Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of writing that every writer, editor, and proofreader must understand to produce quality content. It refers to the proper matching of the subject and verb in a sentence. In this article, we`ll discuss the subject-verb agreement rule for "neither-nor."

"Neither-nor" is a correlative conjunction that is used to indicate negative choices or situations. It is often used in pairs to connect two singular subjects that are being negated. When using "neither-nor," it is essential to note that the verb agrees with the closest subject to it.

For example, "Neither the cat nor the dog is fed" is correct because "dog" is closest to the verb "is" although we have two subjects. In this sentence, "neither" is the negative word, and "nor" is the conjunction that connects the subjects. The verb "is" agrees with the second subject, which is "dog."

Another example is, "Neither the teacher nor the students are interested in the subject." In this sentence, "neither" is the negative word, and "nor" is the conjunction that connects the subjects. The verb "are" agrees with the noun "students" because it is the closest subject to it.

It is essential to note that when using "neither-nor" in a sentence, the verb always follows the second subject. This rule applies regardless of the number of subjects in the sentence.

Here are some more examples:

- Neither my sister nor my brother was able to attend the party.

- Neither the company nor the employees are responsible for the mishap.

- Neither the book nor the movie was worth watching.

In conclusion, the subject-verb agreement rule for "neither-nor" is straightforward. The verb always agrees with the closest subject to it, and it always comes after the second subject. This rule must be followed to ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and makes sense to your readers. As an SEO copy editor, it is essential to pay attention to these details to produce quality content that ranks high on search engines.