{"id":"GRM-003","name":"Or/nor proximity agreement","domain":"grammar","layer":"clause","strength":"context_default","human_logic":"IF subject alternatives are joined by OR or NOR, THEN agree with the closest subject OR rewrite when the result sounds unstable ELSE retain.","when":{"all":[{"path":"clause.subject.coordinator","operator":"in","value":["or","nor"]},{"path":"clause.subject.head_count","operator":"gte","value":2}]},"then":[{"action":"align","target":"clause.verb.number","value_from":"clause.subject.nearest_head.number"},{"action":"flag","target":"clause","when":"mixed_number_heads","message":"Consider rewriting to avoid distracting proximity agreement."}],"else":[{"action":"retain","target":"current_text","reason":"No triggering condition is present."}],"unless":[],"because":"Proximity agreement is conventional, but a rewrite can reduce processing friction.","diagnostics":[],"examples":{},"source_ids":["BK-003","BK-010","WEB-011"],"laka":{"smallest_sufficient_intervention":true,"primary_axes":["scope","depth","magnitude","reversibility"]},"requires_facts":["clause.subject.coordinator","clause.subject.head_count"],"tests":[],"sources":[{"id":"BK-003","title":"Garner's Modern English Usage","creator":"Bryan A. Garner","domain":"usage_reference","type":"Book","note":"Modern American usage and editorial judgment.","url":null},{"id":"BK-010","title":"Practical English Usage","creator":"Michael Swan","domain":"usage_reference","type":"Book","note":"Advanced grammar and usage reference for learners and teachers.","url":null},{"id":"WEB-011","title":"Grammar, Punctuation, and Sentence Structure","creator":"Purdue Online Writing Lab","domain":"grammar_reference","type":"University writing resource","note":"Practical mechanics, clause, sentence, punctuation, and style guidance.","url":"https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/index.html"}],"defined_in":{"file":"07-core-grammar-rules.json","title":"Core Grammar Rules","slug":"core-grammar-rules"}}