Distance learning

Essential Grammar

Good grammar is essential for effective communication. This online course takes you from the most basic through to the more complex elements of English grammar. 
FORMAT

Distance learning

ACCESS

12 months

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • Completion certificate
  • CIEP upgrade points
  • Grammar tutor

DURATION

12 months

PRICE

£60 + VAT

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Meet tutor Andrew Steeds

Discover how Andrew Steeds' self-study course will expand your knowledge of UK grammar and punctuation and equip you to make confident, informed grammatical decisions.

Why should I take this course?

Essential Grammar is an online course that develops your understanding of English grammar, progressing from core principles to more complex rules.
Your command of language speaks volumes about you, with any form of communication, particularly in business. From writing presentations, documents and emails to multi-platform marketing content, a good grasp of grammar is vital for presenting yourself and your organisation professionally, accurately and with credibility.

Intended for speakers of UK English, it is a convenient, fun and flexible way to build the solid foundation you need to communicate accurately and creatively. 

A host of practical exercises will help you get to grips with what you have learned, and you can test your knowledge with some quick quizzes.

About the course

Who is it for?

  • Anyone who wants to perfect their use of UK English grammar to communicate more effectively and professionally
  • Editors and proofreaders who want to improve the accuracy of their work
  • Those working in communications, marketing or publicity, who want to ensure that their output is accurate and grammatically correct.

Learning outcomes

On completing this course you’ll be able to:
  • Master the basic principles of punctuation and understand the relationship between grammar and punctuation
  • Be able to communicate clearly, effectively and professionally
  • Gain credibility with all forms of your communication
  • Understand:
    • The seven main word classes, and order of phrases and words
    • The six verb aspects, and tenses and forms
    • How to correctly structure a sentence
    • And much more.

Key benefits

  • Convenient and flexible – study from home, in your own time, at your own pace
  • The support of a personal tutor, an experienced editor, throughout the course
  • Opportunity to revisit areas of the course that you wish to consolidate
  • Practical exercises to help you get to grips with what you have learned
  • Quizzes to test your knowledge
  • A reading list to follow-up your studies.

Course contents

  • Introduction
  • Unit 1: What’s in a name?
  • Unit 2: Verbs
  • Unit 3: Constructing sentences
  • Unit 4: The issue section
  • Unit 5: The basic principles of punctuation
  • Conclusion

What you need to know

Grammar tutor

Each student is given access to the course author for grammar support throughout the duration of the course. 

Course materials

The materials are accessible online through the learning platform. There are five units, with a mix of self-assessed exercises and quizzes. Four units focus on grammar and one on punctuation. 

Certificate

On successful completion, you will receive a certificate of completion.  

CIEP points

Completing this course is worth 3 non-core points towards upgrading your CIEP membership.
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Access

You will have access to the course for 12 months from the date of your enrolment.

Software requirements 

This module is optimised for desktop and laptop devices, not tablets and smartphones. 

What our students say

Andrew Steeds is excellent. This is a really well-structured course. I needed to bolster my knowledge of grammar for a new job. I feel way more confident now.

Stephen, Dorking, UK

I've learnt so much from Essential Grammar. As an English teacher for over 20 years I've studied a lot of grammar, but this course has really clarified many things. It's been written in a very clear, accessible and logical way, allowing me to build upon previous knowledge.

Richard, Finland

What our students say about us

Essential Grammar was a fantastic complement to my proofreading training. The course was well organised, it was easy to locate information and I liked the structure. I referred to the course throughout my proofreading training, when I needed more information about a particular grammatical issue.

Taliha Quadri, Freelance Proofreader, Luton, UK

I have learned lots of grammatical terms/language that I didn't know existed. The course has helped me understand why certain things should be written in a certain way, which will help when writing and editing.

Publishing Assistant, Swindon, UK

What our students say about us

The course has helped me to become more confident in my knowledge of grammar and punctuation, and in defending my decisions to clients. It should demonstrate to potential clients that I possess a high level of skill and knowledge in English grammar and punctuation.

Student, Cosby, UK

My new grammar skills help me feel reassured that I can produce work of the highest standard possible! It is useful to have access to the course material for a few more months as I aim to frequently brush up on my grammar, to solidify my knowledge.

Student, Glasgow, UK

Special offers

LEARNING PACKAGE

The Proofreader Freelance Package

Enrol on Essential Proofreading and save 50% on Essential Grammar.

How to enrol and pay

Money-back guarantee

If, within 30 days of buying the course you decide that the course is not for you, simply let us know and we will issue a full refund. 

Course completion

You must complete the course within 12 months of enrolment. If you wish to continue the course beyond this period, you can study for a further 12 months following payment of a £75 re-registration fee. Any further extensions are at the discretion of the Institute of Publishing.

About the tutor

Andrew Steeds

Author and tutor
ABOUT ANDREW STEEDS
After a career in teaching, educational research and educational publishing, Andrew went freelance, setting up his own company. Simply Put focuses on making unnecessarily complicated documents clearer and more accessible. He works with designers and with others to support clients to communicate more clearly and more efficiently.

Andrew has been running courses for the Institute of Publishing (IoP), formerly the Publishing Training Centre, for over 25 years. His main focus is editorial, with an interest in the process of writing, grammar and punctuation. The IoP’s Essential Grammar, an e-learning resource which he wrote in 2017, has had 2,000 student enrolments to date.