Book Editing Book Editor Trainer 5

Question 1

What does 'line editing' focus on compared to copyediting?

Accepted Answer

The art of language—flow, tone, word choice—rather than strict mechanics

Answer

Legal clearances and permissions

Answer

Page numbering and headers

Answer

Printing and binding specifications

Question 2

An editor should flag a 'dangling modifier' in which sentence?

Accepted Answer

Running late, the bus was missed.

Answer

Running late, Sarah grabbed her coat.

Answer

Sarah, running late, grabbed her coat.

Answer

While running late, Sarah grabbed her coat.

Question 3

What is the editorial purpose of a 'cold read'?

Accepted Answer

Reviewing text fresh without prior context to catch errors objectively

Answer

Reading the manuscript aloud for an audience

Answer

Editing only the first cold chapter

Answer

Reading the contract terms

Question 4

When an author and editor disagree on a stylistic change, professional practice is for the editor to:

Accepted Answer

Explain the reasoning and let the author retain final say

Answer

Make the change without telling the author

Answer

Remove the entire passage

Answer

Refuse to continue editing

Question 5

Which is the best reason to maintain a consistent point of view (POV) in fiction editing?

Accepted Answer

To avoid confusing readers with unintended head-hopping

Answer

To reduce the page count

Answer

To satisfy copyright law

Answer

To shorten chapter lengths

Question 6

A 'back matter' element of a nonfiction book would be the:

Accepted Answer

Index

Answer

Dedication

Answer

Title page

Answer

Epigraph

Question 7

What is the editor's best response to inconsistent capitalization of a key term throughout a manuscript?

Accepted Answer

Decide on one form, record it on the style sheet, and apply it consistently

Answer

Leave it to the proofreader entirely

Answer

Capitalize it only in chapter titles

Answer

Alternate the forms for variety