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
kicker head without a verb
appears to left of story
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
restrictive clause

2. Nonrestrictive modifier
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
kicker head without a verb
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
make sure lists have same type of speech

3. Types of headlines
used as modifying
hookers - lookers
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
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

4. Hammer head
nominative
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
technical language - don't use
short headline - really big - draws attention

5. How to break sentence
used for direct and indirect objects
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

6. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
FANBOYS
kicker head without a verb
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
3

7. Objective case
Make decision = decide
grabs readers' attention
used for direct and indirect objects
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

8. Lookers
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
restrictive clause
separate numbers
straight news stories

9. Who - He/she
set off phrase usually set off by commas
nominative
straight news stories
limits meaning of sentence

10. Drop heads
straight news stories
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
used for direct and indirect objects
kicker head without a verb

11. Parallel structure
appears to left of story
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
restrictive clause
make sure lists have same type of speech

12. Squinting modifiers
used for direct and indirect objects
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
hiding verb as another part of speech
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

13. Use of he/she
limits meaning of sentence
never
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
straight news stories

14. Label head
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
kicker head without a verb
restrictive clause
typical - normal everyday headline

15. Possessive case
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
used as modifying
restrictive clause
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

16. Whom - Him/her
hookers - lookers
3
objective
and

17. Hookers

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18. Dangling modifiers
linking verb and past participle
limits meaning of sentence
Make decision = decide
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

19. Commas replace (headlines)
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
25 words
and
never

20. Passive voice
used as modifying
used for direct and indirect objects
linking verb and past participle
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

21. Straightforward headline
linking verb and past participle
typical - normal everyday headline
kicker head without a verb
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

22. em dash
separate numbers
set off phrase usually set off by commas
what pronoun refers to
restrictive clause

23. That
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
make sure lists have same type of speech
restrictive clause

24. Hints something needs editing
never
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
technical language - don't use

25. Four rules of subjunctive case
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
never
grabs readers' attention
make sure lists have same type of speech

26. en dash
nominative
technical language - don't use
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
separate numbers

27. Noun strings
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
used for direct and indirect objects

28. Max sentence length
limits meaning of sentence
3
typical - normal everyday headline
25 words

29. Smother verbs
short headline - really big - draws attention
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
make sure lists have same type of speech
hiding verb as another part of speech

30. Jargon

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31. Use commas with (what words)
go above main headline
hiding verb as another part of speech
FANBOYS
limits meaning of sentence

32. Antecedent
25 words
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
what pronoun refers to
never

33. Restrictive modifier
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
never
limits meaning of sentence
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

34. Smother verb (example)
make sure lists have same type of speech
Make decision = decide
technical language - don't use
separate numbers

35. Headline rules

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36. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
hiding verb as another part of speech
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

37. Nominative case
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
3
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
nominative

38. Kicker heads
hiding verb as another part of speech
go above main headline
linking verb and past participle
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

39. Functions of headline

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