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. Kicker heads
and
make sure lists have same type of speech
technical language - don't use
go above main headline

2. Nominative case
separate numbers
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
set off phrase usually set off by commas
what pronoun refers to

3. Max sentence length
appears to left of story
limits meaning of sentence
separate numbers
25 words

4. Drop heads
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
used as modifying
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it

5. 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
and
25 words
limits meaning of sentence

6. em dash
set off phrase usually set off by commas
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
linking verb and past participle
typical - normal everyday headline

7. How many prepositional phrases per 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
3
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
FANBOYS

8. Jargon

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9. Parallel structure
make sure lists have same type of speech
what pronoun refers to
never
nominative

10. Commas replace (headlines)
Make decision = decide
and
hiding verb as another part of speech
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

11. Functions of headline

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12. Dangling modifiers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
nominative
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

13. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
never
kicker head without a verb
set off phrase usually set off by commas
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

14. Hints something needs editing
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
25 words
never
kicker head without a verb

15. Who - He/she
used as modifying
FANBOYS
kicker head without a verb
nominative

16. Use of he/she
short headline - really big - draws attention
objective
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
never

17. Whom - Him/her
limits meaning of sentence
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
objective
used as modifying

18. Noun strings
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
grabs readers' attention
used as modifying
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

19. Smother verbs
hiding verb as another part of speech
typical - normal everyday headline
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
used for direct and indirect objects

20. Lookers
3
linking verb and past participle
straight news stories
kicker head without a verb

21. Passive voice
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
linking verb and past participle
hiding verb as another part of speech
technical language - don't use

22. Hookers

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23. Headline rules

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24. How to break sentence
what pronoun refers to
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

25. Use commas with (what words)
appears to left of story
FANBOYS
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
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

26. Squinting modifiers
hiding verb as another part of speech
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
grabs readers' attention
make sure lists have same type of speech

27. Objective case
used for direct and indirect objects
linking verb and past participle
never
restrictive clause

28. Types of headlines
hookers - lookers
Make decision = decide
go above main headline
never

29. Antecedent
used for direct and indirect objects
25 words
what pronoun refers to
hookers - lookers

30. Possessive case
Make decision = decide
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
used as modifying
nominative

31. Smother verb (example)
never
separate numbers
Make decision = decide
FANBOYS

32. Label head
kicker head without a verb
linking verb and past participle
restrictive clause
go above main headline

33. Side-saddle head
appears to left of story
3
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
25 words

34. Straightforward headline
typical - normal everyday headline
and
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
3

35. Four rules of subjunctive case
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
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
set off phrase usually set off by commas

36. Hammer head
short headline - really big - draws attention
straight news stories
FANBOYS
3

37. en dash
Make decision = decide
what pronoun refers to
kicker head without a verb
separate numbers

38. That
never
restrictive clause
objective
straight news stories

39. Nonrestrictive modifier
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
straight news stories
used as modifying
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word