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. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
3
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
go above main headline
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

2. Use of he/she
grabs readers' attention
restrictive clause
typical - normal everyday headline
never

3. Objective case
set off phrase usually set off by commas
used for direct and indirect objects
nominative
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

4. Dangling modifiers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
used for direct and indirect objects
typical - normal everyday headline
grabs readers' attention

5. Antecedent
3
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
make sure lists have same type of speech
what pronoun refers to

6. Passive voice
used for direct and indirect objects
make sure lists have same type of speech
linking verb and past participle
grabs readers' attention

7. Restrictive modifier
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
limits meaning of sentence
appears to left of story

8. That
restrictive clause
linking verb and past participle
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
25 words

9. em dash
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
set off phrase usually set off by commas
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
linking verb and past participle

10. Who - He/she
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
linking verb and past participle
nominative

11. Straightforward headline
typical - normal everyday headline
FANBOYS
grabs readers' attention
never

12. Hookers

13. Smother verbs
technical language - don't use
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
restrictive clause
hiding verb as another part of speech

14. Possessive case
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
linking verb and past participle
used as modifying
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

15. Lookers
short headline - really big - draws attention
hiding verb as another part of speech
appears to left of story
straight news stories

16. Hammer head
short headline - really big - draws attention
technical language - don't use
objective
typical - normal everyday headline

17. Use commas with (what words)
3
FANBOYS
hookers - lookers
technical language - don't use

18. 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
grabs readers' attention
objective
Make decision = decide

19. Four rules of subjunctive case
straight news stories
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
3
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

20. Jargon

21. Headline rules

22. Kicker heads
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
grabs readers' attention
go above main headline

23. Types of headlines
hookers - lookers
hiding verb as another part of speech
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
25 words

24. Side-saddle head
appears to left of story
hiding verb as another part of speech
linking verb and past participle
FANBOYS

25. Hints something needs editing
go above main headline
and
used for direct and indirect objects
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

26. Commas replace (headlines)
restrictive clause
what pronoun refers to
and
kicker head without a verb

27. Whom - Him/her
objective
used for direct and indirect objects
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

28. Parallel structure
make sure lists have same type of speech
short headline - really big - draws attention
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
used as modifying

29. Max sentence length
and
25 words
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
FANBOYS

30. How to break sentence
used as modifying
used for direct and indirect objects
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
hiding verb as another part of speech

31. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
set off phrase usually set off by commas
objective
grabs readers' attention
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

32. Nominative case
hiding verb as another part of speech
hookers - lookers
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

33. Label head
straight news stories
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
kicker head without a verb
Make decision = decide

34. en dash
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
technical language - don't use
nominative
separate numbers

35. Noun strings
3
make sure lists have same type of speech
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
used as modifying

36. Squinting modifiers
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
straight news stories
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

37. Drop heads
short headline - really big - draws attention
used for direct and indirect objects
hiding verb as another part of speech
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

38. Nonrestrictive modifier
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
kicker head without a verb

39. Functions of headline