Stop. Grammar Time.
Where do commas go? And what on earth is a relative clause? Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words.
‘I seem to have been out of school the year the rules were mentioned.’ Do you know who said that? No, it wasn’t you. It was Joan Didion. Everyone stresses about writing. The Good Copy school is a place to get together and think about it.
From editorial to ad copy, syntax to style, we explore grammar basics and writing tactics in a clear, practical and fun way. Open to writers of all stripes.
The course is taught with reference to real-world examples that are both hilarious and insightful. My eyes are now wide open to inappropriate quote mark usage in my day-to-day life.
—Rachel Elliot-Jones, Assemble
Courses
Stop. Grammar Time.
What is grammar? Is this grammar?
Is it okay to use and at the start of a sentence? And what’s going on with your boss’s new hairstyle? Or should that be ... your boss’ new hairstyle? How shouldn’t you use a pair of commas? And why should you care about dangling modifiers?
Most writers, editors and emailers only intuitively know ‘the rules’, and many feel they missed out on the basics in the first place. This course is a chance to fill the gaps. Learn how to see a sentence’s underlying structure, place your commas with confidence, adjudicate apostrophe arguments and separate the rules from the myths.
A great nerd once said, ‘Grammar is not just a pain in the ass; it’s the pole you grab to get your thoughts up on their feet and walking.’ We don’t 100 per cent agree with the pain-in-the-butt part, but, other than that, yes! A bit of structural know-how, punctuating prowess and style-manual savvy can really take the stress out of everyday writing.
Who is it for?
This course is for anyone who writes. Our graduates include communications professionals, novelists, nurses, doctors, students, editors, copywriters, designers, helicopter engineers, AFL players, and primary and secondary school teachers.
If comma confusions and dash disagreements are clouding your sentences (or your psyche), Stop. Grammar Time. will clear the fog. We promise answers, alarm bells, tips and tactics to help you produce tighter first drafts.
What do we teach?
1. What is a clause? What is a phrase?
The ins and outs of English syntax
2. Sticks and dots
Punctuation and how to use it
3. Style and decisions
Using style guides and building your own
4. Real-world editing
Curly questions and common errors
How does it help?
Students leave with:
- an understanding of English sentence structure and the terms used to describe it
- the know-how to connect clauses and phrases using commas, colons, semicolons and dashes
- a style-guide starter kit and tactics for navigating tricky decisions
- practical editing tips, a primer on the most common structural errors, and the confidence to sort grammar ‘rules’ from grammar myths
- a set of reference notes and a links list full of tools, apps, resources and further reading
- a jet-black fashion tote bag and a punky sew-on graduation patch.
Who teaches it?
Stop. Grammar Time. is presented by The Good Copy’s editorial director, Penny Modra. Penny is a regular ‘grammar enthusiast’ guest on ABC Radio Melbourne, a guest lecturer at RMIT and the convener of the Collingwood Crossword Club.
The course curriculum has been developed by top-gun editor Meredith Forrester. Meredith is The Good Copy’s managing editor and the author of Make Grammar Great Again (Thames & Hudson Australia, 2017), a book that explores grammar and punctuation basics by copyediting the tweets of Donald Trump.
Calendar
Stop. Grammar Time.
MEL
One-day class
16 November
Booked Out
Where do commas go? And what on earth is a relative clause? Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 16 November, 9am–5.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
Stop. Grammar Time.
MEL
One-day class
23 November
$350.00
Where do commas go? And what on earth is a relative clause? Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 23 November, 9am–5.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
Stop. Grammar Time.
SYD
One-day class
1 December
$350.00
Where do commas go? And what on earth is a relative clause? Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 1 December, 9am–5.30pm, at the Walkley Foundation, 245 Chalmers Street, Redfern.
MEAA member? Enter your discount code at checkout to receive 15% off. Any questions? Email school@thegoodcopy.com.au. All prices include GST.
Stop. Grammar Time.
MEL
One-day class
8 December
$350.00
Where do commas go? And what on earth is a relative clause? Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 8 December, 9am–5.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
FAQ
Can you run a course at my work?
Yes! Click on over to our services page to find out how.
What’s the difference between a one-day and a two-day class?
Not too much. Both class formats follow the same curriculum and cover the same topics. The main difference is in the timing: our two-day classes take a more leisurely pace across their shorter days, while our one-day classes—which we run more regularly—are for people who want a jam-packed day of grammar, grammar, grammar. The best kind of day! Seriously, though, one of the main reasons we run one-day classes is to offer an option for people who can’t take two days off work.
English is my second language. Is that a problem?
You will need to be fluent in English to get the most out of our classes.
Do I need to know grammar already?
No! Well, a bit. But not really! We recap the basic terms, learn new ones and layer them all as we go.
Okay, but I don’t even remember what conjunctions are. Is that a problem?
That’s not a problem, because we’ll look at what they are and what they can do.
I want to be an editor. Will your courses help me get there?
Stop. Grammar Time. will introduce you to the world of editing. We cover the basics of English syntax, discuss usage and style, and explore a few real-world editing tactics.
Where do you hold your classes?
We most often hold our Melbourne classes at our Good Copy HQ, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood—but we sometimes pop up elsewhere in the metropolitan area. Keep an eye on our calendar. We hold our Sydney classes at a couple of venues around the inner city; we’ll list the venue details in each class’s calendar entry.
What happens if I can’t make it to class?
We’ll miss you. But we’ll also happily transfer you into an upcoming class or offer you a full refund. Email Meredith at school@thegoodcopy.com.au as soon as you know you can’t make it, and she’ll help you out.
Can I enrol someone else?
Yep! You can use our e-vouchers to enrol anyone you know—a friend, a colleague or three—in any of our upcoming classes. Head to the shop and sort for vouchers to find out how.
I want to buy my friend an enrolment for their birthday—but I don’t know which class date suits them. What can I do?
You can check out the digital vouchers on offer in our shop! Our Stop. Grammar Time. and Write Right vouchers can be redeemed for all upcoming classes—so you can gift one to your buddy and leave the date decision up to them.
Write Right
We all write, but what does it mean to write well? Tactics and principles for planning, briefing, drafting and editing better writing.
Write Right
Why is writing hard? When is it good? Who does it well, and how?
If writing is part of your day, you know intuitively that it doesn’t just happen on the page. Most of the challenge is in the thinking and the relating. After that, as Joan Didion once said, you can ‘prune it out, clean it up, make the point’.
Write Right takes the same approach. The course suggests a step-by-step process that begins with the reader and continues with the ideas. After that, we dive into the writing itself. How do you stay focused, original, clear and generous? What are some tactics for bringing words, sentences and readers to life? How do you assess what’s working and what isn’t?
From Aristotle to Airtable, advertising to art, we explore the principles of good writing and inspire you to think critically about planning, briefing, drafting and editing.
Who is it for?
Write Right is a four-hour course for copywriters, marketers, editorial freelancers, content makers, emailers—anyone whose work involves turning ideas into words for readers.
What do we teach?
Introduction
Writing and editing for readability
1. Know why you’re saying something
Ideas, objectives and readers
2. Find something to say
Specifics, images and originality
3. Be okay with saying it
Tone, cliché, formality and jargon
4. Say it
Finding an opener and writing the first draft
5. Say it with style
Style guides, decisions and consistency
6. Edit for grammar
The rules worth worrying about
How does it help?
Students leave with:
- a process for refining objectives, audience and message before the writing starts
- a briefing checklist and a set of principles for assessing writing at the levels of content, style, sentence structure and word choice
- ideas-generation tools for the first draft
- tactics for managing voice and tone, whether you’re writing as yourself or on behalf of a brand
- a style-guide starter kit, a grammar primer and tips for editing on a deadline.
Who teaches it?
Write Right classes are taught by top-gun writer, editor and worrier Penny Modra. Penny is The Good Copy’s editorial director, a regular ‘grammar enthusiast’ guest on ABC Radio Melbourne, a guest lecturer at RMIT and the convener of the Collingwood Crossword Club.
Calendar
Write Right
MEL
Half-day class
26 October
$275.00
We all write, but what does it mean to write well? Tactics and principles for planning, briefing, drafting and editing better writing. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 26 October, 1–5pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
Write Right
MEL
Half-day class
17 November
$275.00
We all write, but what does it mean to write well? Tactics and principles for planning, briefing, drafting and editing better writing. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 17 November, 9.30am–1.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
Write Right
SYD
Half-day class
30 November
$275.00
We all write, but what does it mean to write well? Tactics and principles for planning, briefing, drafting and editing better writing. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 30 November, 1–5pm, at Academy Xi, 48 Druitt Street, Sydney.
All prices include GST.
Write Right
MEL
Half-day class
7 December
$275.00
We all write, but what does it mean to write well? Tactics and principles for planning, briefing, drafting and editing better writing. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 7 December, 1–5pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
FAQ
Can you run a course at my work?
Yes! Click on over to our services page to find out how.
English is my second language. Is that a problem?
You will need to be fluent in English to get the most out of our classes.
I’m not trained as a writer. Does that matter?
Not at all. The course is for anyone who wants to examine their writing process. We focus on tone, clarity and consideration for the reader. The content is geared towards copywriting for brands and businesses but we address many other non-fiction contexts: features, reviews, essays, reports and emails. You definitely don’t need to know about grammar or style; we’ll assume no knowledge when we cover these topics in class.
Where do you hold your classes?
We most often hold our Melbourne classes at our Good Copy HQ, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood—but we sometimes pop up elsewhere in the metropolitan area. Keep an eye on our calendar. We hold our Sydney classes at a couple of venues around the inner city; we’ll list the venue details in each class’s calendar entry.
What happens if I can’t make it to class?
We’ll miss you. But we’ll also happily transfer you into an upcoming class or offer you a full refund. Email Meredith at school@thegoodcopy.com.au as soon as you know you can’t make it, and she’ll help you out.
Can I enrol someone else?
Yep! You can use our e-vouchers to enrol anyone you know—a friend, a colleague or three—in any of our upcoming classes. Head to the shop and sort for vouchers to find out how.
I want to buy my friend an enrolment for their birthday—but I don’t know which class date suits them. What can I do?
You can check out the digital vouchers on offer in our shop! Our Stop. Grammar Time. and Write Right vouchers can be redeemed for all upcoming classes—so you can gift one to your buddy and leave the date decision up to them.
Calendar
Write Right
MEL
Half-day class
26 October
$275.00
We all write, but what does it mean to write well? Tactics and principles for planning, briefing, drafting and editing better writing. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 26 October, 1–5pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
Stop. Grammar Time.
MEL
One-day class
16 November
Booked Out
Where do commas go? And what on earth is a relative clause? Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 16 November, 9am–5.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
Write Right
MEL
Half-day class
17 November
$275.00
We all write, but what does it mean to write well? Tactics and principles for planning, briefing, drafting and editing better writing. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 17 November, 9.30am–1.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
Stop. Grammar Time.
MEL
One-day class
23 November
$350.00
Where do commas go? And what on earth is a relative clause? Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 23 November, 9am–5.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
Write Right
SYD
Half-day class
30 November
$275.00
We all write, but what does it mean to write well? Tactics and principles for planning, briefing, drafting and editing better writing. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 30 November, 1–5pm, at Academy Xi, 48 Druitt Street, Sydney.
All prices include GST.
Stop. Grammar Time.
SYD
One-day class
1 December
$350.00
Where do commas go? And what on earth is a relative clause? Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 1 December, 9am–5.30pm, at the Walkley Foundation, 245 Chalmers Street, Redfern.
MEAA member? Enter your discount code at checkout to receive 15% off. Any questions? Email school@thegoodcopy.com.au. All prices include GST.
Write Right
MEL
Half-day class
7 December
$275.00
We all write, but what does it mean to write well? Tactics and principles for planning, briefing, drafting and editing better writing. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 7 December, 1–5pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
Stop. Grammar Time.
MEL
One-day class
8 December
$350.00
Where do commas go? And what on earth is a relative clause? Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 8 December, 9am–5.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
FAQ
What’s the difference between Stop. Grammar Time. and Write Right?
Stop. Grammar Time. teaches the nuts and bolts of grammar and punctuation, from what makes up a sentence to where commas can go and whether semicolons belong in dot-point lists. We explore the world of style, practise real-world editing techniques, and bust common myths and mix-ups. It’s a course for people who want to craft error-free sentences and find out, once and for all, whether it’s okay to use and at the start of a sentence. (It is.)
Write Right is a course for people who want to examine how they approach writing in all its modern guises—from emails to marketing copy, reports and editorial. We promise to explore the principles of good, active writing and inspire you to think critically about the process; we do not promise to teach you a guaranteed formula for your next Facebook post. We’ve based this course on Joan Didion’s advice: ‘Prune it out, clean it up, make the point.’
Write Right is a course for people who want to examine how they approach writing in all its modern guises—from emails to marketing copy, reports and editorial. We promise to explore the principles of good, active writing and inspire you to think critically about the process; we do not promise to teach you a guaranteed formula for your next Facebook post. We’ve based this course on Joan Didion’s advice: ‘Prune it out, clean it up, make the point.’
Can you run a course at my work?
Yes! Click on over to our services page to find out how.
What’s the difference between a one-day and a two-day Stop. Grammar Time. class?
Not too much. Both class formats follow the same curriculum and cover the same topics. The main difference is in the timing: our two-day classes take a more leisurely pace across their shorter days, while our one-day classes—which we run more regularly—are for people who want a jam-packed day of grammar, grammar, grammar. The best kind of day! Seriously, though, one of the main reasons we run one-day classes is to offer an option for people who can’t take two days off work.
English is my second language. Is that a problem?
You will need to be fluent in English to get the most out of our classes.
Can I enrol someone else?
Yep! You can use our e-vouchers to enrol anyone you know—a friend, a colleague or three—in any of our upcoming classes. Head to the shop and sort for vouchers to find out how.
I want to buy my friend an enrolment for their birthday—but I don’t know which class date suits them. What can I do?
You can check out the digital vouchers on offer in our shop! Our Stop. Grammar Time. and Write Right vouchers can be redeemed for all upcoming classes—so you can gift one to your buddy and leave the date decision up to them.
I want to be an editor. Will your courses help me get there?
Stop. Grammar Time. will introduce you to the world of editing. We cover the basics of English syntax, discuss usage and style, and explore a few real-world editing tactics.
Where do you hold your classes?
We most often hold our Melbourne classes at our Good Copy HQ, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood—but we sometimes pop up elsewhere in the metropolitan area. Keep an eye on our calendar. We hold our Sydney classes at a couple of venues around the inner city; we’ll list the venue details in each class’s calendar entry.
What happens if I can’t make it to class?
We’ll miss you. But we’ll also happily transfer you into an upcoming class or offer you a full refund. Email Meredith at school@thegoodcopy.com.au as soon as you know you can’t make it, and she’ll help you out.