As a copy editor, it`s important to have a strong grasp on language and vocabulary. One term that may come up in your work is “word agreement.” But what exactly does that mean? And is there another phrase you can use to describe it?
Word agreement is the concept of ensuring that the words in a sentence or phrase match in tense, number, and gender. For example, if you were writing a sentence about a group of people, you would want to make sure the pronouns you use match the number of people in the group. So instead of saying “Each person walks to their cars,” which is incorrect because “each person” is singular and “their” is plural, you would want to say “Each person walks to his or her car.”
But if you`re looking for another word or phrase to describe this concept, you could use “subject-verb agreement.” This is a more specific term that refers to the matching of the subject and verb in a sentence. For example, if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular as well. So instead of saying “The dogs runs in the park,” which is incorrect because “dogs” is plural and “runs” is singular, you would want to say “The dogs run in the park.”
Another phrase you could use is “grammatical agreement,” which encompasses both of these concepts and refers to the matching of all grammatical elements in a sentence. This includes not just the subject and verb, but also pronouns, adjectives, and more.
It`s important to note that while these concepts may seem basic, they are crucial for clear and effective communication. A sentence with poor word agreement or grammatical agreement can be confusing or even nonsensical. As a copy editor, it`s your job to ensure that everything in a piece of writing is correct and easy to understand.
In conclusion, while “word agreement” is a common term in editing, you can also use “subject-verb agreement” or “grammatical agreement” to describe the same concept. Whatever phrase you use, make sure you`re paying close attention to the details to ensure that the writing is clear and correct.