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. Squinting modifiers
short headline - really big - draws attention
typical - normal everyday headline
Make decision = decide
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word

2. Kicker heads
go above main headline
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
short headline - really big - draws attention
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

3. Use commas with (what words)
objective
3
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article
FANBOYS

4. Pronoun/antecedent agreement
used for direct and indirect objects
go above main headline
modifiers in the middle of sentences that modify the wrong word
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

5. Drop heads
go beneath main headline and elaborate on it
25 words
kicker head without a verb
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

6. How many prepositional phrases per sentence?
and
3
set off phrase usually set off by commas
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

7. Commas replace (headlines)
appears to left of story
and
typical - normal everyday headline
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice

8. Dangling modifiers
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
nominative
grabs readers' attention
straight news stories

9. Straightforward headline
25 words
and
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person
typical - normal everyday headline

10. Passive voice
appears to left of story
FANBOYS
linking verb and past participle
objective

11. Headline rules

12. Objective case
used for direct and indirect objects
objective
limits meaning of sentence
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

13. Who - He/she
3
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
nominative
catch readers' attention - summarize story - indicate tone - add to attractiveness of page - establish hierarchy - reflect mood of article

14. Use of he/she
technical language - don't use
separate numbers
grabs readers' attention
never

15. Smother verbs
used as modifying
hiding verb as another part of speech
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
never

16. Side-saddle head
appears to left of story
Make decision = decide
go above main headline
objective

17. Restrictive modifier
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
limits meaning of sentence
hookers - lookers
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

18. Lookers
25 words
hookers - lookers
straight news stories
set off phrase usually set off by commas

19. Functions of headline

20. Nominative case
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
and
hiding verb as another part of speech

21. Four rules of subjunctive case
25 words
express a wish - express something contrary to fact - express speculation - express a demand
limits meaning of sentence
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver

22. Hammer head
grabs readers' attention
short headline - really big - draws attention
when a phrase modifiers 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

23. That
restrictive clause
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
and

24. en dash
go above main headline
separate numbers
grabs readers' attention
used as modifying

25. Max sentence length
25 words
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
short headline - really big - draws attention
kicker head without a verb

26. How to break sentence
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
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 for direct and indirect objects

27. Nonrestrictive modifier
technical language - don't use
grabs readers' attention
parenthetical in meaning - set off by commas
never

28. Whom - Him/her
objective
FANBOYS
hiding verb as another part of speech
kicker head without a verb

29. Jargon

30. Hookers

31. Label head
when a phrase modifiers the wrong word
separate numbers
kicker head without a verb
grabs readers' attention

32. em dash
what pronoun refers to
set off phrase usually set off by commas
hiding verb as another part of speech
never

33. Hints something needs editing
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
technical language - don't use
restrictive clause
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives

34. Types of headlines
separate numbers
Sentence length - variety - vague language - grammar - verb/word choice
find action - subject/actor - object/receiver
hookers - lookers

35. Antecedent
never
grabs readers' attention
straight news stories
what pronoun refers to

36. Parallel structure
short headline - really big - draws attention
grabs readers' attention
used for subjects and as objects of linking verb
make sure lists have same type of speech

37. Smother verb (example)
used as modifying
Make decision = decide
typical - normal everyday headline
linking verb and past participle

38. Possessive case
hookers - lookers
used as modifying
go above main headline
pronouns must agree with antecedent in number - gender and person

39. Noun strings
objective
never
lots of nouns strung together that act like adjectives
Make decision = decide