Do you say "A scissor" or "Scissors"?

1. 91

   Katelyn Weelposted 14 years ago

   Do you say "A scissor" or "Scissors"?
   
   This is to settle a debate with my bf. If you had one "chopping device" would you call it "a pair of scissors" or "a scissor"? What if you had two?

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   1. 35

      Afflosparkposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Hello katelyn,
      Scissors is a singular noun  But we don't use   an article with scissors.
      Because it will present in  a pair
      so we can say a pair of scissors
      But for " A scissors" is totally wrong.

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2. 70

   Mr. Happyposted 14 years ago

   I would say "scissors" and do not bother about the "pair of" ... if I had two scissors ... there would be two.

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3. 68

   hublimposted 14 years ago

   I would say pair of scissors.
   
   In that sense each blade would be called a scissor, and as an cutting implement "a pair" would be a singular entity.

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4. 61

   aoiffe379posted 14 years ago

   Scissors, i understand, is like deer- with no plural. We have some words in the language that fit into this category. Furniture is another and so is luggage and baggage. Thus, it is correct to say,"Please pass the scissors" or "Pass me a pair of scissors, please." The scissors, if I remember correctly, has two blades for cutting; and both are needed for it to function properly. Now, if somebody disassembles it, that is another matter!

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5. 91

   Katelyn Weelposted 14 years ago

   Thank you! This means I win the debate
   
   Much appreciated.

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6. 75

   advisor4qbposted 14 years ago

   Scissors.  A scissor would probably be half of it!  I need the whole thing to cut something!

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7. 58

   pinoyconnectionposted 14 years ago

   here's an answer from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_plural
   
   Defective nouns
   
   Some nouns have no singular form. Such a noun is called a plurale tantum (see also Words better known in the plural above):
   cattle, billiards, clothes, measles, thanks
   Some of these do have singular adjective forms, such as billiard ball. In addition, some are treated as singular in construction, e.g., "billiards is a game played on a table with billiard balls and a cue", "measles is an infectious disease". Thanks is usually treated as plural.
   A particular set of nouns, describing things having two parts, comprises the major group of pluralia tantum in modern English:
   pants, pliers, scissors, shorts, tongs (metalworking), trousers, glasses (a pair of)
   Note that these words are interchangeable with a pair of scissors, a pair of trousers, and so forth. In the U.S. fashion industry it is common to refer to a single pair of pants as a pant —though this is a back-formation, the English word (deriving from the French pantalon) was originally singular. In the same field, one half of a pair of scissors separated from the other half is, rather illogically, referred to as a half-scissor. Tweezers used to be part of this group, but tweezer has come into common usage since the second half of the twentieth century.

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   1. 91

      Rochelle Frankposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      That is very informative and makes sense to me. When I was a child I had measles, but never heard of anyone having a measle.

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8. 60

   Shahid Bukhariposted 13 years ago

   We say Both !
   
   Because in technology's terms, its Two opposing blades, joined at the pivot... but one that can move freely, as a cutting Instrument.
   
   In English Usage, it is a Singular Form, which is defined in the plural  ... Its the same, as a car, composed of 6000 parts, being defined in the singular.
   
   Katelyn, you have all the blessings to ask .. what the heck does this rigmarole means.

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9. 0

   Helpful Hannaposted 13 years ago

   A pair of scissors or two pairs of scissors or three pairs of scissors, etc.

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10. 85

    lindaceeposted 13 years ago

    Scissors. I don't believe I've ever heard anyone say "a scissor".

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    1. 84

       Bills Placeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       I have, but they were foreign and I thought he was saying "a seizure" at first.

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11. 49

    micadeoluposted 12 years ago

    "Scissors" of course is correct. It is a word that does not have plural, just as the phrase "microsoft windows" is not pluralized. Even if you have many of them you still say "two, three, or more scissors"

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12. 71

    Mel Jayposted 12 years ago

    I always though it was 'scissors', like trousers, because there are two parts to them.

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13. 61

    Jonesy0311posted 12 years ago

    Definitely scissors. It's the same concept as pants. You don't call it a pant...plus they have the same shape so I'm pretty well convinced on this one. Oddly enough, if you had two, you wouldn't be able to call it a pair of scissors because that would mean the same thing as having only one...I think we need an English professor STAT.

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14. 53

    symboltposted 12 years ago

    I just heard Larry David say "Do you have a scissor?" on Curb Your Enthusiasm, episode 1, season 8 (at the very end when his nose is bleeding). It may be a "regionalism" - something you only say in a certain area.

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15. 60

    nabeelplusposted 12 years ago

    i would say ... scissors...
    i dont agree with a pair of scissors

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16. 59

    rikabothraposted 12 years ago

    It would be a pair of scissors. I have never heard it being referred to as a scissor!

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17. 60

    tswilsonposted 12 years ago

    I have always said scissors.  I don't know if I have heard anyone say "a scissor", but these type of things sometimes vary by region.

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18. 60

    hillymillydeeposted 12 years ago

    a pair of scissors if it is one , pairs of scissors if you have  2 or more

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19. 60

    ackman1465posted 12 years ago

    Scissors are always paired up...
    
    By contrast... women wear PAIRS of panties.... which really only cover ONE important body part.... BUT they also wear "a bra" which covers two....
    
    Isn't English an interesting language??????
    
    P.S.  Okay.... I mean "one important body part" ON EACH SIDE!!!!

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20. 0

    KenDeanAgudoposted 10 years ago

    I guess it's scissors, even it has "s" it remains singular in form like mathematics, billiards, etc.

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21. 80

    brblogposted 10 years ago

    I have heard it said both ways, but I don't really think a scissors is a pair. If is was a pair then when would you ever use one scissors (or a half a pair). In that case, can you even buy a half a pair of scissors? These debates are lot more fun that all of that religious vs atheist stuff going on around hub pages . . .

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22. 74

    Sushma Webberposted 10 years ago

    The correct phrase for a singular noun is:
    'a pair of scissors' just like a 'pair of trousers'
    
    The plural would be: two pairs of scissors or three pairs of scissors.
    
    Hope that helps.

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23. 85

    easylearningwebposted 10 years ago

    I had to think about that for a moment and say it out loud, and just like a pair of pants, I say "scissors", but I don't say pair of scissors, just "scissors". And the more I think about it, pants are like scissors (shape wise), and you wouldn't say "pant", you would say "I'm wearing these pants" or "I just bought some pants". For scissors, I think people would normally say, "do you have any scissors", or "hey, can I borrow those scissors".
    
    Hope that helps.

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    1. 91

       Sherry Hewinsposted 7 years agoin reply to this

       I have seen some catalogs that refer to a pair of pants as "this pant."

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24. 0

    dinu14posted 10 years ago

    As Per my knowledge scissors is right answer.  I never heard anyone say "a scissor".

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25. 85

    Edward J. Palumboposted 10 years ago

    I regard "scissors" as a noun, and "scissor" as a verb.

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26. 55

    Sanddolrposted 10 years ago

    I have always said scissors but my grandma always said to me 'is there a scissor in there" so we found that it would be proper to say scissors as in pants. You would not say a pant.

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27. 54

    Merin Josephposted 9 years ago

    it is 'scissors' or 'a pair of scissors'

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28. 69

    sweetpikezposted 9 years ago

    "Scissors" is an example of plural noun in form that takes plural verb but in some cases it can take singular verb. "Scissors" can take a singular verb when "a pair" is added to it. To the situation you have given, "scissors" if referred to one set of cutting tool, you can say "a pair of scissors" not  "a scissor". If you have two, then you can say "two pairs of scissors" or           " these two scissors".

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29. 81

    peachpurpleposted 9 years ago

    a pair of scissors, the correct words, not a because scissors comes in two

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30. 84

    Bills Placeposted 9 years ago

    I have said both "give me the scissors" and "pair of scissors", but never "scissor".
    
    Like others have said, now that I think about it there are other words that can be confusing like these, but the only one I have thought about in this way before was "pants". Again I have said "pair of pants" as well, but never "give me the pant".

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31. 0

    MrDanielAbramposted 9 years ago

    I say scissors. I am not sure if it makes a difference though which way you say it.

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32. 60

    TalkingBullposted 9 years ago

    In English, it is "scissors" when spoken properly.  It is a plural noun so it would also be a plural verb.  If it were a singlular noun, it wouldn't work gramatticaly:
    
    These scissors is
    
    So it is properly spoken as:
    
    These scissors are

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33. 59

    Bettina Smithposted 9 years ago

    I would definitely say "scissors." In contrast, I would say "a pair of scissors."

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34. 0

    Sherry Thornburgposted 8 years ago

    Scissors - a whole made up of two things that work together, like pants, shorts, glasses, means and such.

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35. 82

    the rawspiritposted 8 years ago

    I have heard it said both ways. I don't really think a scissors is a pair. If was a pair then when would you ever use one scissors, or a half a pair?

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36. 83

    Dakkposted 8 years ago

    I always thought that "scissor" refers to the individual scissor blade half of a pair of scissors, and that "scissors" refers to the complete device, with the two halves. I don't claim to be right about this, however.

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37. 63

    reelmeposted 8 years ago

    first i thought it was scissor, but after looking at comments its definately Scissors

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38. 68

    Shyron E Shenkoposted 8 years ago

    Hello Katelyn, it would be scissors because it is made up of two (plural)pieces of metal, put together makes them scissors.
    To scissor is the cut that scissors make.

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39. 69

    Oscarlitesposted 8 years ago

    has anyone figured it out yet? It is a two edged cutting device that is clamped at one end by a machine scew and nut. the edges can be dulled by excessive use. it's primary use is to cut paper, or cloth.  It is found in most households in the kitchen, in the sewing room or in the bathroom,. It also is useful for cutting hair.  Its pronunciation is "scis-sors".

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40. 74

    Besarienposted 8 years ago

    Scissors are like pants. I say "pant leg" if talking about part of it. So scissors unless I am talking about just part. "This half scissor blade is bent at the end."

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41. 62

    Atiba Sheikh12posted 8 years ago

    "A pair of scissors" is the right answer.

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42. 0

    Pennyforyourthotsposted 8 years ago

    I say, "the scissors." I've never hear of a "scissor" - it had always been used in the plural form in my mind, anyway.

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43. 72

    JoanieMRuppel54posted 8 years ago

    Pass me the scissors please sounds correct.  Pass me a scissor, does not.

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44. 0

    Diana Abrahamsonposted 8 years ago

    I have always said, a pair of scissors. I never say, this is a scissor.

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45. 74

    delancooperposted 8 years ago

    Scissors, especially for foreign. It's the word that hard to say for them.

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46. 0

    roobposted 8 years ago

    scissors, i have never heard a scissors. Only a pair of scissors.

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47. 65

    WordCrafter09posted 8 years ago

    I've always said either "pair of scissors" or "the scissors" , but I know someone (who shall remain nameless) who has always (since I've known this person) called a pair of scissors a "scissor".  I've always assumed it was either because of where this person grew up, or else because this person spent a lot of time in technical circles and may have emulated or otherwise picked up that term there.
    
    I've never actually asked the person (but there have many debates about the "on line" (not to be confused with "online") versus "in line" thing.  (As in, "waiting in line - or on line - to get the tickets.)  Not that anyone asked, but my thing is if you aren't standing on a painted line on the sidewalk, and you're among a group of people who form a line - then you're "in" the line because you help make it up by being there.
    
    I can give a pass on the "scissor" thing out of respect for "just different ways of saying things".  "Grammatically and technically correct" don't always factor into some things in the language.  I, personally, will never give a "pass" on the "in line"/"on line" thing.  We must, after all, pick our grammar battles.       (By the way, now that "online" is a thing, all the more reason not to confuse "in the line" with "on the line" , as far as I'm concerned.)

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48. 70

    LeslieAdrienneposted 7 years ago

    it is "a pair of scissors"....more than one pair would be referred to with the number reference, ie., two pair of scissors, three pair of scissors, etc.

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49. 79

    CaitBoothposted 7 years ago

    I always say "the scissors" no matter how any there are.

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    roselinsojanposted 7 years ago

    I always say 'scissors'.i think it is the correct one.

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