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. Lookers
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
straight news stories
objective
typical - normal everyday headline

2. Squinting modifiers
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
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
never

3. Passive voice
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
used as modifying
never
linking verb and past participle

4. Side-saddle head
set off phrase usually set off by commas
appears to left of story
what pronoun refers to
linking verb and past participle

5. That
set off phrase usually set off by commas
restrictive clause
hiding verb as another part of speech
objective

6. Smother verb (example)
appears to left of story
Make decision = decide
used as modifying
grabs readers' attention

7. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
25 words
restrictive clause
never
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

8. Commas replace (headlines)
make sure lists have same type of speech
short headline - really big - draws attention
and
hookers - lookers

9. Functions of headline

10. Hints something needs editing
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
and
used for direct and indirect objects
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

11. Drop heads
what pronoun refers to
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
separate numbers
and

12. Use commas with (what words)
3
FANBOYS
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
never

13. Restrictive modifier
grabs readers' attention
limits meaning of sentence
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
3

14. Possessive case
used as modifying
hookers - lookers
3
short headline - really big - draws attention

15. Objective case
hookers - lookers
straight news stories
used for direct and indirect objects
short headline - really big - draws attention

16. Whom - Him/her
and
nominative
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
objective

17. Four rules of subjunctive case
what pronoun refers to
Make decision = decide
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

18. Smother verbs
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
hiding verb as another part of speech
what pronoun refers to
and

19. Jargon

20. How to break sentence
what pronoun refers to
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
25 words
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

21. en dash
separate numbers
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
objective

22. Antecedent
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
what pronoun refers to
short headline - really big - draws attention
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

23. Noun strings
limits meaning of sentence
restrictive clause
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
set off phrase usually set off by commas

24. Label head
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
kicker head without a verb
typical - normal everyday headline
appears to left of story

25. Who - He/she
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
typical - normal everyday headline
nominative

26. Types of headlines
hookers - lookers
appears to left of story
used for direct and indirect objects
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

27. Straightforward headline
hiding verb as another part of speech
typical - normal everyday headline
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
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

28. Dangling modifiers
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
short headline - really big - draws attention
25 words

29. Hammer head
used for direct and indirect objects
set off phrase usually set off by commas
short headline - really big - draws attention
separate numbers

30. Max sentence length
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
25 words
and
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

31. Use of he/she
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
never

32. Hookers

33. Kicker heads
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
go above main headline
separate numbers
what pronoun refers to

34. Headline rules

35. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
25 words
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
3

36. Parallel structure
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
make sure lists have same type of speech
linking verb and past participle
FANBOYS

37. em dash
restrictive clause
set off phrase usually set off by commas
technical language - don't use
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

38. Nominative case
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
go above main headline
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

39. Nonrestrictive modifier
grabs readers' attention
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas