Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical rule that is often ignored by writers, but it is an important factor to consider when writing content for the web. The correct agreement between the subject and the verb can improve the readability of your text and help your content rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

What is subject-verb agreement?

Subject-verb agreement refers to the relationship between the subject and the verb in a sentence. When the subject of the sentence is singular, the verb must be singular as well. Conversely, when the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well.

For example:

– The cat is sleeping. (singular subject with a singular verb)

– The cats are sleeping. (plural subject with a plural verb)

Why is subject-verb agreement important for SEO?

Proper subject-verb agreement can increase the readability of your content. When readers encounter a sentence with incorrect agreement, it can be confusing and disrupt the flow of the text. This can lead to a higher bounce rate and decreased engagement, which negatively impacts your SEO.

In addition, search engines use algorithms to analyze the quality of content on websites. These algorithms take into account factors such as readability, so if your content is difficult to read or poorly written, it may not rank as well in SERPs.

How can you ensure proper subject-verb agreement in your content?

1. Pay attention to the subject and verb in each sentence. Is the subject singular or plural? Make sure the verb matches.

2. Be aware of tricky subjects. For example, some nouns look plural but are actually singular (e.g. news, athletics, politics). In these cases, use a singular verb.

3. Don`t be fooled by intervening phrases. Sometimes a prepositional phrase or clause can come between the subject and the verb, making it harder to determine the correct agreement. However, the subject and verb must still agree regardless of any intervening words.

4. Read your sentences aloud. This can help you catch any errors in agreement that may not be immediately apparent when reading silently.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an important aspect of SEO-friendly writing. By ensuring proper agreement between the subject and verb, you can improve the readability of your content and increase your chances of ranking well in search engine results.