Different usage of paper towel
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It may sound like a silly question but I am a bit confused about the usage/meaning of paper towel. According to the dictionary, a paper towel is ONE sheet of paper. So if you want to refer to a whole roll you would say "paper towels"? I cannot understand why it makes sense to use it in the following ways:
- a piece of paper towel (is this still a sheet?, an alternate way to say just "paper towel"?)
- From a series (TAAHM): Q: Do you know where your uncle keeps the paper towels? A: I think there IS some up there. (Why is he using IS when he is referring to paper towelS?).
Thanks for any help.
word-choice word-usage american-english
edited Sep 6 at 22:50
Theresa
2,211821
asked Jul 7 at 19:52
thecrabs
61
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 1 hour ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
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It may sound like a silly question but I am a bit confused about the usage/meaning of paper towel. According to the dictionary, a paper towel is ONE sheet of paper. So if you want to refer to a whole roll you would say "paper towels"? I cannot understand why it makes sense to use it in the following ways:
- a piece of paper towel (is this still a sheet?, an alternate way to say just "paper towel"?)
- From a series (TAAHM): Q: Do you know where your uncle keeps the paper towels? A: I think there IS some up there. (Why is he using IS when he is referring to paper towelS?).
Thanks for any help.
word-choice word-usage american-english
edited Sep 6 at 22:50
Theresa
2,211821
asked Jul 7 at 19:52
thecrabs
61
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 1 hour ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
2
In informal speech, it's not uncommon to misuse is after there, because there are is harder to pronounce.
– Barmar
Jul 7 at 20:26
1
It's an extremely common grammatical error. People very often say "there is" when they should say "there are," because they mistakenly think "there" is the subject and is singular, not realizing that "there" isn't a subject but a pronoun being used as a device to introduce a clause with another subject, a plural subject, where the verb has no complement. That misconception comes from "there" appearing before the verb like a subject would.
– Billy
Jul 7 at 21:47
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
It may sound like a silly question but I am a bit confused about the usage/meaning of paper towel. According to the dictionary, a paper towel is ONE sheet of paper. So if you want to refer to a whole roll you would say "paper towels"? I cannot understand why it makes sense to use it in the following ways:
- a piece of paper towel (is this still a sheet?, an alternate way to say just "paper towel"?)
- From a series (TAAHM): Q: Do you know where your uncle keeps the paper towels? A: I think there IS some up there. (Why is he using IS when he is referring to paper towelS?).
Thanks for any help.
word-choice word-usage american-english
edited Sep 6 at 22:50
Theresa
2,211821
asked Jul 7 at 19:52
thecrabs
61
It may sound like a silly question but I am a bit confused about the usage/meaning of paper towel. According to the dictionary, a paper towel is ONE sheet of paper. So if you want to refer to a whole roll you would say "paper towels"? I cannot understand why it makes sense to use it in the following ways:
- a piece of paper towel (is this still a sheet?, an alternate way to say just "paper towel"?)
- From a series (TAAHM): Q: Do you know where your uncle keeps the paper towels? A: I think there IS some up there. (Why is he using IS when he is referring to paper towelS?).
Thanks for any help.
word-choice word-usage american-english
word-choice word-usage american-english
edited Sep 6 at 22:50
Theresa
2,211821
asked Jul 7 at 19:52
thecrabs
61
edited Sep 6 at 22:50
Theresa
2,211821
asked Jul 7 at 19:52
thecrabs
61
edited Sep 6 at 22:50
Theresa
2,211821
edited Sep 6 at 22:50
Theresa
2,211821
edited Sep 6 at 22:50
Theresa
2,211821
2,211821
asked Jul 7 at 19:52
thecrabs
61
asked Jul 7 at 19:52
thecrabs
61
asked Jul 7 at 19:52
thecrabs
61
61
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 1 hour ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 1 hour ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
2
In informal speech, it's not uncommon to misuse is after there, because there are is harder to pronounce.
– Barmar
Jul 7 at 20:26
1
It's an extremely common grammatical error. People very often say "there is" when they should say "there are," because they mistakenly think "there" is the subject and is singular, not realizing that "there" isn't a subject but a pronoun being used as a device to introduce a clause with another subject, a plural subject, where the verb has no complement. That misconception comes from "there" appearing before the verb like a subject would.
– Billy
Jul 7 at 21:47
add a comment |
2
In informal speech, it's not uncommon to misuse is after there, because there are is harder to pronounce.
– Barmar
Jul 7 at 20:26
1
It's an extremely common grammatical error. People very often say "there is" when they should say "there are," because they mistakenly think "there" is the subject and is singular, not realizing that "there" isn't a subject but a pronoun being used as a device to introduce a clause with another subject, a plural subject, where the verb has no complement. That misconception comes from "there" appearing before the verb like a subject would.
– Billy
Jul 7 at 21:47
2
2
In informal speech, it's not uncommon to misuse is after there, because there are is harder to pronounce.
– Barmar
Jul 7 at 20:26
In informal speech, it's not uncommon to misuse is after there, because there are is harder to pronounce.
– Barmar
Jul 7 at 20:26
1
1
It's an extremely common grammatical error. People very often say "there is" when they should say "there are," because they mistakenly think "there" is the subject and is singular, not realizing that "there" isn't a subject but a pronoun being used as a device to introduce a clause with another subject, a plural subject, where the verb has no complement. That misconception comes from "there" appearing before the verb like a subject would.
– Billy
Jul 7 at 21:47
It's an extremely common grammatical error. People very often say "there is" when they should say "there are," because they mistakenly think "there" is the subject and is singular, not realizing that "there" isn't a subject but a pronoun being used as a device to introduce a clause with another subject, a plural subject, where the verb has no complement. That misconception comes from "there" appearing before the verb like a subject would.
– Billy
Jul 7 at 21:47
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
In Britain, I don't know about elsewhere, we mostly call the whole thing a "kitchen roll" (note spelling). It is a roll of paper, perforated to enable one or more sheets to be torn off at a time. These may be called 'towels' (countable), and the paper itself can be called 'kitchen towel' (a non-count or mass noun).
Kitchen towel
answered Jul 7 at 20:29
Michael Harvey
5,29611019
In terms of the OPs question, though, we sometimes (in the UK) use 'paper towel' or 'kitchen roll' as mass nouns which would lead to conversations like "Where's the kitchen roll?" "There's some on top of the cupboard". However if asked "Where are the paper towels?" most of us would say "There are some on top of the cupboard". We would tend to match the response to the question, but somtimes get it wrong. Just like the person quoted by the OP.
– BoldBen
Oct 7 at 4:54
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
This is an example of synecdoche, where a part of something is used to represent the whole.
A "paper towel" in the strictest sense is the piece of absorbent paper that you tear off a perforated roll of absorbent paper. However, the term paper towel can be used for the roll itself, a package of rolls wrapped in plastic, or a whole shipping container full of packages, e.g.
- Please pick up paper towel on your way home.
- It's on sale. Paper towel came in on their truck last night.
- (at the checkout prior to scanning). I've got two paper towels here, and three of the toilet papers on the lower rack (of the shopping cart).
- I just spilled half my cup of coffee. Hand me the paper towel, would you?
This is usage from Canada and the U.S. coasts.
answered Jul 7 at 21:51
Global Charm
2,5442412
1
As for Global Charm's examples, I would suggest "Please pick up some [rolls of] paper towels on your way home", and "Paper towels came in on their truck last night", and "I've got two rolls of paper towels here, and three rolls of toilet paper", and "Hand me a paper towel, would you?"
– tautophile
Jul 8 at 1:42
2
I've spent time in all 50 states and never heard it used this way. I have never heard paper towel used in a mass sense, and would probably go with towelage if forced to come up with something.
– Phil Sweet
Sep 6 at 21:39
Paper toweling also comes in single sheets, folded to ease taking one at a time from a dispenser.
– Theresa
Sep 6 at 22:53
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
In Britain, I don't know about elsewhere, we mostly call the whole thing a "kitchen roll" (note spelling). It is a roll of paper, perforated to enable one or more sheets to be torn off at a time. These may be called 'towels' (countable), and the paper itself can be called 'kitchen towel' (a non-count or mass noun).
Kitchen towel
answered Jul 7 at 20:29
Michael Harvey
5,29611019
In terms of the OPs question, though, we sometimes (in the UK) use 'paper towel' or 'kitchen roll' as mass nouns which would lead to conversations like "Where's the kitchen roll?" "There's some on top of the cupboard". However if asked "Where are the paper towels?" most of us would say "There are some on top of the cupboard". We would tend to match the response to the question, but somtimes get it wrong. Just like the person quoted by the OP.
– BoldBen
Oct 7 at 4:54
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
In Britain, I don't know about elsewhere, we mostly call the whole thing a "kitchen roll" (note spelling). It is a roll of paper, perforated to enable one or more sheets to be torn off at a time. These may be called 'towels' (countable), and the paper itself can be called 'kitchen towel' (a non-count or mass noun).
Kitchen towel
answered Jul 7 at 20:29
Michael Harvey
5,29611019
In terms of the OPs question, though, we sometimes (in the UK) use 'paper towel' or 'kitchen roll' as mass nouns which would lead to conversations like "Where's the kitchen roll?" "There's some on top of the cupboard". However if asked "Where are the paper towels?" most of us would say "There are some on top of the cupboard". We would tend to match the response to the question, but somtimes get it wrong. Just like the person quoted by the OP.
– BoldBen
Oct 7 at 4:54
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
In Britain, I don't know about elsewhere, we mostly call the whole thing a "kitchen roll" (note spelling). It is a roll of paper, perforated to enable one or more sheets to be torn off at a time. These may be called 'towels' (countable), and the paper itself can be called 'kitchen towel' (a non-count or mass noun).
Kitchen towel
answered Jul 7 at 20:29
Michael Harvey
5,29611019
In Britain, I don't know about elsewhere, we mostly call the whole thing a "kitchen roll" (note spelling). It is a roll of paper, perforated to enable one or more sheets to be torn off at a time. These may be called 'towels' (countable), and the paper itself can be called 'kitchen towel' (a non-count or mass noun).
Kitchen towel
answered Jul 7 at 20:29
Michael Harvey
5,29611019
answered Jul 7 at 20:29
Michael Harvey
5,29611019
answered Jul 7 at 20:29
Michael Harvey
5,29611019
answered Jul 7 at 20:29
Michael Harvey
5,29611019
5,29611019
In terms of the OPs question, though, we sometimes (in the UK) use 'paper towel' or 'kitchen roll' as mass nouns which would lead to conversations like "Where's the kitchen roll?" "There's some on top of the cupboard". However if asked "Where are the paper towels?" most of us would say "There are some on top of the cupboard". We would tend to match the response to the question, but somtimes get it wrong. Just like the person quoted by the OP.
– BoldBen
Oct 7 at 4:54
add a comment |
In terms of the OPs question, though, we sometimes (in the UK) use 'paper towel' or 'kitchen roll' as mass nouns which would lead to conversations like "Where's the kitchen roll?" "There's some on top of the cupboard". However if asked "Where are the paper towels?" most of us would say "There are some on top of the cupboard". We would tend to match the response to the question, but somtimes get it wrong. Just like the person quoted by the OP.
– BoldBen
Oct 7 at 4:54
In terms of the OPs question, though, we sometimes (in the UK) use 'paper towel' or 'kitchen roll' as mass nouns which would lead to conversations like "Where's the kitchen roll?" "There's some on top of the cupboard". However if asked "Where are the paper towels?" most of us would say "There are some on top of the cupboard". We would tend to match the response to the question, but somtimes get it wrong. Just like the person quoted by the OP.
– BoldBen
Oct 7 at 4:54
In terms of the OPs question, though, we sometimes (in the UK) use 'paper towel' or 'kitchen roll' as mass nouns which would lead to conversations like "Where's the kitchen roll?" "There's some on top of the cupboard". However if asked "Where are the paper towels?" most of us would say "There are some on top of the cupboard". We would tend to match the response to the question, but somtimes get it wrong. Just like the person quoted by the OP.
– BoldBen
Oct 7 at 4:54
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
This is an example of synecdoche, where a part of something is used to represent the whole.
A "paper towel" in the strictest sense is the piece of absorbent paper that you tear off a perforated roll of absorbent paper. However, the term paper towel can be used for the roll itself, a package of rolls wrapped in plastic, or a whole shipping container full of packages, e.g.
- Please pick up paper towel on your way home.
- It's on sale. Paper towel came in on their truck last night.
- (at the checkout prior to scanning). I've got two paper towels here, and three of the toilet papers on the lower rack (of the shopping cart).
- I just spilled half my cup of coffee. Hand me the paper towel, would you?
This is usage from Canada and the U.S. coasts.
answered Jul 7 at 21:51
Global Charm
2,5442412
1
As for Global Charm's examples, I would suggest "Please pick up some [rolls of] paper towels on your way home", and "Paper towels came in on their truck last night", and "I've got two rolls of paper towels here, and three rolls of toilet paper", and "Hand me a paper towel, would you?"
– tautophile
Jul 8 at 1:42
2
I've spent time in all 50 states and never heard it used this way. I have never heard paper towel used in a mass sense, and would probably go with towelage if forced to come up with something.
– Phil Sweet
Sep 6 at 21:39
Paper toweling also comes in single sheets, folded to ease taking one at a time from a dispenser.
– Theresa
Sep 6 at 22:53
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
This is an example of synecdoche, where a part of something is used to represent the whole.
A "paper towel" in the strictest sense is the piece of absorbent paper that you tear off a perforated roll of absorbent paper. However, the term paper towel can be used for the roll itself, a package of rolls wrapped in plastic, or a whole shipping container full of packages, e.g.
- Please pick up paper towel on your way home.
- It's on sale. Paper towel came in on their truck last night.
- (at the checkout prior to scanning). I've got two paper towels here, and three of the toilet papers on the lower rack (of the shopping cart).
- I just spilled half my cup of coffee. Hand me the paper towel, would you?
This is usage from Canada and the U.S. coasts.
answered Jul 7 at 21:51
Global Charm
2,5442412
1
As for Global Charm's examples, I would suggest "Please pick up some [rolls of] paper towels on your way home", and "Paper towels came in on their truck last night", and "I've got two rolls of paper towels here, and three rolls of toilet paper", and "Hand me a paper towel, would you?"
– tautophile
Jul 8 at 1:42
2
I've spent time in all 50 states and never heard it used this way. I have never heard paper towel used in a mass sense, and would probably go with towelage if forced to come up with something.
– Phil Sweet
Sep 6 at 21:39
Paper toweling also comes in single sheets, folded to ease taking one at a time from a dispenser.
– Theresa
Sep 6 at 22:53
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
This is an example of synecdoche, where a part of something is used to represent the whole.
A "paper towel" in the strictest sense is the piece of absorbent paper that you tear off a perforated roll of absorbent paper. However, the term paper towel can be used for the roll itself, a package of rolls wrapped in plastic, or a whole shipping container full of packages, e.g.
- Please pick up paper towel on your way home.
- It's on sale. Paper towel came in on their truck last night.
- (at the checkout prior to scanning). I've got two paper towels here, and three of the toilet papers on the lower rack (of the shopping cart).
- I just spilled half my cup of coffee. Hand me the paper towel, would you?
This is usage from Canada and the U.S. coasts.
answered Jul 7 at 21:51
Global Charm
2,5442412
This is an example of synecdoche, where a part of something is used to represent the whole.
A "paper towel" in the strictest sense is the piece of absorbent paper that you tear off a perforated roll of absorbent paper. However, the term paper towel can be used for the roll itself, a package of rolls wrapped in plastic, or a whole shipping container full of packages, e.g.
- Please pick up paper towel on your way home.
- It's on sale. Paper towel came in on their truck last night.
- (at the checkout prior to scanning). I've got two paper towels here, and three of the toilet papers on the lower rack (of the shopping cart).
- I just spilled half my cup of coffee. Hand me the paper towel, would you?
This is usage from Canada and the U.S. coasts.
answered Jul 7 at 21:51
Global Charm
2,5442412
answered Jul 7 at 21:51
Global Charm
2,5442412
answered Jul 7 at 21:51
Global Charm
2,5442412
answered Jul 7 at 21:51
Global Charm
2,5442412
2,5442412
1
As for Global Charm's examples, I would suggest "Please pick up some [rolls of] paper towels on your way home", and "Paper towels came in on their truck last night", and "I've got two rolls of paper towels here, and three rolls of toilet paper", and "Hand me a paper towel, would you?"
– tautophile
Jul 8 at 1:42
2
I've spent time in all 50 states and never heard it used this way. I have never heard paper towel used in a mass sense, and would probably go with towelage if forced to come up with something.
– Phil Sweet
Sep 6 at 21:39
Paper toweling also comes in single sheets, folded to ease taking one at a time from a dispenser.
– Theresa
Sep 6 at 22:53
add a comment |
1
As for Global Charm's examples, I would suggest "Please pick up some [rolls of] paper towels on your way home", and "Paper towels came in on their truck last night", and "I've got two rolls of paper towels here, and three rolls of toilet paper", and "Hand me a paper towel, would you?"
– tautophile
Jul 8 at 1:42
2
I've spent time in all 50 states and never heard it used this way. I have never heard paper towel used in a mass sense, and would probably go with towelage if forced to come up with something.
– Phil Sweet
Sep 6 at 21:39
Paper toweling also comes in single sheets, folded to ease taking one at a time from a dispenser.
– Theresa
Sep 6 at 22:53
1
1
As for Global Charm's examples, I would suggest "Please pick up some [rolls of] paper towels on your way home", and "Paper towels came in on their truck last night", and "I've got two rolls of paper towels here, and three rolls of toilet paper", and "Hand me a paper towel, would you?"
– tautophile
Jul 8 at 1:42
As for Global Charm's examples, I would suggest "Please pick up some [rolls of] paper towels on your way home", and "Paper towels came in on their truck last night", and "I've got two rolls of paper towels here, and three rolls of toilet paper", and "Hand me a paper towel, would you?"
– tautophile
Jul 8 at 1:42
2
2
I've spent time in all 50 states and never heard it used this way. I have never heard paper towel used in a mass sense, and would probably go with towelage if forced to come up with something.
– Phil Sweet
Sep 6 at 21:39
I've spent time in all 50 states and never heard it used this way. I have never heard paper towel used in a mass sense, and would probably go with towelage if forced to come up with something.
– Phil Sweet
Sep 6 at 21:39
Paper toweling also comes in single sheets, folded to ease taking one at a time from a dispenser.
– Theresa
Sep 6 at 22:53
Paper toweling also comes in single sheets, folded to ease taking one at a time from a dispenser.
– Theresa
Sep 6 at 22:53
add a comment |
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2
In informal speech, it's not uncommon to misuse is after there, because there are is harder to pronounce.
– Barmar
Jul 7 at 20:26
1
It's an extremely common grammatical error. People very often say "there is" when they should say "there are," because they mistakenly think "there" is the subject and is singular, not realizing that "there" isn't a subject but a pronoun being used as a device to introduce a clause with another subject, a plural subject, where the verb has no complement. That misconception comes from "there" appearing before the verb like a subject would.
– Billy
Jul 7 at 21:47