Angle Agreement
Angle agreement is a crucial element of grammar that every copy editor should master. It refers to the consistent perspective from which a piece of writing should be written. It ensures that the writer maintains a consistent point of view throughout the article, which ultimately helps the readers to understand the content effectively. Inconsistencies in angle agreement can cause confusion and disrupt the flow of the text.
Angle agreement is particularly important in news writing. News articles are usually written in one of the three angles – first person, second person, and third person. The first person angle is where the writer uses the pronouns ‘I’ and ‘we’ to narrate the story from their point of view. The second-person angle, on the other hand, uses the pronoun ‘you’ and is rarely used in news writing. The third-person angle, which is the most common in news writing, uses pronouns such as ‘he,’ ‘she,’ ‘they’ and ‘it’ to describe the events that are being reported.
When it comes to opinion articles, angle agreement takes on a slightly different meaning. In this type of writing, the writer’s perspective is central to the article, and the content is written from their point of view. It is essential to maintain this perspective throughout the article to ensure that readers understand your position. For example, if your perspective is that climate change is real, you should write from the angle that climate change is indeed happening, and not from a perspective that it might be a hoax.
Angle agreement is not restricted to writing from a specific point of view. It also applies to maintaining the same tense throughout an article. If the writer starts writing in the past tense, he or she must ensure that they continue in the same tense. Failure to do so can make the article appear disjointed and confusing.
In conclusion, angle agreement is a vital aspect of writing that every copy editor should be proficient in. It helps to maintain consistency in the perspective and tense used in the article, thereby improving its readability and clarity. Whether writing a news article or an opinion piece, maintaining angle agreement is crucial in ensuring that the message of your content is effectively communicated.