A sentence that has disagreement can be a tricky thing to handle as a copy editor. This type of sentence occurs when the subject and verb do not agree in number, meaning that they refer to different quantities. The result is often an awkward and confusing sentence that can impact the clarity of your writing and your SEO efforts.

Disagreement can occur in a sentence for a few different reasons. One common cause is when the subject and verb do not match in terms of singular or plural form. For example, in the sentence «The group of students is excited to go on the field trip,» the subject «group» is singular, but the verb «is» is also singular, so these two parts of the sentence agree. However, in the sentence «The group of students are excited to go on the field trip,» the verb «are» is plural, which does not match the singular subject «group.»

Another cause of disagreement can be when the subject and verb do not match in terms of person. This often occurs when the subject is a collective noun, such as «team,» «committee,» or «staff.» In the sentence «The committee was divided on the issue,» the singular subject «committee» matches the singular verb «was.» However, in the sentence «The committee were divided on the issue,» the plural verb «were» does not match the singular subject «committee.»

Disagreement in a sentence can impact your SEO efforts because it can confuse both readers and search engines. If your writing is unclear or difficult to understand, users may be less likely to engage with it or share it with others. Additionally, search engines use readability and engagement as factors in their algorithms, so poorly written content may have lower search engine rankings.

To avoid disagreement in your writing, it is important to carefully check your subject-verb agreement. Make sure that your verb matches your subject in terms of both number and person. If you are unsure, try rephrasing the sentence to see if it helps to clarify the agreement. Remember, clear and accurate writing is key to both effective communication and successful SEO.