Before & After: Copy-edit and proofread a messy text with tracked changes and an editor's note
The capstone project for Copy Editing & Proofreading — a free Creative course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.
- Free
- 6 steps
- Pass mark 65%
- Graded within minutes
- Beginner-friendly
The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.
What you will submit
A link (Google Doc set to 'anyone with the link can comment/view') or an uploaded/pasted document showing the original messy text with your tracked changes and comments, plus your written editor's note.
What to do, step by step
- Take a messy sample text (use the practice text provided, or any short real document of 400–800 words you have permission to use — a student paragraph, a draft About page, a product description). Save the original untouched, then make a clearly-named copy to work on.
- Turn on Track Changes in Microsoft Word, or Suggesting mode in Google Docs, so every change you make is visible and the original is recoverable. Do NOT silently overwrite the text.
- Do a copy-editing pass: fix grammar, clarity, wordiness, repetition and word choice, and make spelling and style consistent (state UK or US in your note). Then, after a short break, do a separate proofreading pass for any remaining typos, punctuation and spacing errors.
- Leave at least two polite author queries as comments where the meaning is unclear — each one specific and offering a way forward (e.g. "Did you mean X or Y here? Suggested rewrite below"), never just "this is wrong".
- Write a short editor's note (3–6 sentences) that summarises what you changed, states the style choices you made, and flags anything the client must decide.
- Deliver one document (or a shareable link) that clearly shows the tracked changes / suggestions AND includes your editor's note. Make sure sharing is set so a reviewer can open it.
Files to work with
Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 6 KBHow it is graded
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Tracked changes used correctly: every edit is visible via Track Changes or Suggesting mode, the original text is still recoverable, and nothing was silently overwritten | 20% |
| Copy editing quality: real improvements to grammar, clarity, wordiness and flow, with consistent spelling and style, without changing the writer's meaning or imposing a new voice | 30% |
| Proofreading accuracy: surface errors (typos, punctuation, spacing, doubled or missing words) are caught and corrected, with no obvious errors left behind, especially in titles and first lines | 25% |
| Author queries: at least two polite, specific comments that flag genuine ambiguity and offer a way forward, rather than vague or rude notes | 10% |
| Editor's note: a clear, professional 3–6 sentence note that summarises the work, states style choices (e.g. UK/US), and flags decisions for the client | 15% |
You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.
Before you submit: make your link public
If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to finish Copy Editing & Proofreading before submitting the project?
Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Copy Editing & Proofreading is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.
How is the project graded?
An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.
Can I resubmit if I fail?
Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.
What do I actually submit?
A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 6 steps.
Is the certificate real?
Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.
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Ready to earn this certificate?
Copy Editing & Proofreading is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.
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