As a copy editor with extensive experience in search engine optimization (SEO), one of the most common grammatical errors I have come across is improper subject-verb agreement. This mistake not only affects the clarity and professionalism of the written text, but it can also have a negative impact on the search ranking of the website. In this article, I will focus on the importance of proper verb agreement on a popular educational website, Twinkl.
Twinkl is a website that offers thousands of teaching resources to educators and parents alike. It offers printable materials, interactive games, and other educational content to help children learn and develop. As a website with a huge amount of content, it is important for Twinkl to maintain high-quality writing that is free of grammatical errors. This is particularly important for SEO purposes, as search engines like Google prioritize websites with high-quality content that engages readers and keeps them on the site for longer periods of time.
One of the most common verb agreement errors I have seen on Twinkl is when the verb and its subject do not agree in number. This often happens when the subject is a collective noun, such as “team,” “group,” or “class.” For example, the sentence “The class were discussing their favorite books” should be corrected to “The class was discussing its favorite books,” as “class” is a singular noun and should take a singular verb.
Another common error is when the subject of the sentence is a compound noun, such as “chocolate cake.” For example, the sentence “Chocolate cake with sprinkles are my favorite dessert” should be corrected to “Chocolate cake with sprinkles is my favorite dessert,” as the subject “chocolate cake with sprinkles” is singular and requires a singular verb.
Proper subject-verb agreement is not only important for SEO purposes, but also for the clarity and professionalism of the text itself. When a website has accurate and grammatically correct content, it not only helps to establish credibility with readers, but also with search engines. In addition, proper verb agreement helps to ensure that the intended meaning of the text is conveyed clearly and effectively.
In conclusion, proper verb agreement is an essential component of high-quality writing for any website, including Twinkl. As a professional, I have seen firsthand how improper verb agreement can negatively affect search ranking and reader engagement. Therefore, it is important for all writers and editors to pay close attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure that it is consistent throughout their writing.