Nature versus nurture in the making of a manuscript editor

A manuscript editor must possess several attributes in order to master his or hel craft, such as a sound knowledge of grammar and usage, flexibility, good judgement, and an eye for consistency and detail. Many of these can be enhanced and developed by training and experience, but a good editor will come to his or her profession with the kernel of these skills present and will build upon innate abilities. The process of training a new manuscript editor demands careful screening, lime to learn new shills on smaller projects, a thorough grounding in the technical basics, the development of methodical working habits, and the cultivation of critical judgment. In addition, all editors, whether those just beginning their careers or long-time veterans, will benefit from learning how to Edit onscreen, as computers make some of the move tedious editorial chores easier and allow editors to work with even more consistency and fewer errors.