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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. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
used as modifying
set off phrase usually set off by commas

2. Use of he/she
FANBOYS
linking verb and past participle
never
nominative

3. em dash
set off phrase usually set off by commas
and
25 words
grabs readers' attention

4. Smother verbs
hiding verb as another part of speech
kicker head without a verb
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
used for direct and indirect objects

5. How to break sentence
typical - normal everyday headline
grabs readers' attention
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

6. Objective case
straight news stories
used for direct and indirect objects
short headline - really big - draws attention
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

7. Side-saddle head
appears to left of story
make sure lists have same type of speech
go above main headline
set off phrase usually set off by commas

8. Use commas with (what words)
never
FANBOYS
hiding verb as another part of speech
short headline - really big - draws attention

9. Smother verb (example)
straight news stories
limits meaning of sentence
restrictive clause
Make decision = decide

10. Straightforward headline
typical - normal everyday headline
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
appears to left of story
restrictive clause

11. Commas replace (headlines)
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
and
25 words
grabs readers' attention

12. Parallel structure
grabs readers' attention
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
make sure lists have same type of speech

13. Noun strings
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
never
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
typical - normal everyday headline

14. Restrictive modifier
limits meaning of sentence
what pronoun refers to
3
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

15. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
3
linking verb and past participle
separate numbers
FANBOYS

16. Hints something needs editing
FANBOYS
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
and
hookers - lookers

17. Passive voice
linking verb and past participle
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
limits meaning of sentence
kicker head without a verb

18. Max sentence length
used as modifying
objective
25 words
never

19. Label head
kicker head without a verb
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
used for direct and indirect objects
hookers - lookers

20. Whom - Him/her
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
linking verb and past participle
objective

21. Hammer head
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
short headline - really big - draws attention
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

22. Nominative case
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
kicker head without a verb
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
straight news stories

23. Lookers
used as modifying
straight news stories
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
never

24. Four rules of subjunctive case
linking verb and past participle
restrictive clause
set off phrase usually set off by commas
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

25. Drop heads
technical language - don't use
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
what pronoun refers to
nominative

26. Who - He/she
restrictive clause
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
nominative

27. That
hiding verb as another part of speech
restrictive clause
nominative
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

28. Antecedent
objective
what pronoun refers to
short headline - really big - draws attention
hookers - lookers

29. Kicker heads
Make decision = decide
go above main headline
short headline - really big - draws attention
set off phrase usually set off by commas

30. Hookers

31. Possessive case
what pronoun refers to
used as modifying
FANBOYS
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

32. Functions of headline

33. Jargon

34. Squinting modifiers
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
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
separate numbers
never

35. Headline rules

36. Dangling modifiers
objective
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
what pronoun refers to

37. Nonrestrictive modifier
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
restrictive clause
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

38. en dash
separate numbers
nominative
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
kicker head without a verb

39. Types of headlines
appears to left of story
short headline - really big - draws attention
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
hookers - lookers