this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2024
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Is the raccoon giving the gun or is the human giving the gun to the raccoon?

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[–] zarkanian@sh.itjust.works 8 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Think about how you would give someone a knife or a scissor.

Why would you give somebody a scissor? Are you making them fight for the other half?

[–] Slatlun@lemmy.ml 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Scissor and scissors are interchangeable and mean the same thing. I agree that dropping the plural hurts my brain a little though

[–] Samsy@lemmy.ml 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Wait, it's "scissors" for just one? Those crazy English people, again.

[–] Slatlun@lemmy.ml 4 points 8 months ago

Yes, if I said "hand me the scissors" it would just be one tool with two blades. I could also say "hand me a pair of scissors" to mean the same thing. Kind of like how "pair of pants" or "pair of glasses" mean just one of those items. For reference, I am from the US. Not sure if you meant English as the country or as the language. Either way, those usages are nonsense and I will happily keep using them.