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A comment on Apostrophe Protection Society. Parent comment

Re:Apostrophe Protection Society by Stratoscope on Saturday November 18, 2023 @03:28AM (#38316938)
> nor can you ask for "a scissors"

But you can ask for "the scissors".

Why does that sound OK but the other does not?

(Not debating, genuinely curious.)

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Apostrophe Protection Society by Skeime on Saturday November 18, 2023 @04:13AM (#38317252)
Because scissors is plural, which does not have an indefinite article. You can ask for scissors, like you can ask for documents. (And you cannot ask for a documents, only for a document.)
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Re:Apostrophe Protection Society by tuatoru on Saturday November 18, 2023 @09:43AM (#38320168)
A pair of scissors, a pair of trousers. I shortened the trousers with scissors.
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