Test your basic knowledge |

News Copy Editing

Instructions:

Answer 39 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. Side-saddle head
never
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
kicker head without a verb
appears to left of story

2. Restrictive modifier
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
limits meaning of sentence
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
FANBOYS

3. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
3
go above main headline
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
25 words

4. Nominative case
and
hookers - lookers
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
typical - normal everyday headline

5. Jargon

6. Whom - Him/her
kicker head without a verb
objective
what pronoun refers to
straight news stories

7. Objective case
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
go above main headline
used as modifying
used for direct and indirect objects

8. Types of headlines
used for direct and indirect objects
straight news stories
nominative
hookers - lookers

9. How to break sentence
FANBOYS
objective
short headline - really big - draws attention
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

10. Smother verbs
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
hiding verb as another part of speech
separate numbers
grabs readers' attention

11. Hammer head
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
short headline - really big - draws attention
Make decision = decide

12. Headline rules

13. Kicker heads
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
go above main headline
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
used for direct and indirect objects

14. Straightforward headline
restrictive clause
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
typical - normal everyday headline
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

15. Commas replace (headlines)
go above main headline
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
and
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

16. Hookers

17. Possessive case
used as modifying
restrictive clause
typical - normal everyday headline
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

18. Squinting modifiers
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
set off phrase usually set off by commas
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
grabs readers' attention

19. Label head
never
linking verb and past participle
hiding verb as another part of speech
kicker head without a verb

20. em dash
grabs readers' attention
and
set off phrase usually set off by commas
appears to left of story

21. Max sentence length
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
use present tense - punctuate appropriately - SOV - use proper grammar - know what you write - no loaded words - no alphabet soup - attribute stuff - answer 'so what' - no questions - watch splits
25 words

22. Antecedent
3
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
never
what pronoun refers to

23. Functions of headline

24. That
restrictive clause
straight news stories
set off phrase usually set off by commas
go above main headline

25. Noun strings
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
and
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

26. en dash
separate numbers
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
restrictive clause
typical - normal everyday headline

27. Dangling modifiers
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
appears to left of story
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
grabs readers' attention

28. Drop heads
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
grabs readers' attention
separate numbers
short headline - really big - draws attention

29. Use of he/she
never
go above main headline
kicker head without a verb
hiding verb as another part of speech

30. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
and
kicker head without a verb
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

31. Four rules of subjunctive case
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
hiding verb as another part of speech
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

32. Smother verb (example)
used for direct and indirect objects
Make decision = decide
make sure lists have same type of speech
3

33. Hints something needs editing
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
linking verb and past participle
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
grabs readers' attention

34. Passive voice
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
3
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
linking verb and past participle

35. Use commas with (what words)
typical - normal everyday headline
FANBOYS
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
25 words

36. Nonrestrictive modifier
25 words
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
appears to left of story
objective

37. Lookers
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
3
nominative
straight news stories

38. Who - He/she
limits meaning of sentence
kicker head without a verb
make sure lists have same type of speech
nominative

39. Parallel structure
3
never
typical - normal everyday headline
make sure lists have same type of speech