Minor in agreement refers to a grammatical rule that governs the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence when the subject is a singular noun or pronoun that is not the main focus of the sentence. In simple terms, it means that the verb should be in the singular form in such cases.
However, there are exceptions to this rule. When the subject is a minor element in the sentence, it is possible for the verb to agree with the main element instead.
For instance, consider the sentence, “The collection of books on the shelf is vast.” The subject of this sentence is “collection,” which is a singular noun. According to the rule of minor in agreement, the verb should be in the singular form, i.e., “is.” This is because “collection” is the main focus of the sentence.
Now let`s look at another example: “One of the books on the shelf is missing.” Here, “one” is the subject, which is a singular pronoun. However, the verb is in the plural form, i.e., “are.” This is because the main focus of the sentence is “books,” which is a plural noun.
In short, the position of minor in agreement is determined by the context of the sentence. If the subject is the main focus, the verb should agree in the singular form. However, if the subject is a minor element, the verb can agree with the main element instead.
It is important to note that the rule of minor in agreement can be tricky, and many writers and speakers often make mistakes in this area. As a professional, it is essential to be aware of this rule and ensure that the content you edit adheres to this rule to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings among readers.
In conclusion, the position of minor in agreement is a grammatical rule that governs the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. It is important to follow this rule to ensure clear and effective communication. As a copy editor, it is crucial to be familiar with this rule and check for any errors related to minor in agreement while editing content.