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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. Hookers

2. Functions of headline

3. Drop heads
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
used as modifying
nominative
and

4. Straightforward headline
go above main headline
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
appears to left of story
typical - normal everyday headline

5. Kicker heads
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
appears to left of story
go above main headline
grabs readers' attention

6. Hints something needs editing
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
nominative

7. en dash
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
appears to left of story
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
separate numbers

8. Possessive case
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
3
used as modifying
hookers - lookers

9. Lookers
set off phrase usually set off by commas
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
typical - normal everyday headline
straight news stories

10. Label head
3
nominative
kicker head without a verb
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

11. Passive voice
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
go above main headline
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
linking verb and past participle

12. Types of headlines
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
restrictive clause
hookers - lookers
hiding verb as another part of speech

13. Jargon

14. How to break sentence
linking verb and past participle
used as modifying
make sure lists have same type of speech
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

15. Max sentence length
objective
25 words
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
make sure lists have same type of speech

16. Who - He/she
straight news stories
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
nominative

17. Squinting modifiers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
objective
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

18. Use commas with (what words)
nominative
linking verb and past participle
FANBOYS
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

19. Commas replace (headlines)
Make decision = decide
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
FANBOYS
and

20. Smother verbs
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
hookers - lookers
hiding verb as another part of speech
25 words

21. Four rules of subjunctive case
3
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
what pronoun refers to

22. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
hookers - lookers
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
3
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

23. Restrictive modifier
limits meaning of sentence
make sure lists have same type of speech
linking verb and past participle
appears to left of story

24. Objective case
25 words
objective
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
used for direct and indirect objects

25. Dangling modifiers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
used for direct and indirect objects
short headline - really big - draws attention
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

26. Whom - Him/her
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
typical - normal everyday headline
objective
restrictive clause

27. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
technical language - don't use
set off phrase usually set off by commas
restrictive clause
3

28. Smother verb (example)
Make decision = decide
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
set off phrase usually set off by commas
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

29. em dash
used for direct and indirect objects
what pronoun refers to
set off phrase usually set off by commas
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

30. Noun strings
FANBOYS
straight news stories
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
make sure lists have same type of speech

31. Parallel structure
hiding verb as another part of speech
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
nominative
make sure lists have same type of speech

32. Side-saddle head
appears to left of story
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
make sure lists have same type of speech
used as modifying

33. Use of he/she
never
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
objective

34. Nonrestrictive modifier
straight news stories
technical language - don't use
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
hookers - lookers

35. Hammer head
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
short headline - really big - draws attention
never
and

36. Headline rules

37. Nominative case
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

38. That
restrictive clause
limits meaning of sentence
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

39. Antecedent
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
what pronoun refers to
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
go above main headline