Editing Workshop Equips Writers to Tackle the English Language

BY: .

Wordsmiths and aspiring editors were on the Howard College campus for a workshop on copy editing and proofreading techniques.

Hosted by the University Language and Planning Development Office (ULPDO), the workshop was conducted by Mr John Linnegar, who has over 30 years’ experience in editing, proofreading and technical writing.

The three-day intensive workshop included proofreading symbols for editors and proofreading and editing techniques, including basic grammar rules and spotting common trouble-areas found in text. John Linnegar encouraged participants to ‘train your eyes to spot errors’.

According to Dr Langa Khumalo, Director of ULPDO, the workshop was vitally important for research students and their supervisors. ‘It can be argued that copy editing and proofreading are part of the skills set that are at the heart of our teaching and learning academic activity here at the University,’ said Khumalo. ‘These are crucial skills in thesis writing, thesis supervision and writing academic journal articles and journal article reviews.’

Co-ordinator: ULPDO, Mr Khumbulani Mngadi, said the Department would run a similar workshop next year, focusing specifically on proofreading and editing isiZulu.

Participants, who included senior academics, postdoctoral students, postgraduate students, members of the non-academic staff, language practitioners and members of the public, agreed that the workshop had been very beneficial in providing them with theoretical skills of editing and proofreading. 

Participants were given copies of Engleish, our Engleish – Common errors in South African English and how to resolve them by John Linnegar.

     -  Words and photograph: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer