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. Possessive case
used as modifying
hiding verb as another part of speech
appears to left of story
nominative

2. Smother verbs
technical language - don't use
hiding verb as another part of speech
used for direct and indirect objects
straight news stories

3. Label head
kicker head without a verb
Make decision = decide
grabs readers' attention
set off phrase usually set off by commas

4. Antecedent
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
what pronoun refers to
linking verb and past participle
separate numbers

5. How to break sentence
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
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
linking verb and past participle
technical language - don't use

6. Passive voice
linking verb and past participle
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
limits meaning of sentence
technical language - don't use

7. Hammer head
go above main headline
short headline - really big - draws attention
set off phrase usually set off by commas
linking verb and past participle

8. Noun strings
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
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
hiding verb as another part of speech

9. Max sentence length
25 words
objective
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
nominative

10. Nominative case
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
straight news stories
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
go above main headline

11. Drop heads
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
set off phrase usually set off by commas
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

12. Whom - Him/her
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
objective
25 words

13. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
short headline - really big - draws attention
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

14. 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
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
never
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

15. Objective case
and
used for direct and indirect objects
Make decision = decide
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

16. Types of headlines
what pronoun refers to
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
hookers - lookers
25 words

17. Kicker heads
go above main headline
nominative
hiding verb as another part of speech
used as modifying

18. Nonrestrictive modifier
technical language - don't use
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
restrictive clause
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

19. Lookers
used for direct and indirect objects
straight news stories
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
and

20. Parallel structure
hiding verb as another part of speech
make sure lists have same type of speech
go above main headline
restrictive clause

21. Restrictive modifier
go above main headline
limits meaning of sentence
nominative
and

22. Functions of headline

23. Headline rules

24. Dangling modifiers
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
typical - normal everyday headline
go above main headline

25. en dash
separate numbers
technical language - don't use
set off phrase usually 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

26. Who - He/she
what pronoun refers to
nominative
grabs readers' attention
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

27. Squinting modifiers
Make decision = decide
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
and
used as modifying

28. Side-saddle head
appears to left of story
objective
what pronoun refers to
3

29. Four rules of subjunctive case
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
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. Straightforward headline
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
grabs readers' attention
and
typical - normal everyday headline

31. That
FANBOYS
used as modifying
never
restrictive clause

32. Use commas with (what words)
limits meaning of sentence
FANBOYS
appears to left of story
hookers - lookers

33. em dash
what pronoun refers to
25 words
set off phrase usually set off by commas
limits meaning of sentence

34. Smother verb (example)
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
Make decision = decide
and
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

35. Commas replace (headlines)
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
and
grabs readers' attention
restrictive clause

36. Hints something needs editing
set off phrase usually set off by commas
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
separate numbers

37. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
used as modifying
Make decision = decide
3
hookers - lookers

38. Hookers

39. Jargon