As a copy editor, it’s important to be aware of the most common agreement problems that writers encounter when drafting content for the web. But what about those “other” agreement problems that can pop up unexpectedly? Here are some of the lesser-known agreement issues to watch out for as you edit your copy:
1. Subject-verb agreement with collective nouns
Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things that are considered as a single unit. Examples include “team,” “family,” “group,” and “audience.” When a collective noun is the subject of a sentence, it can be difficult to determine whether the verb should be singular or plural. In general, use a singular verb if the collective noun refers to the group as a single unit, and use a plural verb if the collective noun refers to the individuals within the group. For example:
– The audience is applauding. (The audience is acting as a single unit.)
– The audience are diverse in their opinions. (The individuals within the audience have different opinions.)
2. Agreement with singular they/their
In recent years, there has been a growing acceptance of using “they” and “their” as singular pronouns to refer to a person of unspecified gender. While this can be a useful tool in creating inclusive language, it can also lead to agreement problems if you’re not careful. When “they” or “their” is used as a singular pronoun, it should still be treated as plural for the purposes of verb agreement. For example:
– Everyone should bring their own lunch. (Correct)
– Everyone should bring their own lunch. (Incorrect)
3. Number agreement with “a number of” vs. “the number of”
The phrases “a number of” and “the number of” may seem interchangeable, but they actually require different forms of agreement. “A number of” is followed by a plural noun and takes a plural verb, while “the number of” is followed by a singular noun and takes a singular verb. For example:
– A number of people are attending the conference. (Correct)
– The number of attendees is higher than expected. (Correct)
– A number of people is attending the conference. (Incorrect)
– The number of attendees are higher than expected. (Incorrect)
By being aware of these “other” agreement problems, you can ensure that your copy is grammatically correct and error-free. Happy editing!