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. Headline rules

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2. Hints something needs editing
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
appears to left of story
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
kicker head without a verb

3. Straightforward headline
Make decision = decide
used as modifying
typical - normal everyday headline
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

4. Smother verb (example)
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
Make decision = decide
grabs readers' attention
separate numbers

5. Who - He/she
25 words
appears to left of story
nominative
used for direct and indirect objects

6. Jargon

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7. Dangling modifiers
hookers - lookers
used as modifying
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

8. Restrictive modifier
limits meaning of sentence
appears to left of story
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
used for direct and indirect objects

9. Max sentence length
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
set off phrase usually set off by commas
25 words
linking verb and past participle

10. How to break sentence
hiding verb as another part of speech
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
used for direct and indirect objects
Make decision = decide

11. That
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
appears to left of story
restrictive clause
FANBOYS

12. Four rules of subjunctive case
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
used for direct and indirect objects

13. Hookers

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14. Whom - Him/her
Make decision = decide
used for direct and indirect objects
FANBOYS
objective

15. Types of headlines
hookers - lookers
set off phrase usually set off by commas
linking verb and past participle
make sure lists have same type of speech

16. Label head
kicker head without a verb
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
25 words
used for direct and indirect objects

17. Nonrestrictive modifier
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
Make decision = decide
and
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

18. Passive voice
what pronoun refers to
grabs readers' attention
linking verb and past participle
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

19. Functions of headline

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20. Lookers
3
straight news stories
make sure lists have same type of speech
technical language - don't use

21. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
grabs readers' attention
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
hookers - lookers
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

22. Use commas with (what words)
set off phrase usually set off by commas
go above main headline
technical language - don't use
FANBOYS

23. Antecedent
used as modifying
go above main headline
nominative
what pronoun refers to

24. Hammer head
grabs readers' attention
and
technical language - don't use
short headline - really big - draws attention

25. Smother verbs
and
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
hiding verb as another part of speech
appears to left of story

26. Nominative case
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
technical language - don't use
kicker head without a verb
hookers - lookers

27. Parallel structure
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
go above main headline
make sure lists have same type of speech
25 words

28. Side-saddle head
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
used for direct and indirect objects
never
appears to left of story

29. Objective case
used for direct and indirect objects
25 words
never
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

30. Possessive case
and
grabs readers' attention
used as modifying
go above main headline

31. Kicker heads
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
go above main headline
nominative
typical - normal everyday headline

32. en dash
separate numbers
make sure lists have same type of speech
linking verb and past participle
typical - normal everyday headline

33. Drop heads
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

34. Noun strings
used for direct and indirect objects
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
appears to left of story

35. Squinting modifiers
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
restrictive clause
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

36. em dash
make sure lists have same type of speech
grabs readers' attention
hiding verb as another part of speech
set off phrase usually set off by commas

37. Commas replace (headlines)
and
Make decision = decide
go above main headline
limits meaning of sentence

38. Use of he/she
kicker head without a verb
never
hookers - lookers
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

39. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
kicker head without a verb
3
never