Convention vs Agreement Difference: What You Need to Know

In the world of language and grammar, there are certain terms that are often used interchangeably, but their meanings are actually different. Two of those terms are convention and agreement. While they may seem similar, understanding the convention vs agreement difference is important, especially for writers and editors who want to produce high-quality content that is easy to read and understand.

Convention:

A convention, in the context of language, refers to a common practice or usage that is widely accepted by a particular group of people. This could be a formal rule of grammar, such as the use of commas or semi-colons, or it could be an informal rule, such as the use of contractions or slang.

For example, in American English, it is convention to use a period to end a sentence, while in British English, it is convention to use a full stop. Similarly, in formal English writing, the convention is to avoid contractions, while in informal writing, such as blog posts or social media updates, it is convention to use contractions to make the writing sound more conversational.

Agreement:

Agreement, on the other hand, refers to the process of two or more parties coming together to reach a mutual understanding or consensus on a particular issue. In the context of language, agreement often refers to grammatical agreement, which is the process of ensuring that words in a sentence agree with each other in terms of number, person, and gender.

For example, in the sentence “The cat chased the mouse,” the verb “chased” agrees with the subject “cat” in terms of number (singular) and person (third person). Similarly, in the sentence “They are going to the store,” the verb “are going” agrees with the subject “they” in terms of number (plural) and person (third person).

Convention vs Agreement Difference:

The convention vs agreement difference can be summarized as follows: Convention refers to a widely accepted practice or usage, while agreement refers to the process of two or more parties coming together to reach a mutual understanding. While conventions can vary depending on the context or region, agreements are more absolute and are based on rules of grammar and syntax.

As a copy editor, it is important to be aware of both convention and agreement when editing content. By understanding the convention vs agreement difference, you can ensure that your writing and editing is consistent, accurate, and easy to read and understand.