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
go above main headline
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
short headline - really big - draws attention
hiding verb as another part of speech

2. en dash
3
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
separate numbers
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

3. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
3

4. That
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
grabs readers' attention
restrictive clause
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

5. Possessive case
nominative
make sure lists have same type of speech
used as modifying
3

6. em dash
typical - normal everyday headline
make sure lists have same type of speech
never
set off phrase usually set off by commas

7. Hammer head
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
short headline - really big - draws attention
what pronoun refers to

8. Objective case
short headline - really big - draws attention
set off phrase usually set off by commas
used for direct and indirect objects
go above main headline

9. Types of headlines
hookers - lookers
nominative
Make decision = decide
used as modifying

10. Passive voice
kicker head without a verb
linking verb and past participle
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

11. Headline rules

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12. Label head
go above main headline
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
kicker head without a verb
25 words

13. Nonrestrictive modifier
typical - normal everyday headline
go above main headline
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
Make decision = decide

14. Whom - Him/her
straight news stories
grabs readers' attention
objective
used for direct and indirect objects

15. Commas replace (headlines)
hookers - lookers
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
kicker head without a verb
and

16. Smother verbs
straight news stories
25 words
hiding verb as another part of speech
appears to left of story

17. Parallel structure
make sure lists have same type of speech
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
nominative

18. Restrictive modifier
separate numbers
hiding verb as another part of speech
3
limits meaning of sentence

19. Functions of headline

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20. Lookers
go above main headline
straight news stories
grabs readers' attention
hookers - lookers

21. Smother verb (example)
nominative
go above main headline
grabs readers' attention
Make decision = decide

22. Squinting modifiers
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
appears to left of story
restrictive clause
linking verb and past participle

23. Who - He/she
linking verb and past participle
separate numbers
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
nominative

24. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
separate numbers
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
short headline - really big - draws attention

25. Use commas with (what words)
hookers - lookers
kicker head without a verb
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
FANBOYS

26. Jargon

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27. Noun strings
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
hookers - lookers
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
kicker head without a verb

28. How to break sentence
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
typical - normal everyday headline
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
25 words

29. Use of he/she
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
never
short headline - really big - draws attention
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

30. Nominative case
make sure lists have same type of speech
what pronoun refers to
Make decision = decide
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

31. Four rules of subjunctive case
never
short headline - really big - draws attention
technical language - don't use
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

32. Dangling modifiers
separate numbers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
hookers - lookers
grabs readers' attention

33. Hints something needs editing
restrictive clause
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
what pronoun refers to
appears to left of story

34. Straightforward headline
restrictive clause
hookers - lookers
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
typical - normal everyday headline

35. Max sentence length
25 words
appears to left of story
go above main headline
restrictive clause

36. Side-saddle head
appears to left of story
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
kicker head without a verb
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

37. Drop heads
set off phrase usually set off by commas
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
short headline - really big - draws attention
Make decision = decide

38. Hookers

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39. Antecedent
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
typical - normal everyday headline
straight news stories
what pronoun refers to