Summary
Subject–verb agreement is one of the most frequent challenges for non-native English speakers writing theses and dissertations. Although English grammar follows predictable rules, several constructions behave differently and can easily create errors, particularly in long, complex academic sentences.
This article explains three important structures that require special attention: (1) subjects joined by or/nor, especially when combined with mixed singular and plural forms; (2) singular subjects followed by modifying phrases such as “along with,” “in addition to” or “accompanied by,” which do not change the verb form; and (3) subjects separated from the verb by long intervening clauses, where writers must ignore all middle nouns and match the verb only to the true subject.
Mastering these structures improves clarity, accuracy and scholarly professionalism. Writers who understand these patterns can avoid common agreement mistakes, strengthen the credibility of their thesis or dissertation and present ideas with confidence and precision.
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Subject–Verb Agreement Tips for Stronger Theses and Dissertations
Achieving accurate subject–verb agreement is a vital part of producing polished, professional academic writing. For native and non-native speakers alike, agreement errors can slip into drafts when sentences become long and complex—something almost unavoidable in a thesis or dissertation. These errors may seem small, but they can distract examiners, weaken arguments and suggest imprecision. By understanding the exceptions and special structures that challenge agreement rules, you can strengthen your academic voice and improve the clarity of your scholarly writing.
This expanded guide examines three grammatical constructions that frequently cause difficulty for thesis and dissertation writers. Each section provides clear explanations, examples, common pitfalls and practical strategies for avoiding errors in your own work.
1. Understanding the Foundations of Agreement
In English, verbs must agree in number with their subjects: singular subjects require singular verbs, and plural subjects require plural verbs. Basic examples include:
- The hypothesis is supported.
- The results are statistically significant.
Although simple sentences pose few problems, challenges arise when subjects become more complicated or when multiple nouns appear near the verb. Academic writing typically involves long noun phrases, embedded clauses and carefully structured comparisons, making agreement accuracy essential but also easy to overlook.
The three structures below appear widely across dissertations in all disciplines—from humanities to science and engineering—so mastering them is essential.
2. Agreement with Subjects Linked by Or and Nor
When two singular subjects are linked by or or nor, the verb remains singular. For example:
- Mark or Mary visits the library each morning.
- Neither the introduction nor the conclusion requires revision.
However, a special rule applies when the subjects differ in number—one singular and one plural. In these cases, the verb must agree with the subject closest to it. This is known as the proximity rule.
2.1 The proximity rule in action
- The mediator or the employees open the discussion.
- The employees or the mediator opens the discussion.
Although the same nouns appear in both sentences, the order determines the verb form. This grammar pattern often surprises writers and can lead to inconsistent agreement in drafts.
2.2 Common mistakes
The most frequent errors include:
- automatically using a plural verb when one subject is plural, regardless of order;
- ignoring the singular subject and incorrectly pluralising the verb;
- using a singular verb simply because or appears.
These errors can be especially noticeable in methodology or results sections where mixed subjects appear often (e.g., “the researcher or the participants…”).
2.3 Best practice for academic clarity
If the sentence feels awkward or confusing, revise it to avoid mixed-number subjects entirely. For example:
Either the mediator leads the discussion, or the employees do.
Such rewrites improve clarity and eliminate the risk of agreement errors.
3. Agreement with Modifying Phrases: “Along With,” “In Addition To,” “Accompanied By”
Academic writing frequently uses modifying phrases to add contextual information. Phrases beginning with along with, in addition to, accompanied by, as well as and similar expressions introduce additional nouns—but they do not change the grammatical subject.
Therefore, the verb must still match the first noun in the sentence, even if that noun is followed by plural modifiers.
3.1 Illustrative examples
- Margaret, accompanied by her fellow students, attends a thesis-writing support group.
- The students, along with their instructor, attend the conference.
In both cases, the verb correctly matches the main subject, not the nouns within the modifying phrase. This structure confuses writers because the plural noun inside the modifying phrase appears closer to the verb than the true subject.
3.2 Why this matters in dissertations
Theses and dissertations frequently include descriptive noun phrases such as:
- The survey data, together with participant comments…
- The primary researcher, along with two assistants…
When these appear in long sentences, writers often inadvertently use incorrect plural verbs. These errors can be noticeable to examiners and may create the impression that the writer is less confident in academic English.
3.3 Tip: Identify the “core subject” before choosing a verb
When proofreading, temporarily remove the modifying phrase and check agreement:
Margaret … attends ✓
The students … attend ✓
4. Agreement When Modifying Clauses Separate the Subject and Verb
The third challenge appears when a long clause or phrase interrupts the natural flow between the subject and its verb. Academic writers frequently embed information between commas or within relative clauses (“that…”, “which…”). These clauses contain additional nouns that can mislead the writer.
4.1 Key examples
- The paper that the students presented to the department is very good.
- The results, which the thesis candidate obtained despite numerous setbacks, have amazed the examiners.
Even though the modifying clauses contain nouns such as students or candidate, the verbs must agree only with paper and results, the true subjects.
4.2 Why writers struggle
Interruptions between the subject and its verb are common in academic writing because they allow authors to provide essential details. However, they also separate the verb from the primary subject, making it easy to choose the wrong form—especially when writing quickly.
4.3 Beware of grammar checkers
Even advanced tools such as Microsoft Word or AI-powered grammar systems sometimes incorrectly flag correct verb forms when a modifier is unusually long or complex. Writers should rely on grammatical logic rather than automated corrections.
4.4 Strategy: Reduce the sentence temporarily
To check agreement:
Remove the modifying clause and confirm the sentence still makes sense.
Example:
The results … have amazed the examiners. ✓
5. Practical Revision Strategies for Maintaining Correct Agreement
Ensuring correct subject–verb agreement throughout a full thesis or dissertation requires systematic revision, especially after making structural changes or responding to examiner feedback.
5.1 Isolate the subject first
Underline the grammatical subject in difficult sentences. This makes the correct verb choice much more obvious.
5.2 Check sentences with multiple nouns
When several nouns appear before the verb, identify which one actually performs the action.
5.3 Avoid excessive sentence length
Long sentences increase the risk of agreement mistakes. Break them into shorter, clearer sentences where possible.
5.4 Keep a personalised agreement checklist
Writers whose first language does not mark grammatical number often benefit from a personalised checklist that includes patterns they frequently misuse.
5.5 Read your work aloud
Hearing the sentence can reveal errors that remain invisible when reading silently.
6. Conclusion
Mastering subject–verb agreement is essential for producing clear, professional and academically credible writing. While English contains many straightforward rules, the three structures discussed—or/nor subjects, modifying phrases, and separated subjects—pose recurring challenges, especially in long, complex dissertation chapters.
By understanding these exception patterns and applying the strategies outlined above, you can significantly improve grammatical accuracy in your thesis or dissertation. Consistent agreement strengthens clarity, enhances readability and ensures your scholarly work is presented with precision and professionalism.
If you need expert help ensuring correct agreement throughout your work, specialised dissertation proofreading services can provide a detailed, human review that strengthens grammar, clarity and academic quality.
