As someone who has been working in the field of copy editing with a focus on SEO, I’ve come across a lot of grammatical errors that could negatively impact the chances of a piece of content ranking well on search engines. One of the most common mistakes I’ve encountered is subject-verb agreement errors.

Subject-verb agreement is a rule in grammar that ensures that the verb in a sentence agrees with the subject in terms of number. In simpler terms, it means that if the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular, and if the subject is plural, then the verb should be plural too. For instance, you would say “She walks” instead of “She walk,” which is incorrect.

This may seem like a small issue, but it can make a big difference in the readability and clarity of your writing. Incorrect subject-verb agreement can make your writing sound awkward and clumsy, reducing its effectiveness in conveying the intended message. It can also negatively impact your search engine rankings since search engines have algorithms that scrutinize content for readability, coherence, and grammar.

To ensure that you get your subject-verb agreement right, here are a few simple rules to follow:

1. Identify the subject – Before you can match the verb to the subject, you need to identify the subject in your sentence. The subject is typically the person or thing that is performing the action in the sentence.

2. Match the verb to the subject – Once you’ve identified the subject, match the verb to it. If the subject is singular, the verb should also be in the singular form. If the subject is plural, then the verb should be in the plural form.

3. Watch out for tricky subjects – Some sentences may have tricky subjects that can make it difficult to determine whether the verb agrees with the subject. For instance, if the subject is a collective noun (like a group, team, or herd), then the verb should match the noun’s plurality. Similarly, if the subject is a compound noun (like bread and butter), the verb should also be plural.

4. Pay attention to verb tense – Another important aspect of subject-verb agreement is verb tense. The verb tense should match the subject in terms of time. For example, if the subject is in the present tense, then the verb should also be present tense.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential rule in grammar that helps to ensure that your writing is clear, coherent, and effective. Paying attention to this rule will not only improve the quality of your content but also help to boost your search engine rankings. As a professional, I highly recommend that all content creators take the time to master this rule and apply it to their writing.