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. Drop heads
restrictive clause
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
linking verb and past participle

2. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
typical - normal everyday headline
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
hookers - lookers
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

3. Lookers
and
make sure lists have same type of speech
3
straight news stories

4. en dash
what pronoun refers to
used as modifying
separate numbers
and

5. Squinting modifiers
separate numbers
grabs readers' attention
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
and

6. Kicker heads
straight news stories
short headline - really big - draws attention
go above main headline
set off phrase usually set off by commas

7. Hints something needs editing
restrictive clause
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
and
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

8. Side-saddle head
appears to left of story
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
never
objective

9. Use commas with (what words)
25 words
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
FANBOYS

10. Headline rules

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11. Smother verb (example)
kicker head without a verb
Make decision = decide
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

12. Noun strings
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
short headline - really big - draws attention
and
hookers - lookers

13. Smother verbs
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
kicker head without a verb
hiding verb as another part of speech
straight news stories

14. Straightforward headline
typical - normal everyday headline
Make decision = decide
separate numbers
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

15. Types of headlines
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
objective
25 words
hookers - lookers

16. em dash
typical - normal everyday headline
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
set off phrase usually set off by commas
grabs readers' attention

17. Passive voice
and
typical - normal everyday headline
go above main headline
linking verb and past participle

18. Hookers

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19. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
grabs readers' attention
never
3

20. Possessive case
used as modifying
straight news stories
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

21. Max sentence length
go above main headline
linking verb and past participle
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
25 words

22. Antecedent
hookers - lookers
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
what pronoun refers to
and

23. Four rules of subjunctive case
used for direct and indirect objects
typical - normal everyday headline
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

24. Jargon

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25. Whom - Him/her
used for direct and indirect objects
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
objective

26. Objective case
go above main headline
used for direct and indirect objects
typical - normal everyday headline
restrictive clause

27. Parallel structure
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
nominative
make sure lists have same type of speech
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

28. Commas replace (headlines)
limits meaning of sentence
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
and
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

29. Hammer head
used as modifying
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
short headline - really big - draws attention

30. Label head
kicker head without a verb
appears to left of story
set off phrase usually set off by commas
objective

31. Who - He/she
appears to left of story
go above main headline
separate numbers
nominative

32. That
used as modifying
typical - normal everyday headline
what pronoun refers to
restrictive clause

33. How to break sentence
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
typical - normal everyday headline
make sure lists have same type of speech

34. Nominative case
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
kicker head without a verb
used as modifying
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

35. Restrictive modifier
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
never
limits meaning of sentence

36. Nonrestrictive modifier
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
kicker head without a verb

37. Functions of headline

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38. Use of he/she
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
used as modifying
never
objective

39. Dangling modifiers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
restrictive clause
grabs readers' attention
make sure lists have same type of speech