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. Max sentence length
appears to left of story
25 words
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

2. em dash
3
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
set off phrase usually set off by commas
straight news stories

3. Nonrestrictive modifier
appears to left of story
straight news stories
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
Make decision = decide

4. Drop heads
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
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
grabs readers' attention

5. Functions of headline

6. Kicker heads
hiding verb as another part of speech
Make decision = decide
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
go above main headline

7. en dash
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
separate numbers
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

8. Types of headlines
FANBOYS
objective
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
hookers - lookers

9. How to break sentence
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
25 words
restrictive clause
straight news stories

10. Squinting modifiers
FANBOYS
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
make sure lists have same type of speech

11. Use of he/she
hookers - lookers
nominative
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
never

12. Nominative case
Make decision = decide
restrictive clause
limits meaning of sentence
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

13. Dangling modifiers
go above main headline
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
separate numbers
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

14. Jargon

15. Straightforward headline
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
short headline - really big - draws attention
objective
typical - normal everyday headline

16. That
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
make sure lists have same type of speech
restrictive clause
objective

17. Headline rules

18. Smother verb (example)
Make decision = decide
linking verb and past participle
hookers - lookers
kicker head without a verb

19. Antecedent
make sure lists have same type of speech
linking verb and past participle
what pronoun refers to
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

20. Possessive case
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
make sure lists have same type of speech
what pronoun refers to
used as modifying

21. Hammer head
short headline - really big - draws attention
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
hookers - lookers
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

22. Label head
kicker head without a verb
go above main headline
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
25 words

23. Whom - Him/her
straight news stories
objective
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

24. Noun strings
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
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
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

25. Restrictive modifier
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
restrictive clause
limits meaning of sentence
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

26. Commas replace (headlines)
separate numbers
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
and
Make decision = decide

27. Hints something needs editing
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
used as modifying
appears to left of story
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

28. Lookers
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
grabs readers' attention
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
straight news stories

29. Objective case
hookers - lookers
technical language - don't use
used for direct and indirect objects
FANBOYS

30. Hookers

31. Parallel structure
separate numbers
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
make sure lists have same type of speech

32. Four rules of subjunctive case
used as modifying
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
never
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

33. Side-saddle head
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
appears to left of story
nominative
hookers - lookers

34. Smother verbs
hiding verb as another part of speech
short headline - really big - draws attention
objective
limits meaning of sentence

35. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
limits meaning of sentence
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
3
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

36. Who - He/she
restrictive clause
go above main headline
short headline - really big - draws attention
nominative

37. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
25 words
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
straight news stories
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

38. Use commas with (what words)
typical - normal everyday headline
FANBOYS
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
hookers - lookers

39. Passive voice
used as modifying
linking verb and past participle
restrictive clause
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver