Lexicographer Requirements, Skills & Qualifications

The following common skills and qualifications are required of a Lexicographer:

A degree in English language
An excellent command of English and, for bilingual lexicographers, relevant foreign language expertise
A practical understanding of the mechanics of grammar and the ability to use grammar correctly, identifying instances of incorrect usage
An excellent eye for detail, both for spotting errors and for identifying inconsistencies of presentation style
Team working and communication skills
Effective time management and organisational skills
The ability to work rapidly and logically with complex information
The ability to describe complex things in a few words, and for English language lexicographers, the ability to recognise subtle differences between meanings, an appreciation of how English is used in other English-speaking countries and an appreciation of the difficulties of learning English
Confidence in using a range of specialist software, such as corpus-querying software, dictionary-writing software and WordPress
An understanding of SEO and how websites can increase their traffic and engage with users.

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Lexicographer skill, qualifications and experience. Job requirements for specific Lexicographer roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.

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