As a copy editor and someone well-versed in search engine optimization (SEO), knowing proper grammar and syntax is crucial when crafting compelling content that ranks well in search results. As such, identifying errors in subject-verb agreement is an important part of the job. In this article, we will take a look at a few examples and see which of the following sentences contains an error.
1. The group of students is going on a field trip tomorrow.
2. The herd of cows are grazing in the field.
3. The team of scientists have made a breakthrough discovery.
In sentence number 2, there is an error in subject-verb agreement. Cows, as a collective noun, should take a singular verb agreement, making it “is” instead of “are”. The corrected sentence should read, “The herd of cows is grazing in the field.”
In sentence number 1, “group of students” is singular, making “is” the correct verb agreement. In sentence number 3, “team of scientists” is also singular, making “has” the correct verb agreement, instead of “have”.
It is important for writers and editors to pay attention to these types of errors because they can impact the clarity and effectiveness of the message being conveyed. In addition, proper subject-verb agreement can also have an impact on SEO, as search engines favor well-written, grammatically correct content.
In conclusion, while all of these sentences may seem grammatically correct at first glance, it is important to carefully examine each one to identify any errors in subject-verb agreement. By doing so, we can ensure that our writing is clear, effective, and optimized for search engines.
