What’s the Plural of Scissors?
The word scissors is an essential item found in almost every household, school, and office, but its plural form often generates confusion. Is scissors a singular or plural noun? How do you refer to more than one pair of scissors? In this article, we’ll explore the pluralization of scissors, understand its grammatical usage, and answer common questions regarding its plural form. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to use the word scissors correctly in different contexts.
Table of Contents
What Are “Scissors”?
Before getting into the pluralization, let’s first define what scissors are. A scissors is a tool used for cutting a variety of materials, such as paper, cloth, or hair. It typically consists of two blades that are pivoted at a point such that the sharp edges slide against each other when the handles are closed.
Examples of Scissors in Daily Life
- I need a pair of scissors to cut this fabric.
(Here, scissors refers to a single cutting tool, but it takes a plural form.) - She bought new scissors for her art project.
(In this sentence, scissors is treated as a plural noun.)
What’s the Plural of “Scissors”?
The word scissors is a bit unique because it is always used in the plural form, even when referring to just one pair. This means that scissors is a plural-only noun, also known as a pluralia tantum, which refers to objects that are treated as plural because they consist of two connected or paired parts.
Why Is “Scissors” Always Plural?
The reason scissors is always plural is because the tool consists of two blades that work together to perform the cutting action. Just like other dual-part objects, such as pants, glasses, and tweezers, scissors are viewed as inherently plural, even when referring to one item.
So, if you want to talk about one item, you would say a pair of scissors. If you’re talking about multiple cutting tools, you can say pairs of scissors.
Examples of Singular and Plural Usage of “Scissors”:
- Singular:
- I need to borrow a pair of scissors to open this package.
(Here, scissors refers to one tool, specified by “a pair of.”) - Plural:
- She bought three pairs of scissors for her sewing class.
(In this sentence, pairs of scissors refers to more than one item.)
How to Use “Scissors” in Sentences
Since scissors is always plural, it should be used with plural verbs and plural determiners, like these, those, many, and several. Let’s look at some examples of how scissors is used in both singular and plural contexts.
Singular Context (“A Pair of Scissors”):
- He is holding a pair of scissors in his hand.
(In this sentence, scissors refers to one item, but the phrase a pair of makes it singular.) - I can’t find my pair of scissors; have you seen them?
(Here, scissors refers to one item, but the plural form remains.)
Plural Context (“Scissors” or “Pairs of Scissors”):
- Those scissors are too blunt for cutting fabric.
(In this example, scissors is plural, and those is a plural determiner.) - They bought several pairs of scissors for the new office.
(In this sentence, pairs of scissors refers to multiple items.)
Using “Scissors” in Different Tenses:
- Present Tense:
- She is using a pair of scissors to cut the paper.
(Singular: The verb is agrees with a pair of scissors.) - They are sharpening the scissors before the art class.
(Plural: The verb are agrees with scissors.) - Past Tense:
- He was using a pair of scissors to open the box.
(Singular: The verb was agrees with a pair of scissors.) - They were using scissors to cut the fabric.
(Plural: The verb were agrees with scissors.)
Common Questions About “Scissors”
Let’s address some frequently asked questions regarding the word scissors and its usage.
Question 1:
Can I say “a scissor” to refer to one tool?
Answer:
No, you cannot say “a scissor” to refer to one tool. Scissors is treated as a plural noun, and when referring to a single item, you should say “a pair of scissors.”
Example:
- Incorrect: I need a scissor to cut this paper.
- Correct: I need a pair of scissors to cut this paper.
Question 2:
What is the correct way to refer to more than one pair of scissors?
Answer:
The correct way to refer to more than one pair of scissors is “pairs of scissors.” This phrase makes it clear that you are talking about multiple tools.
Example:
- Incorrect: I bought three scissors for the office.
- Correct: I bought three pairs of scissors for the office.
Question 3:
Why is “scissors” always plural, even when referring to one item?
Answer:
Scissors is always plural because it consists of two blades that work together to perform the cutting function. This duality makes it inherently plural, similar to other items like pants, glasses, or tongs. To refer to one item, we use the phrase “a pair of scissors.”
Question 4:
Can “scissors” be used in non-cutting contexts?
Answer:
Yes, the word scissors can also be used metaphorically or in other contexts. For example, in sports, scissors can refer to a type of movement, such as a scissors kick in soccer or martial arts. However, the word remains plural in these contexts as well.
Example (Sports Context):
- The player performed a perfect scissors kick to score the goal.
Practice Questions: Using “Scissors” Correctly
Let’s test your understanding of how to use scissors in both singular and plural contexts with the following practice questions.
Question 1:
Fill in the blank with the correct form:
I packed two _ of scissors for the sewing workshop.
a) pair
b) pairs
c) scissor
Answer:
b) pairs
Explanation: The correct form is “pairs of scissors,” as the sentence refers to more than one set of scissors.
Question 2:
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
a) He bought a scissor for his art project.
b) He bought a pair of scissors for his art project.
c) He bought two scissors for his art project.
Answer:
*b) He bought a pair of scissors for his art project.
Explanation: “A pair of scissors” is the correct way to refer to one item of cutting tools. “A scissor” is incorrect because scissors is always plural, and “two scissors” is incorrect because you need to say “pairs of scissors” when referring to multiple items.
Question 3:
True or False:
“Scissors” can be used in non-cutting contexts, such as sports moves.
Answer:
True
Explanation: Scissors can refer to specific movements, such as a scissors kick in soccer or martial arts, although it remains plural in these contexts.
Question 4:
Which verb should be used with “scissors” in the following sentence?
Those scissors __ sharp enough to cut fabric.
a) is
b) are
Answer:
b) are
Explanation: Because scissors is plural, the plural verb are should be used.
Conclusion
To summarize, the word scissors is always plural, even when referring to just one item. If you need to specify one tool, you should use the phrase “a pair of scissors.” Similarly, if you’re referring to more than one tool, you can say “pairs of scissors.” Like other plural nouns in English that describe dual-part objects (such as pants or glasses), scissors remains plural and takes plural verbs.
Key Takeaways:
- “Scissors” is always plural, even when referring to a single tool.
- To refer to one tool, use the phrase “a pair of scissors.”
- To refer to more than one tool, use the phrase “pairs of scissors.”
- Scissors can also be used in non-cutting contexts, such as sports, but it remains plural.
By understanding the correct usage of scissors, you can confidently use the word in both singular and plural contexts, ensuring your sentences are grammatically accurate.
