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News Copy Editing

Instructions:

Answer 39 questions in 15 minutes.
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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. Smother verbs
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
technical language - don't use
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
hiding verb as another part of speech

2. Lookers
Make decision = decide
25 words
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
straight news stories

3. That
used for direct and indirect objects
never
restrictive clause
set off phrase usually set off by commas

4. Kicker heads
go above main headline
used as modifying
objective
restrictive clause

5. Types of headlines
25 words
limits meaning of sentence
used as modifying
hookers - lookers

6. Who - He/she
straight news stories
nominative
grabs readers' attention
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

7. Passive voice
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
3
limits meaning of sentence
linking verb and past participle

8. Side-saddle head
never
appears to left of story
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
set off phrase usually set off by commas

9. How to break sentence
make sure lists have same type of speech
used as modifying
grabs readers' attention
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

10. Antecedent
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
what pronoun refers to
appears to left of story
used for direct and indirect objects

11. en dash
separate numbers
straight news stories
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
what pronoun refers to

12. Dangling 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
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
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

13. Restrictive modifier
limits meaning of sentence
3
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
go above main headline

14. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
hiding verb as another part of speech
used as modifying
3
straight news stories

15. Headline rules
nominative
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
grabs readers' attention

16. Smother verb (example)
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
Make decision = decide
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
straight news stories

17. Nominative case
used as modifying
go above main headline
straight news stories
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

18. Whom - Him/her
grabs readers' attention
objective
kicker head without a verb
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

19. Four rules of subjunctive case
FANBOYS
technical language - don't use
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

20. em dash
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
set off phrase usually set off by commas
hiding verb as another part of speech
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

21. Label head
typical - normal everyday headline
used for direct and indirect objects
kicker head without a verb
technical language - don't use

22. Commas replace (headlines)
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
and
3
restrictive clause

23. Drop heads
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
kicker head without a verb
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
grabs readers' attention

24. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
Make decision = decide
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
and
kicker head without a verb

25. Straightforward headline
25 words
grabs readers' attention
typical - normal everyday headline
go above main headline

26. Possessive case
used as modifying
never
typical - normal everyday headline
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

27. Noun strings
hookers - lookers
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
and

28. Hammer head
typical - normal everyday headline
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
short headline - really big - draws attention

29. Objective case
FANBOYS
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
used for direct and indirect objects
technical language - don't use

30. Nonrestrictive modifier
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
nominative
typical - normal everyday headline
used for direct and indirect objects

31. Squinting modifiers
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
typical - normal everyday headline
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
go above main headline

32. Jargon
technical language - don't use
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
used for direct and indirect objects
grabs readers' attention

33. Parallel structure
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
make sure lists have same type of speech
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
linking verb and past participle

34. Functions of headline
limits meaning of sentence
go above main headline
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

35. Hints something needs editing
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
objective
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

36. Hookers
straight news stories
grabs readers' attention
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
what pronoun refers to

37. Use commas with (what words)
hiding verb as another part of speech
FANBOYS
go above main headline
separate numbers

38. Use of he/she
hookers - lookers
25 words
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
never

39. Max sentence length
hiding verb as another part of speech
25 words
kicker head without a verb
technical language - don't use

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News Copy Editing

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