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. Use of he/she
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
25 words
make sure lists have same type of speech
never

2. How to break sentence
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
hookers - lookers
go above main headline

3. Straightforward headline
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
Make decision = decide
restrictive clause
typical - normal everyday headline

4. Who - He/she
straight news stories
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
nominative
set off phrase usually set off by commas

5. Lookers
straight news stories
kicker head without a verb
restrictive clause
never

6. Smother verbs
hiding verb as another part of speech
what pronoun refers to
hookers - lookers
linking verb and past participle

7. Parallel structure
hiding verb as another part of speech
make sure lists have same type of speech
what pronoun refers to
hookers - lookers

8. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
straight news stories
3
what pronoun refers to

9. Hints something needs editing
set off phrase usually set off by commas
typical - normal everyday headline
what pronoun refers to
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

10. Drop heads
straight news stories
separate numbers
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

11. Four rules of subjunctive case
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
hiding verb as another part of speech
go above main headline
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

12. Restrictive modifier
set off phrase usually set off by commas
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
Make decision = decide
limits meaning of sentence

13. Hammer head
short headline - really big - draws attention
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
grabs readers' attention

14. Antecedent
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
nominative
hookers - lookers
what pronoun refers to

15. Objective case
short headline - really big - draws attention
grabs readers' attention
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
used for direct and indirect objects

16. Use commas with (what words)
technical language - don't use
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
FANBOYS
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

17. Smother verb (example)
technical language - don't use
Make decision = decide
typical - normal everyday headline
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

18. Headline rules

19. That
restrictive clause
typical - normal everyday headline
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
straight news stories

20. Whom - Him/her
restrictive clause
used as modifying
limits meaning of sentence
objective

21. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
restrictive clause
Make decision = decide
nominative

22. em dash
grabs readers' attention
Make decision = decide
set off phrase usually set off by commas
restrictive clause

23. Hookers

24. en dash
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
make sure lists have same type of speech
appears to left of story
separate numbers

25. Dangling modifiers
nominative
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
linking verb and past participle
and

26. Nominative case
go above main headline
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
technical language - don't use
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

27. Functions of headline

28. Side-saddle head
linking verb and past participle
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
appears to left of story

29. Possessive case
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
3
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
used as modifying

30. Commas replace (headlines)
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
make sure lists have same type of speech
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
and

31. Nonrestrictive modifier
25 words
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
nominative
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

32. Kicker heads
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
go above main headline
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
make sure lists have same type of speech

33. Noun strings
used as modifying
hookers - lookers
nominative
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

34. Max sentence length
25 words
limits meaning of sentence
linking verb and past participle
never

35. Label head
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
kicker head without a verb
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
restrictive clause

36. Squinting modifiers
used for direct and indirect objects
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
go above main headline
make sure lists have same type of speech

37. Passive voice
used as modifying
25 words
linking verb and past participle
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

38. Jargon

39. Types of headlines
and
kicker head without a verb
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
hookers - lookers