There is a hand tool Pliers, what would be the singular form of pliers; is there such a thing as plier?

Question

There is a hand tool Pliers, what would be the singular form of pliers; is there such a thing as plier?

Question #126489. Asked by endoverend.

nautilator
Answer has 1 vote

nautilator
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Answer has 1 vote.

If referring to the hand tool, pliers is singular and plural.

There is such a thing as a plier, but it means something else -- 'a person who plies.'

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pliers

Jul 29 2012, 10:48 PM

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Answer 1

It's like 'scissors', 'pants', 'tongs' or 'nail clippers'. Any object or tool that is made up of two symmetrical and interdependent parts takes the plural form to indicate that fact. Such is the depth and complexity of the English language - it makes it delicious to write with but hell for ESL learners!