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. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
typical - normal everyday headline
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
and
limits meaning of sentence

2. Noun strings
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
never
typical - normal everyday headline
hiding verb as another part of speech

3. Use commas with (what words)
FANBOYS
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
make sure lists have same type of speech
technical language - don't use

4. Nominative case
and
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
hiding verb as another part of speech
straight news stories

5. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
and
objective
3

6. em dash
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
go above main headline
linking verb and past participle
set off phrase usually set off by commas

7. Objective case
restrictive clause
used for direct and indirect objects
limits meaning of sentence
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

8. Side-saddle head
appears to left of story
and
3
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

9. Nonrestrictive modifier
set off phrase usually set off by commas
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
FANBOYS
25 words

10. Hookers

11. Label head
kicker head without a verb
grabs readers' attention
technical language - don't use
make sure lists have same type of speech

12. Max sentence length
restrictive clause
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
25 words
FANBOYS

13. Restrictive modifier
kicker head without a verb
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
straight news stories
limits meaning of sentence

14. That
hookers - lookers
make sure lists have same type of speech
restrictive clause
set off phrase usually set off by commas

15. Functions of headline

16. Hammer head
short headline - really big - draws attention
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
3
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

17. en dash
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
straight news stories
separate numbers
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

18. Possessive case
used as modifying
make sure lists have same type of speech
objective
25 words

19. Squinting modifiers
make sure lists have same type of speech
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
appears to left of story

20. Use of he/she
linking verb and past participle
restrictive clause
never
short headline - really big - draws attention

21. Who - He/she
nominative
25 words
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
grabs readers' attention

22. Smother verb (example)
hiding verb as another part of speech
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
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
Make decision = decide

23. Headline rules

24. Smother verbs
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
hiding verb as another part of speech
objective
3

25. Straightforward headline
typical - normal everyday headline
restrictive clause
nominative
set off phrase usually set off by commas

26. Four rules of subjunctive case
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
kicker head without a verb
Make decision = decide
never

27. Kicker heads
go above main headline
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
nominative
hookers - lookers

28. Drop heads
25 words
set off phrase usually set off by commas
short headline - really big - draws attention
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

29. Dangling modifiers
short headline - really big - draws attention
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
kicker head without a verb
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

30. Types of headlines
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
25 words
Make decision = decide
hookers - lookers

31. Commas replace (headlines)
hookers - lookers
technical language - don't use
and
never

32. Whom - Him/her
hiding verb as another part of speech
objective
used as modifying
separate numbers

33. Passive voice
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
linking verb and past participle
and
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

34. Antecedent
what pronoun refers to
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
make sure lists have same type of speech

35. Hints something needs editing
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
kicker head without a verb
Make decision = decide
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

36. Jargon

37. How to break sentence
go above main headline
hiding verb as another part of speech
what pronoun refers to
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

38. Lookers
straight news stories
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
3
FANBOYS

39. Parallel structure
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
what pronoun refers to
make sure lists have same type of speech
objective