As a copy editor who is well-versed in the principles of search engine optimization (SEO), I understand the importance of crafting high-quality content that not only informs and engages readers, but also ranks well on search engines. One aspect of writing that is crucial for both readability and SEO is subject-verb agreement.
Subject-verb agreement refers to the idea that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number (i.e. singular or plural). This means that if the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb must be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. This may seem like a simple concept, but there are some tricky cases where subject-verb agreement can become confusing.
One such case is known as « Rule 10 » or the « Agreement with Collective Nouns » rule. Collective nouns are words that refer to a group of people or things as a single entity, such as « team, » « family, » or « government. » When using collective nouns as the subject of a sentence, it can be difficult to know whether to use a singular or plural verb.
The general rule is that if the collective noun is being used to refer to the group as a single entity, a singular verb should be used. For example, « The team is playing well this season. » In this case, « team » is being treated as a single entity, and therefore the singular verb « is » is used.
However, if the collective noun is being used to refer to the individual members of the group, a plural verb should be used. For example, « The team are celebrating their victory. » In this case, « team » is being used to refer to the individual members of the team, so the plural verb « are » is used.
Here are a few more examples of collective nouns and how the rule applies:
– The family is going on vacation. (referring to the family as a single entity)
– The family are arguing about where to go. (referring to the individual members of the family)
– The government is negotiating a new trade deal. (referring to the government as a single entity)
– The government are divided on the issue. (referring to the individual members of the government)
It`s important to note that there are some collective nouns that can be either singular or plural, depending on the context. For example, « audience » can be treated as either a single entity or as a group of individuals. In cases like this, it`s up to the writer to decide which verb form to use based on the intended meaning of the sentence.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an important aspect of writing that can have a big impact on both readability and SEO. By following Rule 10 and understanding how to use collective nouns correctly, writers can create clear, effective sentences that accurately convey their intended meaning.