As a copy editor experienced in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), it is important to not only ensure that your content is grammatically correct, but also optimized for search engines. One common grammar mistake that can affect your website`s search engine ranking is subject-verb agreement.
Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that states that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
To illustrate this point, let`s take a look at some examples:
1. The dog barks at the cat. (Correct subject-verb agreement)
2. The dogs barks at the cat. (Incorrect subject-verb agreement)
3. The dogs bark at the cat. (Correct subject-verb agreement)
In the second example, the subject “dogs” is plural, but the verb “barks” is singular. This creates a grammatically incorrect sentence that can negatively impact your website`s SEO.
Now, let`s test your knowledge. Which of the following sentences has the incorrect subject-verb agreement?
A. The team of players are celebrating their victory.
B. The pack of wolves hunts for its prey.
C. The herd of cattle was grazing in the field.
If you guessed “A”, you are correct. The subject “team” is singular, but the verb “are celebrating” is plural, which creates a grammatically incorrect sentence.
As a copy editor, it is important to not only catch these types of errors, but also to educate your clients on proper grammar and its impact on SEO. By producing content that is both grammatically correct and optimized for search engines, you can help your clients improve their online visibility and credibility.
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