Subject-verb agreement is an essential component of good writing. It refers to the grammatical rule that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.

However, one often overlooked aspect of subject-verb agreement is when the subject is expressed as a fraction or a percentage. For example, the phrase “one in five” is a fraction that refers to 20% of a group. When using fractional or percentage expressions like this in a sentence, it is important to ensure that the subject-verb agreement is correct.

In the case of “one in five,” the subject is singular, but the fraction indicates a plural group. Thus, the verb should be plural to match the implied plurality of the subject. For example, the correct usage would be “one in five people are left-handed” and not “one in five people is left-handed.”

It is essential to understand the correct subject-verb agreement when using fractional or percentage expressions like “one in five.” Incorrect usage can undermine the clarity and credibility of your writing, as well as affect your search engine optimization (SEO).

Search engines like Google use complex algorithms that analyze content and rank it based on different metrics. One of the metrics used is the quality of the content itself, including grammar, accuracy, and readability. If your content is riddled with grammatical errors, search engines may lower your ranking, which can negatively affect your SEO efforts.

Therefore, it is crucial to double-check your subject-verb agreement when using fractional or percentage expressions like “one in five.” Doing so will ensure that your writing is both grammatically correct and optimized for search engines.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is essential in good writing, and proper usage when using fractional or percentage expressions like “one in five” is crucial. Always remember to match the verb with the implied plurality of the subject indicated by the fraction. By following this rule, you can improve the clarity, credibility, and SEO of your content.