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. em dash
nominative
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
set off phrase usually set off by commas
appears to left of story

3. Hookers

4. Passive voice
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
what pronoun refers to
linking verb and past participle
grabs readers' attention

5. Straightforward headline
restrictive clause
typical - normal everyday headline
set off phrase usually set off by commas
linking verb and past participle

6. Hints something needs editing
linking verb and past participle
go above main headline
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

7. That
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
restrictive clause
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

8. Commas replace (headlines)
go above main headline
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
linking verb and past participle
and

9. Smother verb (example)
Make decision = decide
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
used for direct and indirect objects

10. Functions of headline

11. Nominative case
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
hiding verb as another part of speech
make sure lists have same type of speech

12. Kicker heads
separate numbers
go above main headline
nominative
used for direct and indirect objects

13. Noun strings
set off phrase usually set off by commas
technical language - don't use
objective
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

14. Four rules of subjunctive case
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
FANBOYS
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

15. Drop heads
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
typical - normal everyday headline
FANBOYS

16. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
appears to left of story
restrictive clause
hookers - lookers
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

17. Jargon

18. Smother verbs
typical - normal everyday headline
hiding verb as another part of speech
limits meaning of sentence
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

19. Use of he/she
straight news stories
restrictive clause
never
FANBOYS

20. Max sentence length
short headline - really big - draws attention
kicker head without a verb
25 words
go above main headline

21. en dash
set off phrase usually set off by commas
Make decision = decide
separate numbers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

22. Who - He/she
nominative
objective
25 words
grabs readers' attention

23. Whom - Him/her
objective
typical - normal everyday headline
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
25 words

24. Possessive case
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
used as modifying
used for direct and indirect objects
nominative

25. Label head
kicker head without a verb
hookers - lookers
nominative
and

26. Lookers
appears to left of story
straight news stories
short headline - really big - draws attention
kicker head without a verb

27. Restrictive modifier
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
hiding verb as another part of speech
limits meaning of sentence
go above main headline

28. Types of headlines
what pronoun refers to
appears to left of story
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
hookers - lookers

29. Objective case
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
used for direct and indirect objects
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

30. Parallel structure
FANBOYS
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
hookers - lookers
make sure lists have same type of speech

31. Dangling modifiers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
and
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

32. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
never
3
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
FANBOYS

33. Antecedent
what pronoun refers to
straight news stories
linking verb and past participle
objective

34. Squinting modifiers
never
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
separate numbers
linking verb and past participle

35. Use commas with (what words)
FANBOYS
make sure lists have same type of speech
used as modifying
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

36. Nonrestrictive modifier
technical language - don't use
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
used for direct and indirect objects
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

37. Hammer head
25 words
straight news stories
short headline - really big - draws attention
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

38. Side-saddle head
short headline - really big - draws attention
appears to left of story
objective
never

39. How to break sentence
hiding verb as another part of speech
used as modifying
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver