Scissor or scissor? Which one is correct? It’s a common dilemma for many English learners and even native speakers. Let’s unravel this mystery and settle the debate once and for all.
The correct term is “scissors.” Yes, you read it right – without the final “s” that many mistakenly add. It might come as a surprise, especially if you’ve been using the term “scissor” your whole life. But fear not, you’re not alone in this confusion.
The word “scissor” is actually a verb form, used to describe the action of cutting or shearing with a pair of scissors. For example, you could say, “I scissor the paper to make it smaller.” In this sentence, “scissor” is the action being performed by the subject.
On the other hand, “scissors” is the plural noun form that refers to the cutting tool itself. When you buy a new pair, you don’t typically say, “I bought a scissor.” Instead, you would say, “I bought a pair of scissors.” Here, “scissors” identifies the object you purchased.
To illustrate further, let’s consider some examples:
1. “I need a pair of scissors to cut this paper.” – Here, the plural noun form is used correctly because it refers to the tool itself.
2. “She scissored her hair to create a trendy hairstyle.” – In this sentence, “scissored” is the action being performed with the tool.
3. “Can you hand me those scissors?” – Once again, “scissors” is correctly used to refer to the tool.
Now, you might be wondering why so many people use “scissor” instead of “scissors.” This confusion could be attributed to the fact that many other commonly used words that end in “s” don’t change in their plural form. For example, “lens” remains the same whether it’s singular or plural. It’s only natural to assume the same rule applies to “scissor.”
However, English is full of irregularities and exceptions, and “scissors” is one of them. That’s what makes our language so fascinating and occasionally baffling. So, don’t lose heart if you’ve been using “scissor” incorrectly. Now that you know the correct term, you can confidently use “scissors” in your future conversations.
To sum it up, the correct term is “scissors” when referring to the cutting tool. “Scissor” is a verb form used to describe the action of cutting with a pair of scissors. So, the next time you need to cut something, make sure you reach for a pair of scissors, and say goodbye to the confusion surrounding “scissor” once and for all.