As a copy editor, it is important to have a thorough understanding of subject-verb agreement rules. Rule 8 is particularly important, as it deals with compound subjects connected by the words “or” and “nor.”

When two subjects are connected by “or” or “nor,” the verb should agree with the subject closest to it. For example, in the sentence “Either John or his friends are coming to the party,” the verb “are” agrees with the plural subject “friends,” rather than the singular subject “John.”

It is important to note that the subjects connected by “or” or “nor” can be both singular or both plural. In the sentence “Neither the dog nor the cat likes to be left alone,” the singular verb “likes” agrees with the closest subject “cat,” even though both subjects are singular.

However, if one of the subjects connected by “or” or “nor” is plural and the other is singular, the verb should agree with the closest subject. For example, in the sentence “Neither the cat nor her kittens were hungry,” the plural verb “were” agrees with the closest subject “kittens,” even though the singular subject “cat” is also mentioned.

It is important to pay close attention to subject-verb agreement when writing or editing content, as errors in this area can negatively impact the readability and credibility of the text. By following rule 8 and properly matching subjects with their verbs, writers and editors can ensure that their content is clear, concise, and professional.