Similitude Agreement

As a copy editor, one of the most important concepts to understand when it comes to grammar is similitude agreement. This term refers to the idea that words within a sentence should agree in terms of their number, gender, or person. When words are in agreement, it makes a sentence easier to read and understand, and it also helps to avoid any confusion or misinterpretation.

So, what exactly does similitude agreement mean in practice? Let`s take a look at some examples:

Number agreement: This refers to whether a word is singular or plural.

– Incorrect: The dog and cat runs in the park.

– Correct: The dog and cat run in the park.

In this example, the verb „run“ needs to be plural to match the subjects „dog“ and „cat.“

Gender agreement: This refers to whether a word is masculine, feminine, or neuter.

– Incorrect: The teacher asked each student to bring his own textbook.

– Correct: The teacher asked each student to bring their own textbook.

In this example, „his“ is only gender-specific to males, but the sentence is talking about both male and female students. Using the gender-neutral „their“ is a better option.

Person agreement: This refers to whether a word is first person (I, we), second person (you), or third person (he, she, they).

– Incorrect: He thinks they should go to the movies with me and you.

– Correct: He thinks they should go to the movies with us.

In this example, the word „us“ is the correct choice because it matches the first-person perspective of „me and you.“

Similitude agreement is a crucial part of crafting a well-written, grammatically correct sentence. Whether you`re a professional writer or just someone sending an email, taking the time to ensure your words are in agreement will help your message come across clearly and effectively. Remember to always check for number, gender, and person agreement in your writing to avoid any confusion or misinterpretation.