As a copy editor, I have come across numerous articles, blog posts, and website copies that have some form of a dependency on keeping agreement. The notion of keeping agreement is a simple one: it means that all elements of a sentence or phrase should agree with each other in terms of tense, number, and person.
For instance, consider this sentence: “She walks to school.” Here, the subject (“she”) agrees with the verb (“walks”) in terms of number and person. If we were to change the subject to “they,” we would have to change the verb to “walk.” Thus, the sentence would become, “They walk to school.”
Similarly, in phrases like “the cat`s whiskers” or “the dog`s tail,” the apostrophe (`s`) agrees with the possessive noun (cat or dog) to indicate that the whiskers and tail belong to them respectively.
Now, you might be wondering how this rather basic grammar concept is relevant to SEO. Well, the answer is that keeping agreement is essential for effective communication, which, in turn, affects how your content is perceived by your readers and the search engines.
For example, if your web page is filled with grammatical errors, it will not only be difficult to read but will also reduce your credibility in the eyes of your audience. Search engines like Google not only prioritize sites that offer high-quality content but also consider the readability and clarity of the text.
Keeping agreement is also crucial for ensuring consistency in your writing. If you switch between tenses or persons without reason, it can create confusion and make your content appear disjointed. By maintaining agreement, you can provide your readers with a seamless reading experience that keeps them engaged and encourages them to explore more of your content.
Moreover, search engines love websites that are easy to read and understand. By keeping agreement in your text, you can improve your page`s readability score, which can have a positive impact on your search engine rankings.
In conclusion, keeping agreement is an essential aspect of effective writing and SEO. By paying attention to the details, such as tense, number, and person, you can create high-quality content that is easy to read, engaging, and optimized for search engines. As a copy editor, I always emphasize the importance of keeping agreement and encourage all writers to do the same.