As a copy editor experienced in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), it is essential to ensure that every sentence in an article is grammatically correct. It is crucial to avoid errors in grammar, punctuation, and syntax as such mistakes can significantly impact search engine rankings and readers` perception of the content.
One of the most common grammatical errors is subject-verb agreement. It means that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number – singular or plural. If they do not, the sentence becomes unclear and confusing, and the message is lost.
For instance, consider the following example: “The group of students is excited about their upcoming exams.” Here, there is an agreement error between “group,” a singular subject, and “their,” a plural pronoun. The correct version of the sentence would be, “The group of students is excited about its upcoming exams,” where “its” is a singular pronoun that agrees with a singular subject.
In this article, we will explore some revised sentences that correct agreement errors.
Example Sentence: My family and I (am/are) planning a trip to Hawaii next year.
Revised Sentence: My family and I are planning a trip to Hawaii next year.
Explanation: In this sentence, there is a subject-verb agreement error between “family and I,” a plural subject, and “am,” a singular verb. The correct version of the sentence would be “My family and I are planning a trip to Hawaii next year,” where “are” is a plural verb that agrees with the plural subject.
Example Sentence: The dog, along with its toys, (was/were) lost in the park.
Revised Sentence: The dog, along with its toys, was lost in the park.
Explanation: In this sentence, there is an agreement error between “dog,” a singular subject, and “were,” a plural verb. The correct version of the sentence would be “The dog, along with its toys, was lost in the park,” where “was” is a singular verb that agrees with the singular subject.
Example Sentence: The team of scientists (was/were) awarded for their research on climate change.
Revised Sentence: The team of scientists was awarded for their research on climate change.
Explanation: In this sentence, there is a subject-verb agreement error between “team,” a singular subject, and “were,” a plural verb. The correct version of the sentence would be “The team of scientists was awarded for their research on climate change,” where “was” is a singular verb that agrees with a singular subject.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of grammar that must be given due importance while writing and editing content. By ensuring that every sentence in an article is grammatically correct, copy editors can improve the readability of the content and enhance its search engine rankings. The revised sentences shown above are some examples of how to correct agreement errors.