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A word like “pants” is, “more often, a pant. Similarly, shoes are always a shoe; jeans are usually a jean.” And in 2013, Rachel Braier wrote about this singular trend in the Guardian. The letter “s,” Braier writes, “appears to have become redundant in the lexicon of fashion and style.
Quick Answer: In English language, the word “pants” is a plural noun that refers to a garment worn by the lower part of the body. However, when it comes to the grammatical correctness of saying “pant” or “pants,” the correct answer is “pants.”
Individual items of clothing which consist of two components (one for each side of the body), often have no singular form, and are always treated as plural even though they are a single unit. Thus, you would wear red pants or wear a pair of red pants.
Pants, in common use, are actually collections of pairs, NOT a plural of pant. ie, it is possible to have 1 pant (half a pair), 55 pants (normal plurality of 1 pant as would be found in a clothing factory) while simultaneously possible to have 55 'pairs of pants' (fully composed of components).
"Pants" refers to a garment covering the body from the waist to the ankles, with separate sections for each leg, while "pant" typically describes a singular act of breathing heavily or short, quick breaths.
Q: So you have two pant legs, and when you stitch them together, you get “a pair of pants”. A: Exactly, and last we checked, that was the better way to wear pants. So we advise that using “pants” is the way to go – and leave “pant” for the fashionistas.
However, the one place where pants actually are referred to in the singular is in the world of fashion. It’s a bit of a quirk, but high-end tailors and fashion magazines use “pant” and “pants” interchangeably.
In the course of work, I use pant to refer to the entire garment in the same way I’d describe ‘a dress’. When speaking with laymen, I will say “pants” but preceded by “a pair of”. The only other way I use ‘pants’ is to indicate pant-plural in the same way I’d say dresses.
Key takeaway: The debate over whether to use “pant” or “pants” depends on the context and the intended meaning. The word “pant” is a verb that means to breathe heavily, while “pants” is a noun that refers to a pair of trousers or shorts. Understanding the context is crucial in determining which word to use.
“Pants” is inherently used in the plural form, even when discussing a single item. “A pair of pants” is the phrase used to refer to one garment. Other nouns in English also follow this plural-only pattern, exemplifying the language’s complexities.