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. Lookers
straight news stories
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

2. How to break sentence
3
limits meaning of sentence
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

3. Kicker heads
set off phrase usually set off by commas
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
25 words
go above main headline

4. Functions of headline

5. Squinting modifiers
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
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
used as modifying

6. Hammer head
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
short headline - really big - draws attention
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
restrictive clause

7. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
kicker head without a verb
appears to left of story
straight news stories
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

8. Nominative case
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
separate numbers
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

9. Jargon

10. Parallel structure
make sure lists have same type of speech
hookers - lookers
go above main headline
hiding verb as another part of speech

11. Hints something needs editing
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
go above main headline
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
restrictive clause

12. Who - He/she
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
set off phrase usually set off by commas
nominative
grabs readers' attention

13. Possessive case
used as modifying
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
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

14. Types of headlines
restrictive clause
hiding verb as another part of speech
hookers - lookers
straight news stories

15. Label head
separate numbers
kicker head without a verb
Make decision = decide
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

16. Headline rules

17. Four rules of subjunctive case
used for direct and indirect objects
kicker head without a verb
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
3

18. Nonrestrictive modifier
make sure lists have same type of speech
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
technical language - don't use
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

19. Smother verbs
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
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
hookers - lookers

20. Dangling modifiers
never
and
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
Make decision = decide

21. Straightforward headline
typical - normal everyday headline
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
used as modifying
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

22. Max sentence length
appears to left of story
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
25 words
grabs readers' attention

23. Objective case
used for direct and indirect objects
typical - normal everyday headline
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

24. Noun strings
hiding verb as another part of speech
straight news stories
25 words
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

25. Side-saddle head
appears to left of story
go above main headline
hookers - lookers
25 words

26. That
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
restrictive clause
go above main headline
25 words

27. Use of he/she
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
never
kicker head without a verb
hookers - lookers

28. em dash
objective
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
used for direct and indirect objects
set off phrase usually set off by commas

29. Smother verb (example)
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
Make decision = decide
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
linking verb and past participle

30. Passive voice
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
restrictive clause
linking verb and past participle

31. en dash
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
and
limits meaning of sentence
separate numbers

32. Whom - Him/her
objective
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
straight news stories

33. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
appears to left of story
set off phrase usually set off by commas
what pronoun refers to
3

34. Hookers

35. Restrictive modifier
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
25 words
limits meaning of sentence
appears to left of story

36. Antecedent
make sure lists have same type of speech
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
what pronoun refers to
FANBOYS

37. Use commas with (what words)
FANBOYS
3
restrictive clause
what pronoun refers to

38. Commas replace (headlines)
and
limits meaning of sentence
linking verb and past participle
typical - normal everyday headline

39. Drop heads
grabs readers' attention
Make decision = decide
25 words
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it