Dick,

I can't think of any examples of what you want offhand, but I wanted to
note that "scissors" and "pant" do occur in the singluar, but not as
singulars of the plural form (that is, as an equvalent to the plural
form). "Pant" is used in fashion lingo, for instance if a sales clerk in
a high-end shop is introducing "the latest pant from Donna Karan" or
whatever. I' ve heard "a scissor" in reference to a pair of scissors,
and this might be regional. I recall it from my childhood, perhaps from
a close friend's mother who grew up in Astoria, NY.

I've noticed this use of "troops", and wonder if it is new with this
war. I don't recall hearing it before.

--
***************************************************
Johanna Rubba, Associate Professor, Linguistics
English Department, Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Tel. 805-756-2184 ~ Dept. phone 805-756-2596
Dept. fax: 805-756-6374 ~  E-mail: [log in to unmask]
URL: http://www.cla.calpoly.edu/~jrubba
***************************************************

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