As a copy editor, one of the most common issues I encounter in writing is sentences with disagreements. These sentences occur when the subject and verb do not agree in number or when the pronoun and antecedent do not agree in gender or number.
Sentence disagreements can create confusion and detract from the overall clarity and professionalism of the piece. For example, consider the following sentence: « The group of investors were impressed with the CEO`s presentation. » Here, the subject « group » is plural, but the verb « were » is plural, which creates a disagreement. To correct this, we would change the verb to the singular form, like this: « The group of investors was impressed with the CEO`s presentation. »
Similarly, in the sentence « Each student should bring their own lunch, » we see a disagreement between the singular pronoun « each » and the plural pronoun « their. » To reconcile this, we could change the pronoun to the singular form, like this: « Each student should bring his or her own lunch. »
It`s important to pay attention to sentence disagreements, as they can impact the meaning of the sentence and cause confusion for the reader. Here are some tips for identifying and correcting disagreements:
1. Look for subject-verb disagreements: Make sure the subject and verb agree in number. If the subject is singular, use a singular verb; if the subject is plural, use a plural verb.
2. Check for pronoun-antecedent disagreements: Make sure the pronoun agrees in gender and number with its antecedent. If the antecedent is singular, use a singular pronoun; if the antecedent is plural, use a plural pronoun.
3. Read the sentence aloud: This can help you hear whether the sentence flows smoothly and whether there are any awkward or confusing parts.
4. Use a grammar checker: There are many online tools and programs that can help you identify and correct sentence disagreements, such as Grammarly or Hemingway Editor.
In conclusion, sentence disagreements can be a common issue in writing, but they are easily corrected with attention and care. By paying close attention to your subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreements, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and professional.