Are “shorts” plural or singular?
My new shorts are very comfortable. (correct plural usage with plural verb)
I need a pair of shorts for the summer. (correct way to refer to one garment)
I bought a new short. (incorrect; ‘short’ is not used as a singular noun for the garment)
The shorts is too long. (incorrect; ‘shorts’ takes a plural verb)
Often referred to as a ‘pair of shorts,’ shorts is a plural noun with no singular noun form. In English, nouns and objects that are made up of parts, pairs or pieces are usually referred to only as a plural, and have no singular noun form.
Other plural-only noun examples include jeans, pants and binoculars.
Shorts: singular vs. plural
You might say ‘the left short‘. This is uncommon. For the most part, shorts are only referred to as a plural noun.
What are shorts?
Merriam-Webster defines shorts as:
Trousers that end above the knee or reach the knee, often worn in hot weather or when playing a sport: tennis shorts. “She put on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.“
Think of “shorts” like “scissors” or “pants”—items with two parts always referred to in plural form; picture two legs = plural “shorts.”.
Plural-only nouns
Shorts are only referred to as a plural noun since shorts are made up of parts, or pieces. Likewise, these other nouns are exclusively-plural. In English, we call them the plural-only nouns, and just like they sound, they’re only referred to as a plural. See the list:
Examples of sentences with “shorts”
She put on a pair of red shorts.
The shorts didn’t fit him properly.
I need to buy some new pairs of shorts for the summer vacation.
Origin of the word shorts
From etymology online on shorts (n.):
“Middle English short, from Old English sceort, scort “of little length; not tall; of brief duration,” probably from Proto-Germanic *skurta-“.
What’s the difference between they’re, their, and there?
Work Sheet
According to the blog post, what is the grammatical number of the noun “shorts”?
Which verb form should you use with “shorts”?
How does the post suggest you refer to a single garment of this type?
Which of these nouns is listed in the post as being similar to “shorts” because it is typically plural-only?
According to the post, why are nouns like “shorts” usually treated as plural?
My old shorts _______ too small now.
She put on a _______ of shorts and a T-shirt.
The shorts _______ made of light cotton fabric.
The post states that “shorts” is a plural noun with no _______ noun form for the garment.
The post highlights that saying “I bought a new _______” is grammatically incorrect when referring to one garment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “shorts” singular or plural?
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Can you use “a short” for the garment?
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What verb form should I use with “shorts”?
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Why is “shorts” a plural-only noun?
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Are other nouns like “shorts” always plural?
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Yash, D. "Are Shorts Plural or Singular?." Grammarflex, Jun 2, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-plural-of-shorts/.
Sources
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Definition of shorts.
