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

1. 57

   shinbewitchedposted 8 years ago

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

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2. 61

   Ayaz Behraniposted 8 years ago

   dear i don't know about this..so please forgive me

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3. 42

   Ashish Dadgaaposted 8 years ago

   Dear,
   I would be "Scissors"
   I hope you win the debate

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4. 60

   Fisher Anike Maryposted 8 years ago

   Both, depending on how it its phrased.
   e.g do you have a scissor. meaning you want just one scissor.
   Or do you have scissors. saying that probably in the room there are lots of scissors or none.

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5. 84

   Ellen Theoposted 8 years ago

   Scissors I dont think i know anyone who says a scissor

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6. 91

   Rangoon Houseposted 8 years ago

   Scissors.
   
   "Would you please pass the scissors". "I need sharper scissors". "Dressmaking scissors". "I have a pair of scissors in the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, office, and of course, the sewing box". "Paper, rock, scissors".

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7. 0

   marcuscaineposted 8 years ago

   I say scissors. if I had 2, I would say 2 scissors or a pair of scissors.

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8. 53

   Aadarsh Jainposted 8 years ago

   Actually, it is 'Scissors' or 'a pair of scissors'. But in india, we almost say it as Scissor. Have to change that.

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9. 61

   Polycapposted 8 years ago

   A pair of scissors is certainly grammatical. Like a pair of trousers. A pair of tongs,etc.

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10. 69

    clivewilliamsposted 8 years ago

    Scissors. You cannot cut with a scissor. a Scissor is one blade, scissors are two. Think Edward scissors hand.

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11. 69

    Melissa Deweyposted 8 years ago

    Scissors maybe its a regional thing I'm from the northeast US

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12. 74

    borge_009posted 8 years ago

    The proper way to say it is a pair of scissors or scissors.

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13. 71

    HLKeeleyposted 7 years ago

    Scissors is the noun. Scissor is a verb.

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14. 60

    iamvivekposted 7 years ago

    Just scissors
    
    "A scissor" sounds wrong here.

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15. 56

    soumyas29posted 7 years ago

    This a one device so we call it as a scissor.

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16. 53

    Anish 68posted 7 years ago

    certain nouns are used in  plural form ,  scissors is right ,

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17. 69

    shon1121posted 7 years ago

    Scissors without a doubt for me, even if there is ten or one!  My grammar is up and down...one friend says I am a bit posh, another that I am well spoken and another that I speak like Yoda!
    
    Is sure hard to tame, that voice when writing academically!  Grammar rules are confusing and funny in equal measure.  Admire greatly those who are fluent in more than one language.  Teaching of languages is not as prioritised here as it is in other countries.  However, still scarred by the boredom of learning French grammar fourteen years ago!!  Hard enough to keep up with the rules of English (UK).

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18. 70

    Larry Fishposted 7 years ago

    Well, I have always heard it said, "Get me a pair of scissors."
    Scissors always come in twos.

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19. 60

    Ambrosia Juradoposted 7 years ago

    If I had ONE chopping device, in this context I believe I would have 'a scissor'. Then if I had two, it would be "a pair of scissors".  A pair refering  to TWO things, thus plural 'scissors' singularly is 'scissor'...right??

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20. 56

    Geoffrey Okweluposted 7 years ago

    It is scissors.  It is an uncountable noun. You say scissors since they are regarded as plural.

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21. 72

    Mansi Premendraposted 7 years ago

    It's always called a "pair of scissors", basically each blade is a scissor. So, every time you cut something you're using both the blades simultaneously. Hence, you're using a pair of blades or "a pair of scissors"

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22. 58

    second2noneposted 7 years ago

    i have always heard the term 'pair of scissors'

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23. 58

    humagaiaposted 7 years ago

    When talking about the cutting instrument the correct term is scissors, as in a "pair of scissors", just like trousers is a "pair of trousers"..
    However, one can use what could be termed the singular, but not in relation to the cutting instrument - scissor is used as in the old high jump technique known, I believe, as the 'scissor kick' which may in fact be a diminution of "scissor's kick".
    As previously stated, using the root word as a verb one does have "to scissor".
    I suppose one could be pedantic and split the pair of scissor apart and one may have two scissor parts, similar to two trouser legs. So, in essence scissors are made up of two scissor parts, and trousers are made up of two trouser legs, so maybe scissor can be used as a singular noun, for something that has limited use.

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24. 49

    Jeannapposted 7 years ago

    It's like Moose. There is only one word for the singular and plural.
    
    "Look at that Moose."
    "Look a heard of Moose."
    
    "Hand me those scissors."
    "Look at all these scissors."
    
    And even though it's only one it's still a pair of scissors.
    
    The noun scissors is treated as a plural noun, and therefore takes a plural verb (e.g., these scissors are). Alternatively, it is also referred to as a pair of scissors. In American English, a pair is singular and therefore takes a singular verb (e.g., this pair (of scissors) is).

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25. 0

    FoldingOperatorposted 7 years ago

    Scissors. Always. It's a pair of scissors. The two pieces combined... make one scissor..(s).

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26. 60

    Itsjasminestyleposted 7 years ago

    I always say scissors or (a pair of) I don't think I ever heard anybody say a scissor. They're not even called a scissor lol

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27. 61

    Arkiel Baquiranposted 7 years ago

    The correct answer would be "A pair of scissor" of "Scissors". Because a scissor is equivalent to only one "knife" of the scissors.

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28. 57

    Dhanraj Rateriaposted 7 years ago

    Grammatically pair of scissors is correct
    But both can be used.
    A scissor is more common

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29. 87

    Guckenbergerposted 7 years ago

    One of the blades is a scissor, but the two together is always a pair of scissors.

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30. 52

    skyfallingyetposted 7 years ago

    Just like glasses are plural so are scissors. I looked up the history of the word in the dictionary. It is old french. And they used the plural also. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/scissors

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31. 71

    Sila Ozgorenposted 6 years ago

    I'd say "scissors".

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32. 61

    Whisperleeposted 6 years ago

    I would say pass me the scissors, whether there are one, or two, or ten.

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    1. 80

       Kathryn L Hillposted 6 years agoin reply to this

       Please pass me the pair of scissors.
       Please pass me three pairs of scissors.
       One half of a pair of scissors would be a scissor.
       In the scissor factory, where they produce scissors for pairs of scissors, the boss would say, I asked you for one scissor! Why do you bring me two (scissors)?"
       
       You are welcome.

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       1. 80

          Kathryn L Hillposted 6 years agoin reply to this

          Q. Why do they call one part of pair of scissors a scissor?
          Because it scissors together?
          
          Oh no, "scissor" is both a verb and noun!
          
          FYI In swimming, we do the "scissor kick," (Never do we say the "scissors kick"!)
          
          Of course, this kick is performed on one's side. The legs bend at the knees, extend straight out in an open - (pair of) scissors position, and then scissor straight together BEFORE bending the legs again. The legs propel the body forward into a glide as they scissor together. During the glide phase, the swimmer resembles a pair of closed scissors. Strangely, the legs are not used like blades at all. So, why do we use the term "scissor-kick" ?
          We should not. We should used the term side-stroke kick and be done with it.
          
          TMI?

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33. 47

    Shawindi Silvaposted 6 years ago

    I think it's 'pair of scissor' or 'pairs of scissors'.

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    1. 80

       Kathryn L Hillposted 6 years agoin reply to this

       You say this just to bug me.

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34. 63

    grabgooglesgooglesposted 5 years ago

    Great question!
    
    I'd go straight for the scissors. Never heard anybody ask for a scissor!

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