Hi Jeff,

Yes, you should remove the blank page from sitemap. This will not de-index the previuos indexed.
If there aren't lots of pages, after updating the sitemap and updating Search Console with that sitemap, send request to remove those from the index.
That can be done in the Search Console account too.

Best Luck.
GR.

Hi Brett,

I've the same situation with a client. We focused on the singular and ranked higher with the plural.
Of course the optimization were done for the singular keyword.

The reasons we found:

• CTR in serps,
• Search volume, lower in this case
• Several links with the plural keyword.

hope it helps.

Hi Aslan,

The answer here should be to target the phrase that best matches the user intent. 
If Google considers you as a good answer for "services" will also be a good answer for "service". Probably won't rank on the same position, yet will be on the same page.
As English is not my mother tongue, I'll try to help you with how I'd solve it.

First of all, please don't rely on private metrics and private tools that try to simulate what's seen on google. They do their best but **never will reflect **how Google ranks a page nor how many impressions it might have.

This is the way I'd try to solve this issue:

1. As you already have some research, I'd go with that: "... services", the plural one.
2. After some time, you'll see in GSC on which phrases your page is ranking.
3. There you can check whether the plural or singular version has more search volume
4. Update your content with some extra information and, if needed, change the main phrase. Google will reward you
5. Go back to 2.

Hope it helps,
Best luck.
Gaston

Hello Rosemary,
Yeap, it is possible to tell Google your sitemap. In this article (official Webmasters Central), they offer 3 options:

1. Via Search Console.
2. Via the robots.txt file.
3. Using a HTTP Ping.

Hope I've helped.
Best luck.
GR.