Why Subject–Verb Agreement Matters in Academic Texts
Even when content is strong, frequent subject–verb agreement errors can make a thesis look careless and distract examiners. Subject verb agreement academic writing Malaysia problems often appear when writers use long noun phrases, complex clauses, or data descriptions with percentages and quantities.
The aim of this guide is to demystify the main rules and show you how to apply them during proofreading.
Identify the Real Subject before Choosing the Verb
The first step in mastering subject verb agreement academic writing Malaysia is learning to identify the real subject of the sentence. In long subjects, extra information appears between the subject and verb, for example: “The set of questionnaires distributed to the students in three schools was…” Here, the real subject is “set,” not “questionnaires.”
When proofreading, cross out prepositional phrases like “of X,” “in Y,” or “with Z” and match the verb to the remaining core noun.
Singular and Plural with Indefinite Pronouns and Quantities
Some words look plural but are grammatically singular, and vice versa. In subject verb agreement academic writing Malaysia, be careful with words like “each,” “everyone,” and “none.” For example, “Each of the participants was interviewed,” not “were.”
For percentages and quantities, agreement often depends on the noun that follows: “Ten percent of the data was missing” (data as a collective), but “Ten percent of the respondents were male.”
Coordinated Subjects with “and”, “or”, and “either…or”
Another tricky area in subject verb agreement academic writing Malaysia is coordinated subjects. When two subjects are joined by “and,” the verb is usually plural: “School A and School B were selected.” However, with “or” and “either…or,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it: “Either the supervisor or the students are responsible,” but “Either the students or the supervisor is responsible.”
When proofreading, read these constructions carefully and adjust the verb according to the final subject.
Data, Information, and Other Uncountable Nouns
In everyday Malaysian English, it is common to treat words like “data” and “information” as plural, but in formal academic writing they are usually uncountable. For better subject verb agreement academic writing Malaysia, write “The data was analysed” or “The information is presented,” unless your discipline explicitly prefers the plural form “data are.”
Choose one convention in consultation with your supervisor and apply it consistently across the thesis.
Proofreading Strategy: One Focused Read Just for Agreement
Because agreement errors can be subtle, dedicate at least one proofreading round just to subject verb agreement academic writing Malaysia. Read slowly, sentence by sentence, and for each verb, ask “What is the subject? Is it singular or plural?” Mark uncertain cases and double-check with a grammar reference or supervisor.
Over time, this deliberate practice will help you notice and correct errors more automatically when drafting new sections.
