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. Use of he/she
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
typical - normal everyday headline
hiding verb as another part of speech
never

2. How to break sentence
straight news stories
hiding verb as another part of speech
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

3. Hammer head
short headline - really big - draws attention
restrictive clause
make sure lists have same type of speech
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

4. Kicker heads
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
go above main headline
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

5. Four rules of subjunctive case
Make decision = decide
used for direct and indirect objects
linking verb and past participle
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

6. en dash
separate numbers
appears to left of story
make sure lists have same type of speech
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

7. Dangling modifiers
25 words
objective
linking verb and past participle
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

8. Whom - Him/her
separate numbers
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
objective

9. Squinting modifiers
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
used as modifying
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

10. That
nominative
linking verb and past participle
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
restrictive clause

11. Max sentence length
go above main headline
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
grabs readers' attention
25 words

12. Who - He/she
nominative
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
used as modifying
what pronoun refers to

13. Antecedent
limits meaning of sentence
never
what pronoun refers to
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

14. Jargon

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15. Noun strings
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

16. Hints something needs editing
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
limits meaning of sentence
used as modifying
linking verb and past participle

17. Side-saddle head
linking verb and past participle
used as modifying
3
appears to left of story

18. Objective case
used for direct and indirect objects
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
hiding verb as another part of speech
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

19. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
straight news stories
limits meaning of sentence
separate numbers

20. Nominative case
nominative
used for direct and indirect objects
typical - normal everyday headline
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

21. Parallel structure
restrictive clause
make sure lists have same type of speech
nominative
kicker head without a verb

22. Functions of headline

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23. Commas replace (headlines)
and
never
FANBOYS
set off phrase usually set off by commas

24. em dash
3
hookers - lookers
set off phrase usually set off by commas
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

25. Headline rules

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26. Nonrestrictive modifier
used for direct and indirect objects
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
nominative

27. Drop heads
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
kicker head without a verb
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

28. Hookers

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29. Types of headlines
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
what pronoun refers to
hookers - lookers
grabs readers' attention

30. Smother verbs
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
hiding verb as another part of speech
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
go above main headline

31. Label head
kicker head without a verb
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

32. Passive voice
linking verb and past participle
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
make sure lists have same type of speech
nominative

33. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
set off phrase usually set off by commas
3
typical - normal everyday headline
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

34. Lookers
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
objective
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
straight news stories

35. Possessive case
straight news stories
go above main headline
used as modifying
limits meaning of sentence

36. Use commas with (what words)
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
FANBOYS
short headline - really big - draws attention
go above main headline

37. Restrictive modifier
go above main headline
straight news stories
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
limits meaning of sentence

38. Smother verb (example)
and
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
Make decision = decide
FANBOYS

39. Straightforward headline
hiding verb as another part of speech
typical - normal everyday headline
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
set off phrase usually set off by commas