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. Kicker heads
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
linking verb and past participle
nominative
go above main headline

2. Functions of headline

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3. Parallel structure
Make decision = decide
restrictive clause
make sure lists have same type of speech
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

4. Who - He/she
25 words
FANBOYS
kicker head without a verb
nominative

5. Restrictive modifier
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
hiding verb as another part of speech
kicker head without a verb

6. Hints something needs editing
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
straight news stories
appears to left of story
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

7. Squinting modifiers
appears to left of story
FANBOYS
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
used for direct and indirect objects

8. Use commas with (what words)
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
FANBOYS
used as modifying
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

9. Use of he/she
never
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
linking verb and past participle
straight news stories

10. Headline rules

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11. Drop heads
make sure lists have same type of speech
25 words
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
short headline - really big - draws attention

12. Passive voice
kicker head without a verb
objective
linking verb and past participle
3

13. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
set off phrase usually set off by commas
3

14. That
used as modifying
typical - normal everyday headline
FANBOYS
restrictive clause

15. Hookers

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16. Nonrestrictive modifier
hiding verb as another part of speech
set off phrase usually set off by commas
objective
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

17. Max sentence length
3
kicker head without a verb
25 words
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

18. Objective case
FANBOYS
used for direct and indirect objects
25 words
nominative

19. em dash
FANBOYS
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
objective
set off phrase usually set off by commas

20. Smother verb (example)
objective
restrictive clause
Make decision = decide
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

21. Noun strings
short headline - really big - draws attention
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
hookers - lookers

22. Possessive case
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
used as modifying
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

23. Nominative case
Make decision = decide
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
set off phrase usually set off by commas
technical language - don't use

24. Commas replace (headlines)
never
and
FANBOYS
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

25. Straightforward headline
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
hookers - lookers
typical - normal everyday headline
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

26. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
separate numbers
straight news stories
set off phrase usually set off by commas

27. Antecedent
25 words
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
what pronoun refers to

28. Lookers
go above main headline
straight news stories
linking verb and past participle
restrictive clause

29. Side-saddle head
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
hookers - lookers
appears to left of story
set off phrase usually set off by commas

30. Label head
kicker head without a verb
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
Make decision = decide

31. Types of headlines
grabs readers' attention
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
hookers - lookers
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

32. Whom - Him/her
objective
separate numbers
grabs readers' attention
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

33. Hammer head
short headline - really big - draws attention
limits meaning of sentence
hiding verb as another part of speech
never

34. Smother verbs
restrictive clause
hiding verb as another part of speech
linking verb and past participle
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

35. Jargon

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36. How to break sentence
go above main headline
used as modifying
limits meaning of sentence
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

37. Four rules of subjunctive case
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
appears to left of story
straight news stories

38. en dash
linking verb and past participle
separate numbers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
make sure lists have same type of speech

39. Dangling modifiers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
straight news stories
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
hiding verb as another part of speech