Because I Haven't Glorified Copy Editors Lately

"It's the editor's lot, alas, to subsist on reflected glory."

 

Here's a conversation with former Times Copy Chief Merrill Perlman. Her take on the characteristics of the "typical copy editor":

 

I'm not sure there is a typical copy editor. I think they share some common traits. They all share that love of language. They all share that desire to get it right. ...

They don't so much care about the public recognition, but they like to bitch about not having the public recognition, so they're a complaining bunch.

[Sorry for the profanity, but I'm not a follower of the New York Times/Washington Post "family newspaper" policies that have them excising all mildly offensive words, even at the expense of a story.]