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Unit of study_

MECO6916: Editing and Proofreading

2025 unit information

Students will learn about the roles of the editor and proofreader in the broader publishing context and how these roles have been affected by technological change. They will develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the areas of structural editing, copyediting and proofreading, and learn how to apply these skills across a diverse range of content types. They will be introduced to editorial best practice; using editing tools; the importance of maintaining the author’s voice, intent and style; current ethical and legal considerations; managing illustrations and tables; editing references; using style guides and creating style sheets; and the business aspects of being an editor.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Arts and Social Sciences

Study level Postgraduate
Academic unit Media and Communications
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the editorial workflow and professional context, including the different levels of editing, technological impacts on publishing, and the business aspects of being a professional editor
  • LO2. develop professional editing competencies, including structural editing, manuscript preparation, copyediting for clarity and consistency, and proofreading conventions
  • LO3. establish and maintain a constructive relationship with authors, through respectful communication and by maintaining the author’s voice, intention and style
  • LO4. master digital editing technologies and tools, including proficient use of Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, file handling conventions, and digital editing techniques
  • LO5. navigate legal and ethical considerations in editing, with a focus on diversity, accessibility, inclusion, and maintaining professional standards of communication and practice
  • LO6. apply advanced editorial techniques to various publication types, including managing structural elements (headings, references, illustrations, tables), creating style sheets, and implementing version control

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2025
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2020
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2024
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.