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. Headline rules

2. Kicker heads
what pronoun refers to
go above main headline
Make decision = decide
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. Nonrestrictive modifier
restrictive clause
hiding verb as another part of speech
go above main headline
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

4. Who - He/she
used for direct and indirect objects
nominative
25 words
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

5. Hints something needs editing
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
go above main headline

6. Squinting modifiers
nominative
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
straight news stories
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

7. Types of headlines
25 words
hookers - lookers
linking verb and past participle
typical - normal everyday headline

8. Max sentence length
nominative
25 words
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
appears to left of story

9. Possessive case
what pronoun refers to
and
used as modifying
typical - normal everyday headline

10. Lookers
used as modifying
straight news stories
grabs readers' attention
hookers - lookers

11. Side-saddle head
what pronoun refers to
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
appears to left of story

12. Nominative case
kicker head without a verb
and
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

13. Use of he/she
never
go above main headline
kicker head without a verb
Make decision = decide

14. Four rules of subjunctive case
restrictive clause
linking verb and past participle
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

15. Objective case
used for direct and indirect objects
appears to left of story
restrictive clause
objective

16. Label head
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
kicker head without a verb
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

17. Drop heads
nominative
never
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

18. Straightforward headline
typical - normal everyday headline
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
hiding verb as another part of speech
3

19. Hammer head
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
set off phrase usually set off by commas
short headline - really big - draws attention

20. Functions of headline

21. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
3
straight news stories
limits meaning of sentence
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

22. Whom - Him/her
Make decision = decide
used for direct and indirect objects
short headline - really big - draws attention
objective

23. 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
25 words
make sure lists have same type of speech
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

24. Jargon

25. em dash
25 words
set off phrase usually set off by commas
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
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. Smother verb (example)
never
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
Make decision = decide

27. en dash
separate numbers
Make decision = decide
grabs readers' attention
FANBOYS

28. How to break sentence
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
set off phrase usually set off by commas
short headline - really big - draws attention

29. Parallel structure
Make decision = decide
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
make sure lists have same type of speech
straight news stories

30. Restrictive modifier
appears to left of story
limits meaning of sentence
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
short headline - really big - draws attention

31. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
and
set off phrase usually set off by commas
technical language - don't use

32. Dangling modifiers
used as modifying
nominative
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
straight news stories

33. Passive voice
linking verb and past participle
25 words
separate numbers
restrictive clause

34. That
typical - normal everyday headline
hiding verb as another part of speech
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
restrictive clause

35. Use commas with (what words)
FANBOYS
separate numbers
limits meaning of sentence
typical - normal everyday headline

36. Hookers

37. Antecedent
linking verb and past participle
25 words
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
what pronoun refers to

38. Smother verbs
and
restrictive clause
hiding verb as another part of speech
objective

39. Commas replace (headlines)
restrictive clause
separate numbers
grabs readers' attention
and