Knowadays Review: Is Their Proofreading Course Legit?

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I assume you’ve discovered the Knowadays proofreading course, Becoming a Proofreader, and are wondering if it’s legitimate. As a proofreader, I understand your desire to know whether Knowadays (formerly Proofreading Academy) offers a reputable online proofreading class.

Knowadays has earned an excellent 4.8/5.0 rating (from over 475 reviews) on Trustpilot. Their flagship course, Becoming a Proofreader, is legitimate and comprehensive. It will teach you everything you need to know to become a professional proofreader.

I recently purchased the Knowadays course, and I’m working through it as time permits. I’ve also researched the class thoroughly to provide you with my analysis since I know what a complete proofreading program entails.

Knowadays Review: Pros, Cons, and Key Takeaway

Let’s see the main pros and cons of this class to help you determine if it meets your needs.

Pros of Knowadays

• guaranteed work at Proofed for those who qualify (only in conjunction with their editing course)
• excellent support from tutors who answer course-related questions
• teaches you how to proofread typeset texts
• instruction for how to enhance a document’s readability and tone

Cons of Knowadays

• no access to a peer support group
• minimal training for how to set up a proofreading business and market yourself
• the guaranteed work offer will eventually become saturated

Key Takeaway

Knowadays’ flagship course, Becoming a Proofreader, is a comprehensive class that will teach you everything you need to know to work as a professional proofreader. Upon enrollment, you’ll receive lifetime access to the program and solid support from tutors throughout your training. The guaranteed work offer is a nice feature, but you’ll also need to take Knowadays’ Becoming an Editor course to have a chance to qualify for it.

You can use the code OMPROOF10 for a 10% discount on the proofreading or editing class.

What Is Knowadays?

Who Is the Becoming a Proofreader Course For?

You can do proofreading work anywhere as long as you have a computer or laptop and a stable internet connection. Therefore, the Becoming a Proofreader course suits those who need flexibility and value independence and freedom.

It’s appropriate for beginners as well as professionals who want to brush up on their proofreading skills.

The Knowadays proofreading course is especially well-suited to the following individuals:

• career changers
• stay-at-home parents
• moms ready to enter the workforce
• retirees
• caregivers
• digital nomads
• recent graduates
• people who want to start a side hustle

Students worldwide can take the class; however, the program and final assessment are designed for fluent English speakers, so you need native-level fluency.

I authored an article about signs you’d be a good proofreader if you’d like to check it out.

The Kind of Proofreading This Class Prepares You For

When choosing a proofreading course, the most important factor you need to consider is what kind of proofreading you’d like to do.

Knowadays Provides a General Proofreading Course

Are you interested in general proofreading or transcript proofreading?

Most people choose general proofreading since it allows them to work on a wide variety of documents (academic, business, print media, etc.).

However, a general proofreading course will not teach you how to proofread court transcripts, which are official documents containing what was said during a legal proceeding.

To proofread court transcripts, you’ll need to become a transcript proofreader, which involves specialized training.

A Word about Working for a Publishing Company

If you’re interested in working for a publishing company, the Becoming a Proofreader course teaches you how to proofread PDF page proofs (typeset pages). A proofreader in a publishing house needs to know how to deal with these.

Just keep in mind that jobs working for publishing companies (especially ones that are well-known) are quite competitive.

A Bit about Proofreading Marks

If you work for a publisher, you may be required to know proofreaders’ marks, which are not taught in this course.

If you work with self-publishing authors, knowledge of proofreaders’ marks will rarely be necessary.

I’ve never had an author want me to use proofreading symbols to correct their writing. Most people have no idea what these hieroglyphic-like symbols are!

So you’ll probably never need to know these marks, but you can learn them through self-study if necessary.

Becoming a Proofreader FAQ

Let’s review a few key details of the program before we delve into the content.

How Much Does the Course Cost?

The course costs $499.

When I originally wrote this review, the price was $295; however, they increased it to $399 after improving the course and adding more content. They then increased it again to $499 so they could further enhance the program and provide more resources.

Considering this program’s value, I feel the course price is more than fair.

Payment plans are available through Klarna for students in the US and UK.

What Is Their Refund Policy?

Knowadays has a refund policy if you’re not satisfied with the course.

“All course purchases will be refunded in full if requested within 14 days of the purchase date. If you’d like to request a refund, all you need to do is email us at [email protected] and we’ll be in touch.”

– Knowadays

Who Created the Course?

A team of proofreading and editing experts from Proofed designed the course. It was launched in August 2017.

They used their collective knowledge and experience to develop an approach that would meet the needs of aspiring proofreaders.

What Do You Need to Take the Class?

You’ll need a laptop or desktop computer and access to the internet.

You’re also required to have Microsoft Word 2016, 2019, 2021, or 365.

It’s important to note that free or incomplete versions of Word (e.g., Open Office, Microsoft Office Online) are not sufficient.

You do not need a degree or other qualifications to take the course.

How Long Does It Take to Complete the Program?

The course is self-paced; it takes roughly 40 hours to finish.

You have lifetime access to the class, including any updates.

Is Customer Service Responsive?

I can tell you from personal experience that customer service is prompt and polite.

I’ve communicated with Simon, Debbi, Rachel, and Denise to ask questions about the course, and they couldn’t have been more helpful or pleasant.

I see why people speak highly of the Knowadays support team.

Is a Free Trial Available?

Yes! Knowadays offers a free trial. You’ll need to click “Learn More” under “Becoming a Proofreader” to get to the free lessons.

I enjoyed completing it. It’s a wonderful way to get a feel for the class’s style.

It contains a quiz at the end to check your knowledge and a brief document for you to practice proofreading.

Is the Knowadays Proofreading Course Worth It?

Becoming a proofreader requires hard work and dedication.

But if you have an eye for spotting errors and enjoy the kind of work proofreading entails, the course is definitely worth taking.

Soon, we’ll see more reasons why this program is a good investment.

The company’s website has an in-depth FAQ section if you have further questions.

What Students Are Saying about the Program

Let’s see what students are saying.

Here are two relevant reviews on Trustpilot:

Student Success Stories

The Knowadays website features over 50 inspiring success stories from course graduates. The stories are told in an interview style, so you can scroll through the questions and read the ones that pique your curiosity.

Throughout the stories, you’ll discover more about the Becoming a Proofreader course and what it’s like to work at Proofed. You’ll also get a peek into the daily lives of these grads.

Course Content and Organization

The course is well structured and easy to follow.

It consists of reading material, brief tutorial videos, assignments, quizzes, and a final assessment.

The assignments include real-world sample documents that you can download and practice proofreading. You also have the chance to join a group tutorial for some of the modules.

Throughout the class, you can assess your learning with the self-checking mid- and end-of-module quizzes, which you can take as many times as you like.

The course is divided into 13 modules.

I’ll hit the highlights of what’s taught in each one.

Many modules end with a section addressing questions that proofreaders commonly ask.

1) Introduction

• the various course elements
• how to navigate the class
• your learning objectives
• how you’ll be assessed

2) Proofreading and Editing

• what proofreading and editing entail and how they differ
• the editing process and info about ethical issues
• skills that editors and proofreaders need
• what on-screen (digital) proofreading entails

3) The Basics of Microsoft Word

• how MS Word for Windows and MS Word for Mac differ
• workflow recommended for proofreading
• how to use MS Word Track Changes and make comments
• changing the proofing language and username

4) Common Spelling Mistakes

• recognizing homophones
• finding common typos
• spelling differences between regional dialects (UK, US, and Australian)
• how compound, hyphenated, and open compound words differ in spelling

5) Common Grammar Mistakes

• faulty agreement and parallelism
• parts of speech and grammar myths
• compound subjects, fragments, modifiers, clauses
• grammar differences between regional dialects

6) Common Punctuation Mistakes

• end punctuation and double vs. single spacing
• punctuating quotations, dialogue, and clauses
• commas, colons, semicolons, and apostrophes
• hyphens, dashes, parentheses, ellipses, and lists

7) Other Common Errors

• Latin terms, abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms
• capitalization and numbers
• URLs and diacritics
• idioms and frequently misused words

8) Proofreading in Practice: Style

• style guides and meaning of style in proofreading
• tone, voice, vocabulary, and sentence structure
• repetition and organization of paragraphs
• working with dyslexic and ESL clients

9) Academic Proofreading

• commenting and avoiding plagiarism
• active and passive voice, terminology, and quotations
• proofreading the work of undergraduates and postgraduates
• working with LaTeX (a unique document preparation system)   

10) Academic Proofreading: Referencing and Citations

• citation styles and related info
• types of sources, reference lists, and bibliographies
• how to work with various referencing styles
• how to treat missing and incorrect information

11) Creative Writing and the Publishing Industry

• creating style sheets for fiction and nonfiction documents
• working with a publisher or an author and the importance of authorial voice
• strategies for proofreading typeset texts
• using Adobe Acrobat Reader to proof PDFs

12) Proofreading Business Writing

• making style sheets for business writing
• elements to be aware of when proofing different types of business writing
• using tools in PowerPoint, Excel, and Google Docs
• techniques for proofreading in publishing packages (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, InDesign)

13) Finding Work and the Final Assignment

• info about finding work as a freelance proofreader
• top revision areas and a mock assignment
• student assessment with detailed feedback
• additional one-on-one tutoring, if necessary

The course used to have a module called Advanced Formatting in Microsoft Word for Windows. Later, they added a similar module for Mac. However, students found these modules excessively difficult, so they scrapped them from the program.

You can find additional information about each module here. You’ll need to scroll halfway down until you see the heading “Becoming A Proofreader Course Curriculum.”

Pros of the Knowadays Proofreading Course

Let’s learn more about what makes this course a solid choice.

Knowadays Offers a Thorough Course

The class will teach you everything you need to know to be a proofreader.

First, you’ll learn how to proofread a variety of writing, including the following:

• academic texts
• business documents
• fiction and nonfiction book manuscripts

The course dedicates two modules to proofreading academic documents since it’s one of the largest markets for proofreaders. They also show you how to proof texts written by non-native English speakers—another big market!

Second, you’ll learn how to proofread writing in various English dialects:

• US
• UK
• Australian

Note: The course is taught in US English, but a version of the class in UK English is available upon request.

Third, they’ll show you how to proof a text efficiently using software.

You’ll learn how to proofread

• a Microsoft Word document using Track Changes,
• a Google Doc using the Suggesting feature, and
• a PDF using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Finally, you’ll learn how to improve a document in the following areas:

• readability
• tone
• style

I can tell you from experience that know-how concerning tone and readability will come in handy when working with texts written by non-native English speakers. These documents often require extra tweaking.

It Offers a Valuable Work Guarantee and a Certificate

You can qualify for a work guarantee if you also take the Becoming an Editor course and pass both classes with at least an 80% on the final exams.

I’ll talk more about the work guarantee soon.

If you qualify, freelancing for Proofed would be an impressive detail to include on your résumé.

The work guarantee is a true testament to the course; they believe in what they teach.

Finally, they’ll give you a CPD-accredited digital certificate after you finish the class.

Your future clients will want to know about your qualifications. Therefore, having a certificate to post on your business website or profile on a freelance platform (e.g., Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer) will be valuable.

You Receive One-On-One Support from Tutors

Knowadays’ tutors have real-world experience in proofreading, and you can email them with questions throughout the course.

If something is still unclear, you can schedule a tutor support call at no additional charge.

They also provide in-depth feedback on the final assignment.

Tutor support is one of the features of the program that students most appreciate.

Knowadays Has Earned a Strong Reputation

As mentioned, they’ve earned an excellent 4.8/5.0 rating on Trustpilot from over 475 reviews.

Cons of the Knowadays Proofreading Class

Now let’s see the drawbacks of this class.

A Peer Support Group Isn’t Available

Although the support from tutors is excellent, the program doesn’t provide a way for course takers to communicate with each other.

It would be nice to see a forum where students could encourage and help one another throughout the course.

Explaining class material to peers enables us to understand concepts more thoroughly and retain information longer. Plus, helping others makes us feel good.

Minimal Training for Setting Up a Proofreading Business

Although students can qualify to work for Proofed, many learners will want to eventually set up their own proofreading company so they can keep 100% of the profits.

Students will need to look elsewhere to figure out how to set up a website.

The Freelance Resources page on Knowadays’ website provides more information about the business and marketing aspects of freelancing than what you’ll find in the course.

The Guaranteed Work Offer Will Eventually Get Crowded

As popular as the Knowadays course has become, it’s reasonable to think that the work guarantee will eventually become saturated.

However, previously, students only needed to pass the proofreading class to qualify for the work guarantee. Since students now need to pass the editing course also, folks will qualify more slowly.

Nevertheless, this is something to keep in mind.

A Closer Look at the Work Guarantee with Proofed

Let’s see the details.

Requirements for the Work Guarantee

To qualify for the work guarantee, you must also take Knowadays’ Becoming an Editor class. The Proofreader & Editor Course Bundle will save you 15% if you want to purchase the courses together.

(I wrote a post explaining the differences between proofreading and editing if you need clarification.)

Then, if you score 80% or above on the final exam in both courses, you can work with Knowadays’ partner company, Proofed, on a trial basis. You’ll be paid for the documents you work on during the trial period.

Finally, if you successfully complete the 10-document trial, they’ll invite you to proofread or edit longer documents about various subjects (e.g., dissertations, product descriptions).

As a full-fledged proofreader, you’ll have access to the internal jobs board, which contains all the proofreading work available each day.

Details about the Final Exam

The final exam (aka the final assignment) in the Becoming a Proofreader course involves proofreading two texts within a single document—one in US English, the other in UK English.

Both the proofreading and editing courses provide one attempt at the final exam. The staff will provide feedback on the test to inform you about areas needing improvement.

If you don’t pass the final assignment on your first try, you can pay to retake it.

Feel free to peruse my pointers for prepping for a proofreading exam if you need suggestions for how to do your best on the test! 😊

Is Proofed a Legitimate Company?

Started in 2010, Proofed is a respected international network of proofreading companies.

They have branches in the UK, the US, and Australia.

The UK branch has earned an excellent 4.8/5.0 Trustpilot rating from over 2,000 reviews.

The US branch has earned a great 3.8/5.0 Trustpilot rating from over 375 reviews.

Trustpilot ratings for the branch in Australia aren’t available.

I featured Proofed in an article about the best proofreading and editing services that offer a fast turnaround time. Only 9 out of the 70+ companies I researched made the list since I only wanted to include the most reputable businesses for my readers.

How Much Can You Earn with Proofed?

“On average, freelancers earn around $12–16 per hour with Proofed once they have proofread enough documents to be able to work with confidence. This can rise to as much as $18–24 per hour as they gain more experience, take on add-on services, and work on a wider range of documents and projects.”

– Knowadays

I wrote an article about how much proofreaders earn (freelancers and employed proofreaders) if you’d like more information. But, generally speaking, new proofreaders make about $12–$18 per hour. 

How Much Work Can You Do for Proofed?

It’s up to you how much work you take on. Proofreaders for Proofed range from those who work a few hours a week to supplement their income to proofreaders who work full-time.

In addition to working with Proofed, you can take on other proofreading jobs.

What Kinds of Documents Do You Work On?

I researched LinkedIn profiles of people who work for Proofed. Their profiles mention that the work focuses on editing and proofreading academic dissertations and essays.

However, jobs working on other types of texts are also available. Examples of these other documents include the following:

• EAL (English as an Additional Language) texts
• business documents
• professional documents (CVs, cover letters, résumés, etc.)

Now let’s see how Knowadays’ course stacks up against other proofreading classes.

How the Knowadays Class Compares to Other Courses

I’m only comfortable recommending this course and three others for training to become a professional proofreader.

I authored a comprehensive post comparing the four classes if you’d like to check it out.

Let’s briefly compare them now.

Cost Comparison of the Best Proofreading Courses

Name of Company	Name of Course	Price
Proofread Anywhere	General Proofreading: Theory and Practice™	$597 for Ignite version / $697 for Ignite Plus version*
Knowadays	Becoming a Proofreader	$499
The Publishing Training Centre (PTC)	Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One	£345 (roughly $450)
The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)	It’s a series of three classes: Proofreading 1: Introduction Proofreading 2: Headway Proofreading 3: Progress	£870 for nonmembers (roughly $1,140)

*$100 scholarship available for either version of the course if you watch their free workshop

The table below shows a few other significant differences.

Summary of the Main Differences between Proofreading Courses

Company	Price	Certificate Given	Special Course Feature
Proofread Anywhere	$$	see*	training in building a business and marketing
Knowadays	$$	yes	work guarantee possibility in conjunction with Knowadays’ editing course
PTC	$$	yes	personally assigned tutor to guide you
CIEP	$$$$	yes	most prestigious training program

*You earn a certificate from Proofread Anywhere if you purchase the Ignite Plus version of the course and score 90% or above on the final exam.

I also wrote a post comparing Knowadays to Proofread Anywhere since they have quickly become the two most popular options for online proofreading courses.

12 Reasons Why Knowadays Is Legit

I want to leave you with my take on why Knowadays is legitimate. And not only is it legit—it’s one of the best courses available for training.

1. You’ll learn all you need to know to be a proofreader.
2. The course offers excellent value for the money.
3. Knowadays consistently gets terrific reviews.
4. You’re given a certificate for completing the class.
5. You can potentially qualify for the work guarantee.
6. Proofreading experts created the course.
7. Students receive feedback from tutors who are experienced proofreaders.
8. The class gives you ample real-world practice.
9. Its level of difficulty is appropriate for its purpose.
10. The course format supports various learning styles.
11. Knowadays’ customer service is impressive.
12. You can try the course before you buy it.

If you’re ready to dive into the Knowadays Becoming a Proofreader course, you can find it here. Remember the code OMPROOF10 for 10% off.

I’m excited about the possibility of you joining me on error patrol to get rid of grammar gaffes, cut out capitalization catastrophes, pick out punctuation pitfalls, snuff out spelling slipups, and fix formatting fumbles!

I wish you the best of luck with your next steps, whatever those may be.

Best wishes to you!

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

– Mahatma Gandhi