Mind your language: grammar and language tips + Improve your proof-reading - BGAJ CPD Course

‘Mind your language: grammar and language tips' + 'Improve your proof-reading’ (One-day course)

Thursday, 16th June 2016 - 9.00am to 5.00pm

AGCO Ltd, Abbey Park, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, CV8 2TQ

As part of the Guild’s CPD programme available to all members, we are holding two courses - ‘Mind your language: grammar and language tips’ and ‘Improve your proof-reading’ - on Thursday, 16th June 2016.

Mind your language (Half-day course)

This highly practical workshop will give attendees greater confidence when dealing with the quirks and oddities of the English language they encounter while writing and editing material. It will include practical hints and tips and exercises. Course content:

• How to use apostrophes
• Commas, semi-colons and colons: what’s that all about?
• Using punctuation in quotes – a guide to what goes inside and outside quotation marks
• Sentence construction and types of sentence
• Dangling participles (no they’re not a medical condition) and how to avoid them
• When to use ‘that’ and when to use ‘which’
• The role of hyphens
• Other common mistakes and areas of confusion
• Your grammar and language questions answered
  

Improve Your Proof-Reading (Half-day course)

This is a practical session offering some useful hints and tips for proof-readers and subs. The session will look at how to read and spot errors more effectively and will include a look at attendees’ own material where possible. Course content:

• Taking a systematic approach to proof-reading
• How people read – and how to avoid ‘scanning’ when proofing
• Training your brain to spot errors of sense and accuracy in copy, headlines, captions, links etc
• Common proof reading errors, including ‘spot the mistake’
• Spelling and grammar mistakes to look out for – and why you can’t rely on spell-checkers
• A look at typical content you’re currently proofing, if available
• Proofing and subbing: The big picture. Taking an overview and thinking logically
• An introduction to proof-reading marks, if relevant
  

About the trainer

David Mascord has more than 20 years’ experience in journalism and editorial training. He has worked in staff and freelance roles for consumer and B2B print and web titles. He is a training consultant delivering training for staff at major publishers, including RBI and Time Inc UK (formerly IPC), and is an associate lecturer in journalism and media law at Bournemouth University and Southampton Solent University.

Course fee

The cost of the workshop - including lunch and refreshments, plus all handouts - is £95.00.

Booking deadline

To secure your place, please complete your booking and payment no later than Wednesday, 8th June 2016.

Further information from Julie Mate, BGAJ Council – Email. julie@ukagriculture.com, Tel. 07775 847123