Subject-verb agreement is an essential rule in English grammar. It requires that the subject and the verb in a sentence agree in person and number. In other words, a singular subject must have a singular verb, and a plural subject must have a plural verb. However, there are certain exemptions to this rule that every copy editor, especially those experienced in SEO, should be aware of.
One of the most common exemptions to the subject-verb agreement rule is with collective nouns. A collective noun is a noun that refers to a group of people or things. Examples of collective nouns include team, audience, committee, family, and staff. In these cases, the noun is singular, but it refers to a group of individuals. Therefore, the verb that follows should be in the plural form.
For example, “The team are practicing for the tournament” is correct, even though “team” is singular. This is because the verb “are” agrees with the collective noun “team” and the group of individuals it represents. Similarly, “The committee have decided to postpone the meeting” is correct because the verb “have” agrees with the collective noun “committee.”
Another exemption to the subject-verb agreement rule is with singular nouns that end in “s,” such as mathematics, physics, or politics. In these cases, the singular noun represents a subject that is treated as a concept, discipline, or area of study. Therefore, the verb that follows should be in the singular form.
For example, “Politics is a popular topic of discussion” is correct, even though “politics” is a plural word. This is because it represents a singular subject, namely the study of politics as a discipline, which is treated as a concept rather than a group of individuals.
Lastly, there are certain phrases that are singular in form but plural in meaning, such as “a number of,” “a lot of,” or “a few.” In these cases, the verb that follows should be in the plural form, even though the subject appears to be singular.
For example, “A number of people are attending the conference” is correct, even though “number” is singular. This is because “a number of” refers to a group of individuals, not a singular entity. Similarly, “A lot of students have already submitted their assignments” is correct because “a lot of” refers to a plural meaning.
In conclusion, while subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule in English grammar, there are several exemptions that every copy editor should be familiar with. Proper usage of collective nouns, singular nouns that end in “s,” and phrases with a plural meaning can help improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing, especially when it comes to SEO. Understanding these exemptions can make a big difference in the effectiveness of your content.