As a copy editor, it`s important to ensure that the nouns and pronouns in your writing agree in number and gender. Noun-pronoun agreement errors can make your writing confusing and difficult to read, which can hurt your SEO results. Luckily, there are exercises you can do to improve your noun-pronoun agreement skills.

1. Identify the antecedent: The first step to improving your noun-pronoun agreement is to identify the antecedent. The antecedent is the noun that the pronoun replaces. Make sure it matches the number and gender of the pronoun you choose.

2. Practice with singular and plural pronouns: Practice using singular and plural pronouns in sentences that contain both singular and plural antecedents. For example, “Samantha and her friends went to the store. They bought a cake for her birthday.” In this sentence, “Samantha and her friends” is plural, so the pronoun “they” also needs to be plural.

3. Use gender-neutral pronouns: When referring to someone who identifies as nonbinary or when the gender of the subject is unknown, use gender-neutral pronouns like “they/them” or “ze/hir.” For example, “Taylor left their phone at home” instead of “Taylor left his or her phone at home.”

4. Verify pronoun placement: Make sure that the pronoun is in the correct place in the sentence and is appropriately modifying the antecedent. For example, “The doctor gave the patient a prescription for their medication” should be revised to “The doctor gave the patient a prescription for his or her medication.”

5. Review and revise: After you`ve finished writing a piece, review it carefully for any noun-pronoun agreement errors. Revise any errors you find and re-read your writing to ensure that it flows smoothly and is easy to understand.

Improving your noun-pronoun agreement skills will not only make your writing clearer but also improve your SEO results. By following these exercises, you`ll be able to identify and correct noun-pronoun agreement errors quickly and accurately.