Mismatched subject and verb
This is a common pitfall of writing long, rambling sentences, though it can happen in shorter sentences too. In fact, you see (or hear) it everywhere – reports, newspapers, magazines, radio and TV.
Well, some sticklers may spot it, but it’s easy to overlook because it usually happens in more complex statements. So if as a writer you find yourself ‘completing the action’ with a verb a long way from the beginning, double-check that your verb is right!
Here are some examples.
Singular noun/plural verb
This mismatch occurs when a singular noun is the subject (the person or thing performing the action). In the sentence below, it’s ‘The optimism’:
The optimism of young musicians who are eager to use social media platforms as a way to attract big-name sponsors seem a little naïve in a crowded market.
A few phrases are added before we get to what the optimism does (the verb). But we have a plural verb, instead of a singular one:
✖ The optimism ... seem a little naïve.
✔ The optimism … seems a little naïve.
Another example:
✖ The sheer scale of the affluent family’s renovations are breathtaking.
✔ The scale … is breathtaking.
Plural noun/singular verb
The same thing can happen when you start with a plural noun as the subject:
✖ The lengths Taylor went to in defending the Australian-born pilot suggests it has become an issue.
✔ The lengths … suggest.
✖ The council’s measures to strip away some red tape from this heavily regulated sector, including the need for agencies to be affiliated, is a welcome step forward.
✔ The measures … are.
Why does it happen?
The writer is so busy piling on information that she forgets who’s doing what. This is more likely if several plural nouns appear along the way to camouflage a singular noun at the start:
✖ In 2013 an exhibition of these primitive paintings, carvings, bowls and feather objects were installed at the gallery.
✔ An exhibition … was installed.
The only consolation is that if the writer has wandered off, the reader probably won’t notice either!