CPW Editing & Proofreading 5

Question 1

A text reads: 'The principle reason for editing is clarity.' What error is present?

Accepted Answer

'Principle' should be 'principal'

Answer

'Principal' (meaning primary or main) is the correct word here; 'principle' refers to a rule or belief.

Question 2

Which approach best defines 'global editing' versus 'local editing'?

Accepted Answer

Global editing addresses big-picture issues like organization; local editing addresses sentence-level issues

Answer

Global editing focuses on macro-level concerns (structure, flow, argument) while local editing targets sentence- and word-level corrections.

Question 3

When editing for concision, which revision of 'due to the fact that' is preferred?

Accepted Answer

because

Answer

'Because' is the concise replacement for the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that.'

Question 4

A manuscript consistently uses the Oxford (serial) comma. An editor should:

Accepted Answer

Maintain the Oxford comma throughout to ensure consistency with the chosen style

Answer

If the manuscript's style guide requires the Oxford comma, the editor must apply it consistently throughout.

Question 5

Which sentence correctly places the period relative to quotation marks in American English?

Accepted Answer

She said, "The draft is ready."

Answer

In American English, periods and commas are placed inside closing quotation marks.

(CPW) Certified Professional Writer Practice Test