Identifying Sentences with Correct Agreement: A Guide

As a copy editor, it is crucial to ensure that every sentence you edit has correct agreement. This not only makes the content clear and easy to read but also helps improve its search engine optimization (SEO) ranking. Here are some tips to help you identify sentences with correct agreement:

1. Matching Subject and Verb

The first step in identifying correct agreement is ensuring that the subject of the sentence and the verb agree in number. If the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural too. For example:

– The cat drinks milk. (singular subject and verb)

– The cats drink milk. (plural subject and verb)

2. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Pronoun-antecedent agreement refers to the agreement between a pronoun and its antecedent (the noun it refers to). This means that the pronoun should match the number and gender of the antecedent. For example:

– Sarah likes her coffee black. (singular antecedent and pronoun)

– The dogs wagged their tails happily. (plural antecedent and pronoun)

3. Consistency in Tense

Consistency in tense is crucial in ensuring that the content is clear and easy to understand. If a sentence is written in the present tense, it should remain in the present tense, and if it is written in the past tense, it should remain in the past tense. For example:

– Jessica walks to work every day. (present tense)

– Jessica walked to work yesterday. (past tense)

4. Agreement in Comparisons

When making comparisons, it is important to ensure that the words being compared are in agreement. For example:

– The blue dress is prettier than the red one. (singular agreement)

– The blue dresses are prettier than the red ones. (plural agreement)

5. Indefinite Pronoun Agreement

Indefinite pronouns such as “everyone,” “nobody,” and “someone” pose a challenge in agreement. These pronouns are singular, so the verbs that follow should also be singular. For example:

– Everybody is going to the party. (singular agreement)

– Nobody likes to be criticized. (singular agreement)

In conclusion, correct agreement is essential in ensuring that content is clear, easy to read, and SEO-friendly. This improves the overall quality of the content and makes it more likely to be picked up by search engines. As a copy editor, it is crucial to identify sentences with correct agreement and make necessary adjustments to improve the quality of the content.