Original independent concept / Copy editing

Common Ground

A short copy-editing exercise for a fictional community growing guide.

Common Ground complete source and suggested edit specimen.
Fictional source passage and suggested edit, created for this study.

The brief

The fictional guide welcomes people who share small growing spaces. Its original line has a subject–verb disagreement. The task is to correct the language while keeping the uncomplicated voice.

The decision

“Every plot” is singular, so “has” replaces “have”. The edit fixes agreement without adding an unverified claim about the programme. A comment can explain the decision so the author can accept it knowingly.

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