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. Antecedent
used as modifying
kicker head without a verb
FANBOYS
what pronoun refers to

2. Use commas with (what words)
FANBOYS
objective
go above main headline
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

3. Drop heads
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
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
never

4. Four rules of subjunctive case
hookers - lookers
linking verb and past participle
limits meaning of sentence
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

5. Hammer head
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
kicker head without a verb
short headline - really big - draws attention
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

6. Possessive case
objective
technical language - don't use
set off phrase usually set off by commas
used as modifying

7. Side-saddle head
25 words
appears to left of story
hookers - lookers
restrictive clause

8. Lookers
make sure lists have same type of speech
straight news stories
nominative
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

9. Types of headlines
go above main headline
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
3
hookers - lookers

10. That
restrictive clause
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
hookers - lookers
objective

11. How to break sentence
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
hiding verb as another part of speech
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

12. em dash
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
grabs readers' attention
limits meaning of sentence
set off phrase usually set off by commas

13. en dash
limits meaning of sentence
set off phrase usually set off by commas
nominative
separate numbers

14. Hookers

15. Jargon

16. Straightforward 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
short headline - really big - draws attention
typical - normal everyday headline
go above main headline

17. Functions of headline

18. Dangling modifiers
grabs readers' attention
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
used for direct and indirect objects
separate numbers

19. Passive voice
straight news stories
what pronoun refers to
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
linking verb and past participle

20. Restrictive modifier
limits meaning of sentence
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
objective

21. Who - He/she
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
used for direct and indirect objects
nominative

22. Nonrestrictive modifier
appears to left of story
typical - normal everyday headline
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
used as modifying

23. Nominative case
kicker head without a verb
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
set off phrase usually set off by commas
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

24. Label head
kicker head without a verb
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
typical - normal everyday headline

25. Headline rules

26. Kicker heads
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
go above main headline
appears to left of story
and

27. Max sentence length
FANBOYS
kicker head without a verb
25 words
limits meaning of sentence

28. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
3
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
go above main headline
kicker head without a verb

29. Smother verbs
hiding verb as another part of speech
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
25 words
never

30. Commas replace (headlines)
3
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
and
what pronoun refers to

31. Smother verb (example)
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
short headline - really big - draws attention
Make decision = decide
objective

32. Hints something needs editing
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
what pronoun refers to
used as modifying

33. Noun strings
hiding verb as another part of speech
typical - normal everyday headline
separate numbers
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

34. Use of he/she
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
never
limits meaning of sentence
3

35. Objective case
short headline - really big - draws 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
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

36. Parallel structure
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
make sure lists have same type of speech
technical language - don't use
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

37. Squinting modifiers
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
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
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

38. Whom - Him/her
3
never
objective
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

39. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
hookers - lookers