Percentages Subject Verb Agreement

Percentages subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of effective writing. As a professional, I have come across various instances where this grammar rule is either ignored or misunderstood, leading to confusion and ambiguity in the message being communicated.

The basic rule for subject-verb agreement is that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. When dealing with percentages, it is essential to determine whether the percentage represents a singular or plural subject to ensure proper subject-verb agreement.

If the percentage is being used to refer to a singular entity, then the singular verb form should be used. For instance, “50% of the pie has been eaten” is the correct construction since the percentage is referring to a singular subject (the pie). On the other hand, if the percentage refers to a plural entity, then the plural verb form should be used. For example, “50% of the students are attending the seminar” is correct since the percentage is referring to a plural subject (the students).

In some cases, determining whether the subject is singular or plural can be ambiguous. For example, consider the sentence, “50% of the people attending the seminar is/are from out of town.” The subject in this sentence can be interpreted as either singular (50% of the people) or plural (the people). In such cases, the context of the sentence should be considered to determine the correct subject-verb agreement. If the focus is on the percentage (i.e., the singular subject), then the singular verb form should be used, as in “50% of the people attending the seminar is from out of town.” However, if the focus is on the people (i.e., the plural subject), then the plural verb form should be used, as in “50% of the people attending the seminar are from out of town.”

In conclusion, percentages subject-verb agreement is an important aspect of effective writing that should not be ignored or misunderstood. Failing to apply this rule correctly can lead to confusion and ambiguity in the message being communicated. Therefore, as a professional, I recommend ensuring proper subject-verb agreement when dealing with percentages to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.