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. That
3
objective
limits meaning of sentence
restrictive clause

2. Parallel structure
and
3
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
make sure lists have same type of speech
hookers - lookers
limits meaning of sentence
Make decision = decide

4. Straightforward headline
short headline - really big - draws attention
typical - normal everyday headline
grabs readers' attention
appears to left of story

5. Lookers
grabs readers' attention
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
hookers - lookers
straight news stories

6. en dash
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
set off phrase usually set off by commas
separate numbers
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

7. Jargon

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8. em dash
go above main headline
hiding verb as another part of speech
set off phrase usually set off by commas
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

9. Label head
hookers - lookers
linking verb and past participle
technical language - don't use
kicker head without a verb

10. Four rules of subjunctive case
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
short headline - really big - draws attention
set off phrase usually set off by commas
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

11. Possessive case
used as modifying
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
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
limits meaning of sentence

12. Passive voice
3
kicker head without a verb
make sure lists have same type of speech
linking verb and past participle

13. Hammer head
grabs readers' attention
25 words
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
short headline - really big - draws attention

14. Restrictive modifier
technical language - don't use
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
used as modifying
limits meaning of sentence

15. How to break sentence
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
limits meaning of sentence
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
grabs readers' attention

16. Functions of headline

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17. Hints something needs editing
used for direct and indirect objects
straight news stories
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
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

18. Headline rules

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19. Smother verb (example)
Make decision = decide
appears to left of story
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
FANBOYS

20. Antecedent
linking verb and past participle
Make decision = decide
and
what pronoun refers to

21. Nominative case
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
restrictive clause
kicker head without a verb
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

22. Whom - Him/her
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
3
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
objective

23. Who - He/she
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
nominative
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

24. Hookers

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25. Commas replace (headlines)
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
separate numbers
and
3

26. Use commas with (what words)
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
FANBOYS
hiding verb as another part of speech

27. Use of he/she
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
short headline - really big - draws attention
FANBOYS
never

28. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
grabs readers' attention
set off phrase usually set off by commas
and
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

29. Noun strings
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
Make decision = decide
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

30. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
FANBOYS
3
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

31. Drop heads
short headline - really big - draws attention
make sure lists have same type of speech
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

32. Side-saddle head
Make decision = decide
make sure lists have same type of speech
appears to left of story
nominative

33. Squinting modifiers
restrictive clause
straight news stories
go above main headline
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

34. Smother verbs
hiding verb as another part of speech
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

35. Max sentence length
linking verb and past participle
25 words
make sure lists have same type of speech
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

36. Kicker heads
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
go above main headline
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
appears to left of story

37. Objective case
linking verb and past participle
used for direct and indirect objects
appears to left of story
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

38. Dangling modifiers
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
what pronoun refers to
25 words
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

39. Nonrestrictive modifier
appears to left of story
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
technical language - don't use
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas