Can **compasses** stand alone?
Just wondering, does compasses can stand on its own? Or should it be accompanied by a pair of?
word-choice
asked 15 hours ago
sophie
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Just wondering, does compasses can stand on its own? Or should it be accompanied by a pair of?
word-choice
asked 15 hours ago
sophie
111
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sophie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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What is the context you're considering? "Pass me those compasses" may well be more acceptable than "Pass me that pair of compasses"; other situations may require "pair of".
– Andrew Leach♦
15 hours ago
One might say that one e.g. constructed a figure, or measured a distance on a map "using compasses".
– Michael Harvey
15 hours ago
1
Possible duplicate of Is "Compasses" a typo?
– TimLymington
11 hours ago
According to my dictionary, the instrument for drawing circles is called either compass or pair of compasses. I presume compasses alone would be plural, i.e. same as pairs of compasses.
– michael.hor257k
10 hours ago
add a comment |
Just wondering, does compasses can stand on its own? Or should it be accompanied by a pair of?
word-choice
asked 15 hours ago
sophie
111
New contributor
sophie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Just wondering, does compasses can stand on its own? Or should it be accompanied by a pair of?
word-choice
word-choice
asked 15 hours ago
sophie
111
New contributor
sophie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 15 hours ago
sophie
111
New contributor
sophie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 15 hours ago
sophie
111
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sophie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 15 hours ago
sophie
111
asked 15 hours ago
sophie
111
111
New contributor
sophie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
sophie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
sophie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
What is the context you're considering? "Pass me those compasses" may well be more acceptable than "Pass me that pair of compasses"; other situations may require "pair of".
– Andrew Leach♦
15 hours ago
One might say that one e.g. constructed a figure, or measured a distance on a map "using compasses".
– Michael Harvey
15 hours ago
1
Possible duplicate of Is "Compasses" a typo?
– TimLymington
11 hours ago
According to my dictionary, the instrument for drawing circles is called either compass or pair of compasses. I presume compasses alone would be plural, i.e. same as pairs of compasses.
– michael.hor257k
10 hours ago
add a comment |
What is the context you're considering? "Pass me those compasses" may well be more acceptable than "Pass me that pair of compasses"; other situations may require "pair of".
– Andrew Leach♦
15 hours ago
One might say that one e.g. constructed a figure, or measured a distance on a map "using compasses".
– Michael Harvey
15 hours ago
1
Possible duplicate of Is "Compasses" a typo?
– TimLymington
11 hours ago
According to my dictionary, the instrument for drawing circles is called either compass or pair of compasses. I presume compasses alone would be plural, i.e. same as pairs of compasses.
– michael.hor257k
10 hours ago
What is the context you're considering? "Pass me those compasses" may well be more acceptable than "Pass me that pair of compasses"; other situations may require "pair of".
– Andrew Leach♦
15 hours ago
What is the context you're considering? "Pass me those compasses" may well be more acceptable than "Pass me that pair of compasses"; other situations may require "pair of".
– Andrew Leach♦
15 hours ago
One might say that one e.g. constructed a figure, or measured a distance on a map "using compasses".
– Michael Harvey
15 hours ago
One might say that one e.g. constructed a figure, or measured a distance on a map "using compasses".
– Michael Harvey
15 hours ago
1
1
Possible duplicate of Is "Compasses" a typo?
– TimLymington
11 hours ago
Possible duplicate of Is "Compasses" a typo?
– TimLymington
11 hours ago
According to my dictionary, the instrument for drawing circles is called either compass or pair of compasses. I presume compasses alone would be plural, i.e. same as pairs of compasses.
– michael.hor257k
10 hours ago
According to my dictionary, the instrument for drawing circles is called either compass or pair of compasses. I presume compasses alone would be plural, i.e. same as pairs of compasses.
– michael.hor257k
10 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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active
oldest
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Today, people generally use the singular compass rather than pair of compasses for the instrument for drawing circles.
However, back when people used pair of compasses, it could be shortened to compasses, the same way we shorten pair of scissors to scissors or pair of pliers to pliers today.
For evidence, consider this Ngram. It shows that ruler and compasses was not that much less frequent than a pair of compasses, and much more frequent than either ruler and a pair of compasses or ruler and pair of compasses
answered 6 hours ago
Peter Shor
61.7k5117220
add a comment |
Compasses is fine alone. "Pair of compasses" isn't a thing, like "pair of shoes" is. E.g.:
- How many pairs of shoes did you sell?
- How many compasses did you sell?
Compasses don't come in pairs.
EDIT: Oh wait. I assumed you were talking about the North-South-East-West kind of compass. If you meant the drawing-a-circle kind, then there might be a use for "pair of compasses". https://english.stackexchange.com/a/39293/330043
But really, I've never heard that in my life, and I've had many of those compasses in geometry classes as a kid.
answered 11 hours ago
Johnny
854
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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Today, people generally use the singular compass rather than pair of compasses for the instrument for drawing circles.
However, back when people used pair of compasses, it could be shortened to compasses, the same way we shorten pair of scissors to scissors or pair of pliers to pliers today.
For evidence, consider this Ngram. It shows that ruler and compasses was not that much less frequent than a pair of compasses, and much more frequent than either ruler and a pair of compasses or ruler and pair of compasses
answered 6 hours ago
Peter Shor
61.7k5117220
add a comment |
Today, people generally use the singular compass rather than pair of compasses for the instrument for drawing circles.
However, back when people used pair of compasses, it could be shortened to compasses, the same way we shorten pair of scissors to scissors or pair of pliers to pliers today.
For evidence, consider this Ngram. It shows that ruler and compasses was not that much less frequent than a pair of compasses, and much more frequent than either ruler and a pair of compasses or ruler and pair of compasses
answered 6 hours ago
Peter Shor
61.7k5117220
add a comment |
Today, people generally use the singular compass rather than pair of compasses for the instrument for drawing circles.
However, back when people used pair of compasses, it could be shortened to compasses, the same way we shorten pair of scissors to scissors or pair of pliers to pliers today.
For evidence, consider this Ngram. It shows that ruler and compasses was not that much less frequent than a pair of compasses, and much more frequent than either ruler and a pair of compasses or ruler and pair of compasses
answered 6 hours ago
Peter Shor
61.7k5117220
Today, people generally use the singular compass rather than pair of compasses for the instrument for drawing circles.
However, back when people used pair of compasses, it could be shortened to compasses, the same way we shorten pair of scissors to scissors or pair of pliers to pliers today.
For evidence, consider this Ngram. It shows that ruler and compasses was not that much less frequent than a pair of compasses, and much more frequent than either ruler and a pair of compasses or ruler and pair of compasses
answered 6 hours ago
Peter Shor
61.7k5117220
answered 6 hours ago
Peter Shor
61.7k5117220
answered 6 hours ago
Peter Shor
61.7k5117220
answered 6 hours ago
Peter Shor
61.7k5117220
61.7k5117220
add a comment |
add a comment |
Compasses is fine alone. "Pair of compasses" isn't a thing, like "pair of shoes" is. E.g.:
- How many pairs of shoes did you sell?
- How many compasses did you sell?
Compasses don't come in pairs.
EDIT: Oh wait. I assumed you were talking about the North-South-East-West kind of compass. If you meant the drawing-a-circle kind, then there might be a use for "pair of compasses". https://english.stackexchange.com/a/39293/330043
But really, I've never heard that in my life, and I've had many of those compasses in geometry classes as a kid.
answered 11 hours ago
Johnny
854
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Johnny is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Compasses is fine alone. "Pair of compasses" isn't a thing, like "pair of shoes" is. E.g.:
- How many pairs of shoes did you sell?
- How many compasses did you sell?
Compasses don't come in pairs.
EDIT: Oh wait. I assumed you were talking about the North-South-East-West kind of compass. If you meant the drawing-a-circle kind, then there might be a use for "pair of compasses". https://english.stackexchange.com/a/39293/330043
But really, I've never heard that in my life, and I've had many of those compasses in geometry classes as a kid.
answered 11 hours ago
Johnny
854
New contributor
Johnny is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
Compasses is fine alone. "Pair of compasses" isn't a thing, like "pair of shoes" is. E.g.:
- How many pairs of shoes did you sell?
- How many compasses did you sell?
Compasses don't come in pairs.
EDIT: Oh wait. I assumed you were talking about the North-South-East-West kind of compass. If you meant the drawing-a-circle kind, then there might be a use for "pair of compasses". https://english.stackexchange.com/a/39293/330043
But really, I've never heard that in my life, and I've had many of those compasses in geometry classes as a kid.
answered 11 hours ago
Johnny
854
New contributor
Johnny is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Compasses is fine alone. "Pair of compasses" isn't a thing, like "pair of shoes" is. E.g.:
- How many pairs of shoes did you sell?
- How many compasses did you sell?
Compasses don't come in pairs.
EDIT: Oh wait. I assumed you were talking about the North-South-East-West kind of compass. If you meant the drawing-a-circle kind, then there might be a use for "pair of compasses". https://english.stackexchange.com/a/39293/330043
But really, I've never heard that in my life, and I've had many of those compasses in geometry classes as a kid.
answered 11 hours ago
Johnny
854
New contributor
Johnny is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 11 hours ago
Johnny
854
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answered 11 hours ago
Johnny
854
answered 11 hours ago
Johnny
854
854
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What is the context you're considering? "Pass me those compasses" may well be more acceptable than "Pass me that pair of compasses"; other situations may require "pair of".
– Andrew Leach♦
15 hours ago
One might say that one e.g. constructed a figure, or measured a distance on a map "using compasses".
– Michael Harvey
15 hours ago
1
Possible duplicate of Is "Compasses" a typo?
– TimLymington
11 hours ago
According to my dictionary, the instrument for drawing circles is called either compass or pair of compasses. I presume compasses alone would be plural, i.e. same as pairs of compasses.
– michael.hor257k
10 hours ago