As a copy editor, one of the most important aspects of my job is ensuring that all the content I work on is grammatically correct. This includes making sure that all verb tenses and agreement are correct, as this can significantly impact how the content is perceived by readers and search engines.
One essential aspect of grammatical agreement is ensuring that subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text. This means that the verb must agree in number with the subject, whether it is singular or plural.
For example, consider the following sentence: ”The company`s profits have been steadily increasing.” Here, the subject is ”profits,” which is plural, so the verb ”have” must also be plural. If the sentence were written as ”The company`s profits has been steadily increasing,” it would be incorrect.
Another aspect of grammatical agreement is ensuring that pronouns agree in number and gender with their antecedents. For example, if the antecedent is singular and feminine, the pronoun used to refer to it must also be singular and feminine.
Consider this sentence: ”Mary is a great leader, and she always inspires her team to do their best.” Here, the antecedent is ”Mary,” which is singular and feminine, so the pronoun ”she” is also singular and feminine, agreeing with the antecedent.
When it comes to translations, keeping agreement consistent can be a bit more challenging. This is because different languages may have different rules for verb tenses and pronoun agreement. However, it is essential to ensure that the translated text still maintains proper grammatical agreement in the target language.
One way to ensure proper agreement in translations is to work closely with a professional translator who is experienced in the nuances of the target language. This can help ensure that any issues with agreement are caught and corrected before the translation is finalized.
Additionally, it is important to keep in mind the style and tone of the original text and ensure that the translated text maintains the same style and tone. This can help ensure that the final product is consistent and coherent, helping to improve the overall readability and impact of the content.
In conclusion, maintaining proper grammatical agreement is crucial for ensuring that content is communicative, clear, and effective. Whether working on original content or translations, it is essential to pay close attention to agreement in order to produce high-quality, professional content that resonates with readers and search engines alike.
