U.S. English Chicago Style Editing Skills Test (For Writing Professionals)
Read
the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course
of action for an editor to take.
Daphne's
latest exhibition was roundly panned by the critics, whereas her earlier works
had received a lukewarm reception.
a. Replace
the incorrect adverb "roundly" with the more appropriate
"thoroughly."
b. Recast
the second clause to correct the illogical use of "whereas."
c. Edit
subjects in both clauses to correct parallel structure.
d. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
A
doctor at the Metropolitan Clinic in Chicago claims that if women give up
smoking and ate a healthful diet, their children would be less likely to
develop lung diseases.
a. claims
that if women gave up smoking and ate a healthy diet
b. claims
that if women had given up smoking and eat a healthful diet
c. claimed
that when a woman gives up smoking and has eaten a healthful diet
d. claimed
that when women gave up smoking and ate a healthy diet
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
The
Board of Directors on Monday said that the company could undertake the
additional activities without first seeking the approving of the foreign
investors.
a. without
first seeking the assent of the foreign investors
b. without
first seeking approval from the foreign investors
c. without
first seeking the approbation of the foreign investors
d. whether
or not they received the approving from the foreign investors
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)Catherine
Bliss, who was one of the richest women
2)in
the city in the 1940s, died at the age of 92 in a dingy
3)New
York hotel suite where she had lived with 3 cats and five
4)parakeets
for more than 20 years. Her downfall was attributed to
5)her
husband Barry Bliss's shady dealings in the early 1970s.
a. Edit
line (1) for passive voice.
b. Edit
lines (2) and (5) for apostrophe usage.
c. Edit
lines (3) and (4) for number style.
d. This
passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
Read
the following passage from the manuscript of a novel and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Along
the dusty roadway lay intermittent reminders of the war: a mud-filled crater
here, a bullet-riddled tree there—and all around, the silence of expectation,
of the calm before the storm.
a. Expand
on the author's idea by inserting one or two additional reminders of the war.
b. Tactfully
suggest that the author rethink the cliche expression "the calm before the
storm."
c. Query
the author about the logic of the phrase "the silence of
expectation."
d. Change
"roadway' to "road" to eliminate wordiness.
Read
the following sentence and identify the type/s of error/s it contains.
The
differences in the two committees had finally reached an insurmountable level;
each wanted to delve in the problem more deeply, but neither wanted to
cooperate among the other.
a. Errors
in pronoun usage and agreement
b. Incorrect
placement of adjectives and adverbs
c. Incorrect
use of coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
d. Errors
in preposition usage
e. This
sentence is correct.
All
but one of the following sentences require editing to correct passive voice,
wordiness, or redundancy. Consider the underlined phrases, and then select the
sentence that does NOT require editing.
a. Sally
was sure that danger lurked around every corner, but in actual fact, the danger
was all in her head.
b. We
laughed and laughed at the surprise that was felt by everyone when we pulled
off our disguises.
c. Our
uncle has over $100,000 hidden under his mattress, yet he won't give us one
dollar even when we beg for it.
d. Abigail,
who passed her exams and graduated with honors, hasn't started interviewing as
of yet.
e. Although it is possible that nothing will come
of these preparations, we should keep moving forward until someone in charge
tells us to stop.
Which
of the following sentences requires editing to correct errors in diction or
spelling?
Answers:
a. Please
lie the snake on the table and back away slowly.
b. The reason
I'm late is because my car got stuck in a snow bank.
c. The
crowd held its breath, hoping that the matador gorged by the bull would be all
right.
d. Helga
must try and finish her credits by May if she wants to graduate with the class.
e. All
of the above sentences require editing.
The
following sentence is devoid of punctuation. Which of the given editing options
turns it into a coherent, plausible sentence?
The
point is Mr. Rosenwell said Andrew whether or not you intend to pay off your
debts
a. Andrew
said, "The point is Mr. Rosenwell, whether or not you intend to pay off
your debts."
b. "The
point is, Mr. Rosenwell," said Andrew, "whether or not you intend to
pay off your debts."
c. "Mr.
Rosenwell," said Andrew: "The point is whether or not you intend to
pay off your debts."
d. "The
point, Mr. Rosenwell, is whether or not you intend to pay off your debts,"
said Andrew.
e. b
and d
Read
the following sentence from a journal article and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Of
the two control groups, a significant number (85) of those in Group A scored
higher (74%) than those in group B (66 percent), while both had similar
standard deviations (8.3% and 7.9% respectively).
a. Change
"66 percent" to "66%."
b. Edit
passage to ensure consistency in capitalization.
c. Remove
statistics from the sentence and place them in a table.
d. Suggest
the use of inferential statistics rather than descriptive statistics.
e. All
of the above may be necessary. Before editing, refer to the publication's
in-house style sheet for guidance on capitalization, use of tables, and
preferred style for writing statistics.
Read
the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course
of action for an editor to take.
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
To
maintain a healthy body and mind, one must exercise, eat fruits and vegetables,
and refrain from cigarettes and drinking alcohol.
a. refrain
from smoking cigarettes and drinks.
b. refrain
from smoking and drinking alcohol.
c. refrain
from smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.
d. refrain
from cigarettes and drinking.
e. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Our
voyage would have been a different and much more boring experience would it not
have been for the family of dolphins that followed the ship from Mallorca to
Malta.
a. Edit
the predicate to correct parallel structure.
b. Change
all verbs to simple past tense.
c. Edit
to correct error in use of conditional and/or subjunctive mood.
d. Query
the author about the factual validity of the claim that dolphins were present
between Mallorca and Malta.
e. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)I
am unable to forgive my neighbor who
2)fails
to return a lawn mower he had taken
3)from
my garage without my permission. He is
4)now
persona non grata in my home.
a. Edit
line (1) for pronoun reference.
b. Edit
line (2) for verb tense consistency.
c. Edit
lines (1) and (4) for diction.
d. Edit
line (3) for punctuation.
e. This
passage does not need editing.
Which
of the following sentences requires editing to correct the errors in verb
tense?
a. Had
Pamela asked you sooner, would you have joined her on her trip to Europe?
b. You
never would have believed Pamela if she had asked you to join her on her
travels through Europe.
c. I
don't think you could have resisted the temptation if Pamela had asked you to
join her on her trip to Europe.
d. If
Pamela had forced you to go with her on her trip to Europe, do you think you
would have fun?
e. When
Pamela asked you to join her on her trip to Europe, did you hesitate or accept
the invitation right away?
Which
of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct general errors
in grammar, usage, or style?
a. Driving
in northern Italy may be very dangerous because the fog often extended from
Milan to Turin and will last for many hours in the morning.
b. After
spending many long years to work in Australia finally, Darby returned to her
homeland.
c. The
fact that Odysseus is a man "skilled in all ways of contending" is a
fact proven many times in The Odyssey.
d. Among
that group of trees just over the little knoll—where we used to play as
children, remember?—stands a marble monument to our ancestors.
Read
the following sentence and identify the type of error it contains.
Although
I'm not a big fan of so-called chick flicks, I have to admit that The Devil
Wears Prada is far away the best film of the genre I've seen.
a. Illogical
comparison
b. Incorrect
idiom usage
c. Omission
of quotation marks
d. Verb
tense shift
e. This
sentence is correct.
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
The
breakup of the Soviet Union left nuclear weapons in the hands of unstable
nascent countries, thus making it imperative for world security that they be
destroyed.
a. imperative
to the security of the world that those countries be destroyed.
b. imperative
that these weapons be destroyed for world security.
c. imperative
to world security that they be destroyed.
d. imperative
for world security that those weapons be destroyed.
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
The
CEO is wary about spelling out his strategy, preferring to play his cards close
to his chest.
a. is
wary about spelling his strategy
b. is
wary of spelling out his strategy
c. is
wary to spell out his strategy
d. is
wary about spelling his strategy out
e. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)Like
miniature planets, the moths orbited the
2)fire,
their firefly companions providing intermittent
3)flashes
of starlight. We sat in our lawn chairs,
4)as
silent as empty space, enthralled by the show.
a. Edit
line (1) for illogical comparison.
b. Edit
line (2) for punctuation.
c. Edit
line (3) for clarity.
d. Edit
line (4) for incomplete comparison.
e. This
passage does not need editing.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)"If
you cut along the crease here," said Haruko, "then
2)fold
the paper into a triangle thusly, and then fold it
3)again
to form a base, you will have made yourself a
4)chic—and
cheap—yacht. And that's the beauty of origami!"
a. Edit
lines (1) and (4) for punctuation.
b. Edit
line (2) for adverb usage.
c. Edit
line (3) for dangling modifier.
d. Edit
line (4) for spelling.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
"Have
you read Zinn's A People's History of the United States?" asked Jamie.
"Yes," I replied, "and I must say it's the most eye-opening
history book I've read in some time."
a. Replace
the comma after "replied" with a period and capitalize the following
"and."
b. Change
"People's" from a possessive to a plural noun.
c. Underline
or italicize the book title.
d. Place
the question mark outside the quotations marks.
Which
of the following sentences requires editing to correct an error in subject-verb
agreement?
a. Every
one of the scouts is responsible for his own camping equipment and should come
prepared for a strenuous hike.
b. The
walls of the old villa have been newly plastered with white stucco, which rob
them of their charm.
c. In
your case, I'd say that a deepened sense of self-awareness and a lessened
propensity to fly off the handle have made you much more pleasant to be around.
d. Not
only the horses but also the goat has been rounded up and locked in the barn.
e. The
receptionists and clerks each hope for a substantial bonus this year.
Which
of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct an error in
subject-verb agreement?
a. He
drank a fifth of whiskey after two-fifths of his vineyard was destroyed in the
flood.
b. The
study on drug abuse showed that the number of teenage victims are increasing
every year.
c. Neither
of my brothers, who are more artistic by nature, are particularly interested in
sports.
d. The
assistants, but not the manager, has decided not to come in over the weekend.
Read
the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course
of action for an editor to take.
If
you can learn to control your anger just a touch more, you ought to find that
people react to you more positively.
a. Edit
both modal verbs to correct usage and tense errors.
b. Change
all verbs to future tense.
c. Change
the first modal verb to "could," but leave the second modal verb as
is.
d. Recast
the sentence to eliminate all adverbs.
e. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
Herbert
works hard all week and has plans every weekend for the next year and he still
finds time to volunteer at the animal shelter.
a. Herbert
works hard all week and he has plans every weekend for the next year and he
b. Working
hard all week and having plans every weekend for the next year, Herbert
c. Although
Herbert works hard all week and has plans every weekend for the next year, he
d. Despite
working hard all week and with plans every weekend for the next year, Herbert
e. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Which
of the following sentences requires editing to correct errors in punctuation?
a. You've
been my best friend for years; however, seeing as you cannot afford to lend me
any more money, I think it's time to end our relationship.
b. As I
listened to the scraping of the shovel on the asphalt, I was suddenly reminded
of my cousin Bob's and my father's singing voices.
c. The
two faced each other in silence, each one thinking the other a two-faced
coward.
d. I
just adore this carnivorous plant, which by the way was a gift from your
mother.
Which
of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct errors in
punctuation?
a. Dahlia,
Doris's younger sister, asked me, "Could I please join you"? I nodded
in affirmation; however, I didn't want her to join me.
b. Dahlia,
Doris' younger sister, asked me, "Could I please join you?" I nodded
in affirmation, however; I didn't want her to join me.
c. Dahlia,
Doris' younger sister, asked me, "Could I please join you?" I nodded
in affirmation, however, I didn't want her to join me.
d. Dahlia,
Doris's younger sister, asked me, "Could I please join you?" I nodded
in affirmation; however, I didn't want her to join me.
Choose
the series of adjectives that best completes the following sentence.
We
have no doubt that the senator's meeting of "goodwill" with our arch
rival will be accompanied by _________ clandestine deal for lucrative building
contracts and ________ talk of future collaborations.
a. some,
secret
b. any,
secretive
c. every,
secreted
d. each,
secret
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)I
know that Thomas is eager to move
2)operations
to the east; however, it might be a
3)first
good step for him to assess just how many
4)of
his current employees are willing to relocate.
a. Edit
line (2) for use of conjunctive adverbs.
b. Edit
line (2) for capitalization.
c. Edit
line (3) for placement of adjectives.
d. Edit
line (4) for preposition usage.
e. b
and c
f. This
passage does not need editing.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
The
intern glanced nervously around the operating room. The moment had arrived—his
first solo operation—and he couldn't hardly contain his excitement. He took a
deep breath and looked down at the patient. Then, having been completely
anesthetized, the new surgeon made his first incision.
a. Edit
the second sentence to correct the double negative.
b. Place
"nervously" before "glanced."
c. Combine
the first two sentences to break up the series of short sentences and create
variety.
d. Recast
the last sentence to correct the dangling modifier.
e. c
and d
f. a
and d
The
following sentence is devoid of punctuation. Which of the given editing options
turns it into a coherent, plausible sentence?
At
last I met Dr. Sneeth the evil scientist who had caused such trouble for the
city
a. At
last I met the evil scientist, Dr. Sneeth, who had caused such trouble for the
city.
b. At
last I met Dr. Sneeth, the evil scientist who had caused such trouble for the
city.
c. At
last I met Dr. Sneeth, the evil scientist, who had caused such trouble for the
city.
d. I
met Dr. Sneeth—at last!—the evil scientist who had caused such trouble for the
city.
e. All
of the above are acceptable; the final choice would depend on the author's
intention.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)Delilah's
twenty page tale of derring do
2)delighted
the dignitaries who stamped their
3)feet
in approval. Reading from a dais draped
4)in
crepe, she felt like a modern day Scheherazade.
a. Edit
lines (1) and (4) for hyphenation.
b. Edit
line (2) for missing comma.
c. Edit
lines (1) and (3) for diction.
d. Edit
line (4) for comma use and allusion errors.
e. a
and d
f. a
and b
g. This
passage does not need editing.
Read
the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course
of action for an editor to take.
If
we decided to move venues, our production process would not be likely to suffer
much as long as a system of checks keeps production tasks on schedule.
a. Change
"decided" to "would have decided" to ensure consistency of
conditional mood.
b. Change
"keeps" to "kept" to correct the unnecessary shift in verb
tense.
c. Edit
to correct error in use of past perfect tense.
d. a
and c
e. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Which
of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct a modifier usage
error?
a. Claire
accidentally dropped the crate on Chad's foot with her barbells in it.
b. Swinging
wildly through the trees, the spectators were delighted by the monkeys.
c. Petra
wanted only one raspberry parfait, but Pedro insisted on giving her three.
d. I
heard that my coworkers planned to throw a birthday party for me while I was
standing outside the bathroom.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)Why,
Helen wondered, did I ever show my face in Troy?
2)There's
been nothing but infighting, death, and destruction
3)—not
to mention the cost of launching those thousand
4)ships.
My choice is clear: I'm moving to Cleveland.
a. Edit
lines (1) and (2) for overuse of commas.
b. Edit
line (2) for spelling.
c. Edit
line (3) for use of em dash.
d. Edit
line (4) for capitalization and use of colon.
e. This
passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)Even
though Sharon spends a good deal of time complaining,
2)bemoaning
her fate, and wishing that her circumstances
3)are
not quite so humble, I'm pretty sure that she is
4)grateful
for everything she has.
a. Edit
lines (1) and (4) for pronoun-antecedent agreement.
b. Edit
line (2) for verb tense consistency.
c. Edit
lines (1) and (3) to correct errors in diction and idiomatic expressions.
d. Edit
line (3) to correct error in present tense vs. past subjunctive mood.
e. This
passage does not need editing.
Read
the following passage from a play script and select the option that illustrates
the best course of action for an editor to take.
HORATIO,
preparing to blow his horn. Aw, dang! The pistons are all gummy. Now what?
JOE.
Chill out. (He takes off his shoe.) Here, hit 'em with this.
a. Change
"Aw, dang!" to "Oh, dear!" to eliminate colloquial speech.
b. Eliminate
inappropriate slang by changing "Chill out" to a phrase like
"Never fear."
c. Italicize
the stage direction in the second line.
d. Insert
quotation marks around all dialogue.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
"Those
fake pearls and the upswept hairdo makes her look like a poor man's Grace
Kelly," drawled Inga. "But please don't tell her I said that."
a. Edit
the second quoted speech to correct ambiguous pronoun reference.
b. Change
"poor man's" to "second-rate" to correct error in idiom
usage.
c. Edit
the main verb in the first quoted speech to correct a subject-verb agreement
error.
d. Insert
a comma after "Inga" and lowercase the capital B in "But."
e. This
passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
Read
the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course
of action for an editor to take.
Henrik,
who was desperate to impress Sophie—who happened to be sitting next to him on
the divan and pretending not to notice anything untoward—was beside himself
with shame and anger, because his goat had just entered the living room with
the remains of Sophie's cashmere coat dangling from its mouth.
a. Edit
the passage to correct pronoun-antecedent errors.
b. Delete
parenthetical elements to eliminate wordiness.
c. Delete
the comma after "Henrik."
d. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Read
the following stanza from a contemporary poem and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
She
ran daintily among the tame, silky hills
disappeared
and reappeared, galloping on the wind
whirlingly
penetrated the universe and the nothing.
She
smiled at me. I liked her. I latched onto her joy.
Crumbs
of history under the chair of time.
a. Delete
the non-word "whirlingly."
b. Edit
the ambiguous image in the last line for logic and clarity.
c. Rework
the stanza to follow an abab rhyme scheme.
d. Suggest
the use of more similes and other literary devices.
e. Work
closely with the author throughout the revision process to understand his or
her editing needs and expectations, and make tactful suggestions accordingly.
f.
Revise the punctuation in the first three lines so that it conforms to standard
usage.
g. An
editor should take no action, as poetry should not be edited by anyone other
than the author.
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)After
the accident, Justine left her teaching
2)job;
she has not able to resume her teaching
3)and
possibly never will be able
4)to
resume her teaching again.
a. Edit
line (1) for adverb clause structure and punctuation.
b. Edit
line (2) for omission of a completing verb form.
c. Edit
lines (2), (3), and (4) to eliminate repetition of "able" and
"her teaching."
d. Delete
"again" in line (4) to avoid redundancy.
e. a,
b, and d
f. b,
c, and d
Read
the following sentence and identify the type of error contained in the
underlined portion.
Alistair
protested the rock singer's tour and threatened to burn down any theater that
dared to host his concert.
a. Subject-verb
agreement error
b. Modal
verb error
c. Incorrect
use of past participles
d. Unnecessary
verb tense shift
e. This
sentence is correct.
According
to the chief of surgery, the risk of death from this medical procedure is about
the same from an airplane crash or from a nuclear reactor meltdown.
a. the
same as an airplane crash or
b. the
same as from an airplane crash as well as that from
c. the
same as from an airplane crash or
d. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Read
the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course
of action for an editor to take.
Nothing
is more disgusting to Ruth but seeing toads squashed on the side of the road.
a. Change
the main verb to "were" to correct subject-verb agreement.
b. Change
"seeing" to "to see."
c. Change
"but" to "than" and place "squashed" before
"toads."
d. Delete
"more" and insert "most."
e. b
and c
Read
the following sentence and identify the type of error contained in the
underlined part.
Although
Ralph didn't like the name-calling and teasing he endured from the cool kids,
he found their pointed silence equally as upsetting.
a. Unnecessary
shift in voice
b. Faulty
phrasing
c. Inappropriate
use of passive voice
d. Redundancy
e. This
sentence is correct.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)So
the guy breaks into our house, steals our stuff, and
2)then
slips on the ice in the driveway on his way out,
3)breaking
his ankles. And guess what? He hit us with a
4)personal
injury suite. Isn't that the most ridiculous
5)tragedy
of justice you ever heard of?
a. Edit
lines (1) and (2) for comma usage errors.
b. Edit
line (4) for spelling error.
c. Edit
line (5) for word choice error.
d. b
and c
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
I
was truly shocked—could anyone have suspected such a thing?—to hear the news of
his arrest. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he run on a platform of
"family values?" I guess it just goes to show the hypocrisy of our
elected officials and how they take us for...well, perhaps it's better if I
just leave it at that.
a. Place
the question mark in the second sentence outside the quotation marks.
b. Replace
the em dashes with parentheses.
c. Recast
the last sentence to avoid the use of ellipsis points.
d. Insert
a comma after "officials" in the last sentence.
e. a
and d
f. This
passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)Greta,
who is completely enamored of her new
2)designer
handbag, is even more enamored of the
3)envious
glances she receives from her pals.
4)Made
of buttery leather, Greta's fashionista friend just
5)had
to run out and get one of her own.
a. Edit
lines (1) and (2) for diction.
b. Edit
lines (2) and (3) for adjective usage.
c. Edit
line (4) for dangling modifier.
d. Edit
line (5) for phrasal verb usage.
e. This
passage does not need editing.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)Knowing
she had no right for privacy as long
2)as
she stayed in the convent, Marta hid her forbidden
3)diary
in the secret compartment she'd discovered
4)besides
the confessional in the chapel.
a. Edit
lines (1) and (4) for preposition usage.
b. Edit
lines (2) and (3) for pronoun usage.
c. Edit
line (2) for modifier placement.
d. Edit
line (1) for participle use.
e. Edit
line (3) for verb tense.
f. This
passage does not need editing.
Read
the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course
of action for an editor to take.
Don't
flatter yourself! Susannah had no intention of crying for you regardless of
whether you had a banjo on your knee, came from Alabama, or were headed to
Louisiana!
a. Change
"regardless of whether" to "irregardless of whether or
not."
b. Query
the author about the validity of the implication that banjos can be balanced
upon knees.
c. Change
verbs to present tense.
d. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
After
a whole morning of experimenting with all these new potions and pills, I'm
sorry to say that my migraine is as bad today as yesterday.
a. is
as bad today just as it was yesterday
b. is
as bad today as it was yesterday
c. was
worse today than it had been yesterday
d. was
as bad today as yesterday
e. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Read
the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course
of action for an editor to take.
Try
and imagine a mental picture of someone struggling with the activity of trying
to learn what the fingerings and techniques are for how to play the flute.
a. Delete
the phrase "with the activity of trying" to eliminate wordiness.
b. Change
"Try and" to "Try to" to correct faulty phrasing.
c. Recast
the entire sentence to fix multiple style and usage errors.
d. Query
the author about flute-playing techniques.
e.
Delete "a mental picture" to eliminate redundancy.
Which
of the following sentences requires editing to correct general errors in
grammar, usage, or style?
a. While
Paris smashed all records for tourism revenue this year, it still lags well
behind other European cities in exports.
b. Do
you know the blonde woman in the red car that is rounding the corner at this
very moment?
c. Senator
Clark would go to any lengths to deter his constituents going to support his
rival.
d. The
marketing department's performance has been decidedly lackluster this quarter;
its efforts haven't brought in any revenue whatsoever.
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
If
all goes according to plan, three years from now Agatha will marry, give birth
to two children, and learn how to juggle a hectic career in between.
a. marries,
gives birth to two children, and learns how to juggle
b. has
married and given birth to two children, and had already learned how to juggle
c. will
marry and give birth to two children, and she will learn how to juggle
d. will
have married, given birth to two children, and learned how to juggle
e. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Read
the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course
of action for an editor to take.
A
recent study by a team of UCLA sociologists confirmed that the average female
moviegoer expects to see at least three romantic scenes per film, and that they
are seldom disappointed.
a. Change
all verbs to the present tense.
b. Change
all verbs to the past tense
c. Edit
"and that they are seldom disappointed" to correct error in
pronoun-antecedent agreement.
d. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Which
of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct a comparison
error?
a. Annabel
thinks her sister's apple pies are better than the bakery.
b. Did
I ever tell you that you complain more than anyone I know?
c. We
specialize in producing Belgian chocolates that contain 50% less fat.
d. The
symptoms of typhoid quite often resemble those of fever.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)If
you are concerned about wrinkles and other telltale signs of age,
2)you
should know that prolonged sun exposure has at least two damaging effects:
3)not
only is the wrinkling of the skin hastened, but it may also result in
4)lowered
immunity against infection.
a. Edit
line (1) for redundancy.
b. Edit
line (2) for passive voice.
c. Edit
line (3) for unnecessary shift in voice.
d. Edit
line (4) for faulty phrasing.
e. This
passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
Read
the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course
of action for an editor to take.
Happiness
has always and will always be an elusive element in my life, yet I don't let
that fact bother me too much.
a. Delete
the comma after "life."
b. Change
"has always" to "has always been" to correct the parallel
structure of the first clause.
c. Enclose
"Happiness" in quotation marks to show its status as a concept.
d. Change
"elusive" to "illusive" to correct diction error.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
The
news of the avalanche shocked the citizens of our little town. Fortunately,
however, Sven was the only one of the skiers who were injured in the incident.
a. Correct
the spelling error in the first sentence.
b. Delete
the comma after "Fortunately".
c. Delete
"Sven was" and insert "was Sven" after
"incident".
d. Change
"were" to "was" in the second sentence to correct an error
in subject-verb agreement.
Which
of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct voice,
wordiness, or redundancy?
a. The
focus of the meeting centered around the issue of the adult video store, which
had been built in close proximity to an elementary school.
b. At
the time that Ronald wrote his dissertation, he had no idea that he would one
day become a world-renowned mathematician.
c. It
is expensive to upgrade the software every year; this has had a detrimental
effect on our bottom line.
d. Because
the factory fire started due to negligence, the
All
of the above sentences require editing for voice, wordiness, or redundancy.
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
It
will require diligence and careful planning to rebuild the town's
infrastructure and create systems of protection for future hurricanes.
a. create
systems of protection about future hurricanes
b. to
create systems of protection regarding future hurricanes
c. create
those systems needed to protect that infrastructure from any future hurricanes
d. create
systems of protection against future hurricanes
e. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Which
of the following sentences requires editing to correct a modifier usage error?
a. Your
opinion will greatly influence the outcome of today's vote.
b. Wendy barely threw the ball two feet, thereby
losing the game for the team.
c. Having
sung his heart out, Billy took a bow and exited stage left.
d. "This
cake tastes wonderful," said Frederick, "but I'd prefer fewer raisins
next time."
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
Outsourcing
our accounting and collections tasks has really laid credence to our company.
Our customers now perceive us to be bigger than we are and are certainly put
hard to ignore their outstanding invoices.
a. Edit
the first sentence to correct the error in diction.
b. Edit
the second sentence to correct the idiomatic error.
c. Recast
the second sentence for logic and parallel structure.
d. a
and b
e. a
and c
f. This
passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
Read
the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course
of action for an editor to take.
The
forthcoming community celebration in Tuscaloosa has many surprises in store for
whomever arrives before nine in the morning and manages to find one of the
fifteen special golden tickets hidden in the haystack at the entrance.
a. Change
"forthcoming" to "imminent" to clarify the intent of the
sentence.
b. Change
"has" to "will have had."
c. Change
the correlative pronoun to "whoever."
d. Place
a comma after "tickets."
e. c
and d
Which
of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct errors in
diction or spelling?
a. He
told jokes for half an hour before finally homing in on the point of his
lecture.
b. You
really hit the nail on the head with your idea—it's really the idyllic
solution.
c. The
court's decision impelled the disgraced politician to hand over all his
correspondence.
d. Would
you go ask the secretary to disperse some money from petty cash for the
luncheon?
Which
of the following sentences requires editing to correct an error in parallel
structure?
a. We
applauded him not only for admitting his serious offenses and helping the
police, but also for expressing his sincere regret for the pain he had caused.
b. The
merger led to restructuring the internal systems, redefining the roles of each
department, and realigning the company's goals to those of its parent company.
c. According
to a recent survey, the average French woman speaks two languages, marries and
divorces twice in her lifetime, and drinks seventeen gallons of wine a year.
d. "This
is a time not for words, but action!" roared the candidate, backed up by
the deafening cheers of the crowd.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
"Your
sister's behavior has been a bit odd lately, have you noticed?" Gladys
asked. "I mean, I know she's never been the sharpest marble in the drawer,
but I think she's really gone over the deep end now."
a. Delete
"I mean" to eliminate wordiness.
b. Keep
quoted speech together by moving "Gladys asked" to the end of the
passage.
c. Edit
the second sentence to correct the mixed metaphors.
d. Recast
the first sentence to correct the order of the adverbs.
e. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Which
of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct the unnecessary
use of passive voice?
a. The
award was received joyously by Mr. Pocklock for his volunteer service.
b. He
was so pleased, he began to dance a jig and didn't stop until dawn.
c. The
spectacle was watched by the entire population of the town.
d. When
he was finished, handcuffs were put on him by the police, who then carted him
away.
Which
of the following sentences requires editing to correct a word usage error?
a. Although
everyone in the acting troupe was talented, Samantha always got the leading
role.
b. Alfred
latched onto Amy although he'd been waiting for her all his life.
c. Clarissa
trumped Claude not only in talent but also in popularity.
d. No
improvement in our conditions will be possible unless the naysayers are weeded
out.
Which
of the following sentences requires editing to correct an error in
pronoun-antecedent agreement?
a. Each
of the volunteers contributes a good deal to the cause in his or her own way.
b. A
number of ants are marching into their anthill outside the kitchen door.
c. Somebody
left their marbles on the bench; shall we find out whose they are?
d. Although
its members may have disagreed among themselves, the jury eventually handed its
unanimous verdict to the judge.
e. All
of the above require editing.
Read
the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of
action for an editor to take.
1)Whether
Steve is aware of it or not,
2)today
is the anniversary of us packing up the
3)house
and hightailing it to Canada. If I were
4)you,
I wouldn't remind him of it.
a. Edit
line (1) for structure and punctuation.
b. Edit
line (2) to correct error in possessive determiner.
c. Edit
line (3) to correct idiom and verb tense errors.
d. Edit
line (4) for pronoun reference.
e. This
passage does not need editing.
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
An
understanding of the manner in which different types of disciplinary tactics
affects student behavior will help us design better methods for classroom
management.
a. Understanding
how different types of disciplinary tactics affect student behavior
b. An
understanding of the way that disciplinary tactics affects student behavior
c. Having
an understanding of how different types of disciplinary tactics affect student
behavior
d. Different
types of disciplinary tactics affect students in diverse ways, and
understanding that
e. This
sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
Choose
the series of phrasal verbs that best completes the following passage.
Harold
cannot get over the fact that Maude _____________ every night of the week. If
he had his way, he'd ____________ until she realized how wonderful it was to
tuck into a nice home-cooked meal.
a. eats
out, tie her down
b. eats
up, tie her over
c. eats
in, tie her in
d. eats
over, tie her up
Read
the following closing paragraph of an Internet-based business-to-consumer sales
letter and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an
editor to take.
So
are you ready to get your head out of the weeds? CLICK HERE to order your
Garden Guru Deluxe package and FREE GardenFriend Tool Belt, and join more than
100,000 other hard-working people who now spend their weekends playing instead
of pruning! And just to sweeten the pot, I'll take off an additional 30% if you
order before December 10. You can't beat that with a stick!
Weedlessly
Yours,
Jay
Appleseed
President,
Garden Guru Inc.
P.S.
I have your deluxe Package and FREE gift ready to send to you. After you order
using your credit card, I'll send you your tracking number and full
instructions. Click here to order.
a. For
the sake of credibility, strongly suggest that the author back up his claim
that "100,000 people" own this product.
b. Change
instances of ALL CAPS to sentence case or lowercase as appropriate.
c. Recast
the entire closing to eliminate humor.
d. Delete
the unprofessional "P.S."
e. None
of the above actions are necessary. Though it may benefit from a little
tweaking, this closing is acceptable.
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
If
you have a copy of your resume, and if you have the completed application form,
you may go in to see the interviewer now.
a. resume;
and if the application form has been completed
b. resume,
an application form, then
c. resume
and a completed application form,
d. resume
and if a completed application form has been filled out by you,
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
At
this point in the play, we see that Hamlet has still not decided whether to
kill Claudius, despite brooding over it for quite some time.
a. despite
he brooded over it for quite some time
b. despite
having brooded over it for quite some time
c. despite
that he had been brooding over it for quite some time
d. despite
that he broods over it all the time
Choose
the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following
sentence.
Brooke
went with Carrie, Tom's event planner, to pick out flowers for Tom's luncheon,
but she couldn't find anything they liked; hence, they went home empty-handed.
a. but
he couldn't find anything they liked; hence she
b. but
she couldn't find anything they liked, hence she
c. but
they couldn't find anything they liked; hence, they
d. but
she couldn't find anything he liked; hence, they
Read
the following passage from a company report and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
As
part of the new incentive program instituted in the second quarter, each sales
employee was asked to forecast his own contribution to each period's total
profit and, based on that amount, to assign himself a year-end bonus. If the
employee reaches his goal, he will receive the stated bonus.
a. Query
the pronoun use (are all sales employees male?) and, if necessary, make
suggestions for gender-neutral alternatives.
b. Recast
the passage to eliminate use of jargon.
c. Rewrite
the entire passage to eliminate sexist language.
d. Edit
the last sentence to correct unnecessary verb tense shift.
e. This
passage is correct; the author should take no action.