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. Smother verbs
go above main headline
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
3
hiding verb as another part of speech

2. Whom - Him/her
objective
limits meaning of sentence
FANBOYS
technical language - don't use

3. Hookers

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183

4. Jargon

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183

5. Commas replace (headlines)
and
nominative
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

6. Lookers
grabs readers' attention
straight news stories
short headline - really big - draws attention
objective

7. Label head
FANBOYS
3
kicker head without a verb
what pronoun refers to

8. Squinting modifiers
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
25 words
nominative

9. Objective case
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
hookers - lookers
used for direct and indirect objects
technical language - don't use

10. Types of headlines
hookers - lookers
what pronoun refers to
make sure lists have same type of speech
kicker head without a verb

11. en dash
25 words
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
kicker head without a verb
separate numbers

12. em dash
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
set off phrase usually set off by commas
hiding verb as another part of speech

13. Use commas with (what words)
objective
FANBOYS
typical - normal everyday headline
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

14. Nominative case
grabs readers' attention
and
hookers - lookers
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

15. Kicker heads
and
kicker head without a verb
what pronoun refers to
go above main headline

16. Straightforward headline
typical - normal everyday headline
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
hookers - lookers
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

17. Four rules of subjunctive case
what pronoun refers to
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

18. That
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
linking verb and past participle
restrictive clause
grabs readers' attention

19. Hints something needs editing
separate numbers
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
short headline - really big - draws attention
hookers - lookers

20. Max sentence length
nominative
25 words
separate numbers
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

21. Hammer head
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
FANBOYS
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
short headline - really big - draws attention

22. Dangling modifiers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
separate numbers
25 words
linking verb and past participle

23. Antecedent
25 words
used for direct and indirect objects
3
what pronoun refers to

24. Noun strings
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
hiding verb as another part of speech
what pronoun refers to
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

25. Smother verb (example)
separate numbers
technical language - don't use
hookers - lookers
Make decision = decide

26. Parallel structure
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
appears to left of story
make sure lists have same type of speech
and

27. Passive voice
limits meaning of sentence
go above main headline
linking verb and past participle
set off phrase usually set off by commas

28. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
3
technical language - don't use
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
FANBOYS

29. Nonrestrictive modifier
FANBOYS
go above main headline
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
and

30. Headline rules

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183

31. Possessive case
make sure lists have same type of speech
hiding verb as another part of speech
linking verb and past participle
used as modifying

32. Side-saddle head
objective
go above main headline
appears to left of story
used as modifying

33. How to break sentence
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
straight news stories
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
used as modifying

34. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
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
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
limits meaning of sentence
straight news stories

35. Functions of headline

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183

36. Drop heads
make sure lists have same type of speech
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
25 words
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

37. Who - He/she
nominative
what pronoun refers to
appears to left of story
3

38. Restrictive modifier
limits meaning of sentence
restrictive clause
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
objective

39. Use of he/she
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
never
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
make sure lists have same type of speech