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. Label head
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
kicker head without a verb
FANBOYS
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

2. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
grabs readers' attention
used as modifying
linking verb and past participle

3. Use commas with (what words)
FANBOYS
set off phrase usually set off by commas
limits meaning of sentence
separate numbers

4. Hints something needs editing
never
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
separate numbers
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

5. Hookers

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6. Parallel structure
make sure lists have same type of speech
short headline - really big - draws attention
technical language - don't use
hookers - lookers

7. Hammer head
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
used as modifying
short headline - really big - draws attention
linking verb and past participle

8. Squinting modifiers
restrictive clause
Make decision = decide
short headline - really big - draws attention
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

9. Use of he/she
short headline - really big - draws attention
never
limits meaning of sentence
used as modifying

10. Commas replace (headlines)
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
linking verb and past participle
hookers - lookers
and

11. Who - He/she
make sure lists have same type of speech
nominative
grabs readers' attention
25 words

12. Headline rules

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13. Whom - Him/her
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
objective
nominative
kicker head without a verb

14. Smother verbs
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
limits meaning of sentence
make sure lists have same type of speech
hiding verb as another part of speech

15. Nominative case
Make decision = decide
separate numbers
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

16. Objective case
hiding verb as another part of speech
used for direct and indirect objects
and
Make decision = decide

17. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
3
appears to left of story
limits meaning of sentence

18. Drop heads
used for direct and indirect objects
kicker head without a verb
FANBOYS
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

19. Functions of headline

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20. Jargon

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21. en dash
separate numbers
appears to left of story
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
FANBOYS

22. Kicker heads
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
kicker head without a verb
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
go above main headline

23. Nonrestrictive modifier
straight news stories
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
restrictive clause
kicker head without a verb

24. Antecedent
typical - normal everyday headline
separate numbers
hiding verb as another part of speech
what pronoun refers to

25. 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
straight news stories
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
Make decision = decide

26. Side-saddle head
appears to left of story
what pronoun refers to
hiding verb as another part of speech
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

27. Possessive case
set off phrase usually set off by commas
used as modifying
typical - normal everyday headline
used for direct and indirect objects

28. em dash
set off phrase usually set off by commas
3
what pronoun refers to
never

29. Straightforward headline
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
separate numbers
typical - normal everyday headline

30. Restrictive modifier
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
25 words
Make decision = decide
limits meaning of sentence

31. Dangling modifiers
never
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
kicker head without a verb

32. Max sentence length
straight news stories
25 words
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
grabs readers' attention

33. Four rules of subjunctive case
technical language - don't use
and
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
appears to left of story

34. That
typical - normal everyday headline
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
restrictive clause
never

35. Types of headlines
FANBOYS
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
hookers - lookers
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

36. Noun strings
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
set off phrase usually set off by commas
FANBOYS
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

37. Passive voice
short headline - really big - draws attention
linking verb and past participle
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
never

38. Lookers
grabs readers' attention
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
straight news stories
used for direct and indirect objects

39. How to break sentence
nominative
FANBOYS
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver