The English language has a lot of funny wording but one that sticks out at me is the expression to call a single jean a “pair of jeans.” I’ve talked about this with many of my friends and everyone immediately says that it’s called a “pair” of jeans because there are two pant legs.
But why doesn’t that apply to shirts? One shirt or t-shirt is a common phrase used to describe a singular article of clothing. Even though there are technically a pair of sleeves on a shirt, it is still called one shirt. Likewise, a pant is a pant, not a “pair” of pants if it is only one. Same goes for shorts (which should be called a “short” if only one is in question), and jeans.
I am currently wearing one jean, not two. I am also wearing one shirt, not a “pair of shirts.” Now that sounds silly doesn’t it?
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