salazar

"Magdalena is a wordsmith and she is very enthusiastic about teaching and making sure everyone gets it. This class has allowed me to walk away with the tools and guides I need to find the answers to my grammar questions." -- Grace Cavallo

"An exellect instructor who gives practical information and real world examples." -- Joseph Marchelewski

"Magdalena gave me the all the tools and pointers I need to excel at copy editing. She met all of my expectations in terms of course content, and exceeded them in terms of her teaching style." -- Henry Visotski

"Magdalena was enthusiastic about every topic, and had an obvious fervor for the art of constructing sentences. She was approachable and professional." -- Katie Sherman

"Magdalena's clearly a pro at copy editing. I would love to take another class with her." -- Danielle Nuzzo

"Magdalena was very knowledgeable and helpful. I thought that the class content was just right." -- Christina Olio