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. Side-saddle head
kicker head without a verb
make sure lists have same type of speech
hookers - lookers
appears to left of story

2. Hints something needs editing
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
set off phrase usually set off by commas
typical - normal everyday headline
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

3. Objective case
used for direct and indirect objects
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
limits meaning of sentence
typical - normal everyday headline

4. en dash
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
separate numbers
appears to left of story

5. Straightforward headline
typical - normal everyday headline
technical language - don't use
linking verb and past participle
what pronoun refers to

6. Jargon

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7. Parallel structure
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
what pronoun refers to
never
make sure lists have same type of speech

8. Dangling modifiers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
used for direct and indirect objects
go above main headline
separate numbers

9. Max sentence length
25 words
3
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
used for direct and indirect objects

10. Functions of headline

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11. Noun strings
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
used for direct and indirect objects

12. Kicker heads
set off phrase usually set off by commas
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
go above main headline
used as modifying

13. Hammer head
short headline - really big - draws attention
25 words
straight news stories
nominative

14. Commas replace (headlines)
and
grabs readers' attention
objective
used for direct and indirect objects

15. Possessive case
and
typical - normal everyday headline
used as modifying
separate numbers

16. Use commas with (what words)
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
FANBOYS
appears to left of story
hiding verb as another part of speech

17. Smother verbs
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
what pronoun refers to
hiding verb as another part of speech
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas

18. Types of headlines
hookers - lookers
straight news stories
set off phrase usually set off by commas
hiding verb as another part of speech

19. Passive voice
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
linking verb and past participle
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

20. Use of he/she
set off phrase usually set off by commas
kicker head without a verb
and
never

21. That
restrictive clause
grabs readers' attention
and
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

22. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
go above main headline
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word

23. Nonrestrictive modifier
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
objective
hiding verb as another part of speech
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand

24. Lookers
grabs readers' attention
restrictive clause
straight news stories
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

25. Label head
kicker head without a verb
short headline - really big - draws attention
make sure lists have same type of speech
technical language - don't use

26. Nominative case
used for direct and indirect objects
limits meaning of sentence
what pronoun refers to
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb

27. Antecedent
hookers - 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
what pronoun refers to

28. Hookers

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29. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
hookers - lookers
nominative
3
kicker head without a verb

30. Squinting modifiers
25 words
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

31. How to break sentence
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
restrictive clause
straight news stories
objective

32. Smother verb (example)
typical - normal everyday headline
Make decision = decide
separate numbers
grabs readers' attention

33. Whom - Him/her
kicker head without a verb
separate numbers
FANBOYS
objective

34. em dash
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
set off phrase usually set off by commas
used as modifying
grabs readers' attention

35. Headline rules

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36. Who - He/she
technical language - don't use
nominative
restrictive clause
linking verb and past participle

37. Drop heads
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
make sure lists have same type of speech
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

38. Four rules of subjunctive case
never
typical - normal everyday headline
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
hiding verb as another part of speech

39. Restrictive modifier
limits meaning of sentence
go above main headline
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
straight news stories