CONT202: Copyediting Standards 2
This course is designed for editors with a wide range of experience. Course participants will learn to line edit, edit stylistically, or do a deep copyedit – all three terms are used to describe this kind of editing – at a professional level, using well-respected standards to guide them.
Participants will achieve these objectives through hands-on exercises and analyses of and practice on actual texts targeting a variety of readership levels and different media, formats, and purposes. Participants will benefit from interaction with their instructor and colleagues in a “safe space” where they are free to make mistakes and creatively solve editorial problems.
A note about terminology: there isn't agreement on what to call this kind of editing. Editors agree that this kind of editing generally precedes copyediting and is often described as a "deep" copyedit that addresses issues at the sentence and paragraph level.
The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) recognises Queen's University Canada's courses as quality training that will count towards CIEP membership upgrade.
Who should take this course?
The course is ideal for
- editors interested in earning a Professional Editing Standards Certificate
- intermediate and advanced editors with more than 5 years of experience
- copyeditors looking to advance their skills beyond mechanical editing
- editors looking to improve communication with authors
- professionals looking to upgrade their CIEP membership
Delivery Method
This course is delivered asynchronously online allowing participants to engage with flexibility at their own convenience. This method provides a balance between self-paced learning and structured coursework while promoting a supportive community where participants can share experiences and ideas.
Professional Development
This course will count towards completion of the Professional Editing Standards Certificate.
Course Fees
Course fees include
- full access to comprehensive course content
- timely feedback from a subject matter expert on assignments
- shareable Badge of Completion (Queen's University)
- credit toward the Professional Editing Standards Certificate
Policies and more information
Learning Outcomes
In this course, you will have the opportunity to
- understand that line editing, or stylistic editing, involves deep understanding of the text and judgment to make the text more readable for the target audience
- become familiar with professional standards for line editing and how to apply them
- prepare for line editing assignments in the real world
- analyze text for its target audience, medium, and purpose, and propose editorial changes to suit these
- communicate effectively with authors, colleagues, and clients about editorial changes
- edit stylistically at a professional level
Course Outline
| Modules |
| Module 1: Professional Standards |
| Module 2: Communicating About your Editing |
| Module 3: Understanding Audience, Medium, and Purpose |
| Module 4: Understanding Paragraphs |
| Module 5: Understanding Sentences |
| Module 6: Understanding Vocabulary and Reading Level |
| Module 7: Beyond the Text |
| Module 8: Bringing It All Together |
| Total hours: 60 |
Course Schedule
| Session | Course Dates | Registration Deadline | Payment Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late Spring 2025 | May 05, 2025 – Jun 27, 2025 | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Summer 2025 | Jun 23, 2025 – Aug 08, 2025 | Jun 13, 2025 at 4pm ET | Jun 19, 2025 at 4pm ET |
| Late Summer 25 | Aug 11, 2025 – Oct 03, 2025 | Aug 01, 2025 at 4pm ET | Aug 07, 2025 at 4pm ET |
| Fall 2025 | Sep 29, 2025 – Dec 05, 2025 | Sep 19, 2025 at 4pm ET | Sep 25, 2025 at 4pm ET |
| Fall/Winter 2025 | Nov 10, 2025 – Feb 06, 2026 | Oct 31, 2025 at 4pm ET | Nov 06, 2025 at 4pm ET |
| Winter 2026 | Jan 26, 2026 – Apr 03, 2026 | Jan 16, 2026 at 4pm ET | Jan 22, 2026 at 4pm ET |
| Late Winter 2026 | Feb 16, 2026 – Apr 17, 2026 | Feb 06, 2026 at 4pm ET | Feb 12, 2026 at 4pm ET |
Late Spring 2025
- Dates: May 05, 2025 – Jun 27, 2025
- Deadline: CLOSED
- Payment Due: CLOSED
Summer 2025
- Dates: Jun 23, 2025 – Aug 08, 2025
- Deadline: Jun 13, 2025 at 4pm ET
- Payment Due: Jun 19, 2025 at 4pm ET
Late Summer 25
- Dates: Aug 11, 2025 – Oct 03, 2025
- Deadline: Aug 01, 2025 at 4pm ET
- Payment Due: Aug 07, 2025 at 4pm ET
Fall 2025
- Dates: Sep 29, 2025 – Dec 05, 2025
- Deadline: Sep 19, 2025 at 4pm ET
- Payment Due: Sep 25, 2025 at 4pm ET
Fall/Winter 2025
- Dates: Nov 10, 2025 – Feb 06, 2026
- Deadline: Oct 31, 2025 at 4pm ET
- Payment Due: Nov 06, 2025 at 4pm ET
Winter 2026
- Dates: Jan 26, 2026 – Apr 03, 2026
- Deadline: Jan 16, 2026 at 4pm ET
- Payment Due: Jan 22, 2026 at 4pm ET
Late Winter 2026
- Dates: Feb 16, 2026 – Apr 17, 2026
- Deadline: Feb 06, 2026 at 4pm ET
- Payment Due: Feb 12, 2026 at 4pm ET
Application Requirements
This course is applicable to intermediate and advanced editors of English (more than five years’) from all geographical locations.
If you are new to the field of editing and are looking for an introductory course, we recommend CONT205: How to Copyedit. If you have some experience as an editor (less than five years’), you may enroll in this course and assess whether the course material matches your current skills. You have the option to withdraw from the course and receive a full refund if you do this before the course’s midpoint. View our refund policy here.
Course Materials
Download the course outline [DOCX]Accommodations
Applicants who require special accommodations are asked to:
- Contact us at least 1 week prior to the start of the course to allow enough time for appropriate accommodations to be made.
- Provide necessary documentation upon request.