Agreement Is a Concord
Agreement is a Concord: Understanding the Importance of Consistency in Language
As copy editors, one of our primary responsibilities is to ensure the accuracy and clarity of the text we work on. This includes making sure that all the elements of the text are consistent in terms of grammar, punctuation, and style. One of the key components of consistency in language is agreement, or what is also known as concord.
Agreement refers to the grammatical match between different elements of a sentence, such as subjects and verbs, pronouns and antecedents, or nouns and adjectives. In general, agreement means that these elements must agree in terms of their number, gender, case, or person. For example, in the sentence “The dog barks loudly,” the subject “dog” is singular and the verb “barks” agrees with it in number and tense.
However, agreement is not just a matter of following strict rules or conventions. It is also a matter of creating coherence and meaning in language. When we use language, we are not just conveying information, we are also expressing attitudes, emotions, and intentions. Agreement helps us to do this by establishing a sense of order and harmony in our words.
For instance, when we use plural nouns or pronouns, we expect the accompanying verbs or adjectives to reflect that plurality, such as “Many people have come to the party” or “They are all happy about the news.” If we were to use singular verbs or adjectives instead, it would create confusion and disrupt the flow of the sentence.
Similarly, agreement also helps to avoid ambiguity and misunderstanding in language. When we use pronouns, for example, we need to make sure that they refer clearly to their antecedents, or the nouns they replace. If there is a mismatch or a vague reference, it can lead to confusion or even error in interpretation.
Therefore, as copy editors, we need to pay close attention to agreement in the text we are editing. This includes checking for consistency in terms of number, gender, case, and person, as well as ensuring that pronouns and antecedents match clearly. We also need to consider the context and purpose of the text, and whether the language is appropriate for the intended audience and tone.
In conclusion, agreement is a fundamental principle of language that goes beyond mere grammar or syntax. It is a way of creating coherence, meaning, and clarity in our words, and of building trust and credibility with our readers. Therefore, we should strive to uphold the principles of agreement in all the texts we work on, and to promote a culture of consistent language use in our writing and communication.