Agreement and classification are two essential elements of effective writing. Agreement refers to the consistency of verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and pronoun-antecedent agreement in a sentence. Classification, on the other hand, refers to grouping similar ideas or items together to create a logical and coherent structure.
Agreement:
Consistency in verb tense is critical in maintaining clarity and coherence in writing. If a writer switches from past to present tense or vice versa, the reader may become confused or disoriented. For example,
Incorrect: John went to the store yesterday, and he buys some milk.
Correct: John went to the store yesterday, and he bought some milk.
Subject-verb agreement is also crucial in ensuring that a sentence makes sense. A singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. For example,
Incorrect: The group of people is going to the movies.
Correct: The group of people are going to the movies.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement means that a pronoun must agree with its antecedent (the noun it replaces) in gender, number, and person. For example,
Incorrect: Each student must bring their textbook to class.
Correct: Each student must bring his or her textbook to class.
Classification:
Classification refers to grouping similar ideas or items together in a logical and coherent way. This helps the reader understand the relationship between different concepts and makes the writing more organized.
One way to classify information is through the use of headings and subheadings. This allows the reader to quickly identify the main topics and subtopics of a piece of writing. For example,
Heading: Types of Fruits
Subheading 1: Citrus Fruits
Subheading 2: Berry Fruits
Subheading 3: Tropical Fruits
Another way to classify information is through the use of paragraphs. Each paragraph should contain one main idea or topic and be structured in a logical and coherent way. For example,
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Background information
Paragraph 3: Main idea 1
Paragraph 4: Main idea 2
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
In conclusion, agreement and classification are essential elements of effective writing. By ensuring consistency in verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and pronoun-antecedent agreement, and by grouping similar ideas or items together in a logical and coherent way, writers can create clear and organized content that is easy for readers to understand and follow.