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New gears?

Hey yous guys,

Guess what -- the word "gear" is a plural form without the added "s" when used in the context of audio (or any other) type of equipment. When I think of "gears," it's usually in the context of individual mechanical gears, like those found in a watch or a multi-speed bicycle. I don't believe it should be used to refer to individual components.

Am I wrong? Is "gears" also acceptable when used in this context? It sounds very odd to me. Any English scholars out there?
plato
clueless
763 posts
 
and cfb, when is the last time you've had some corns? (Other than if your shoes don't fit.)

Sincerely, I remain
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Not to be a party pooper, (and I've never been accused of being p.c.), but I've gotten the impression that this may just be an artifact of some folks difficulty with English.
cornfedboy
1,645 posts
 
craig: you may be correct but i see nothing wrong with a little polite discourse on english usage. like it or not, english is the language of the 'net. BTW, it should be "some folks'." :o) -kelly
plato OP
1,543 posts
 
Then again, I suppose that if you were speaking metaphorically with the individual components each representing respective cogs in the chain, you could use "gears" in that context. But I think it's a stretch.

Cornfed gets the cigar for his "collective noun" answer. I'll buy that. :)

I actually know a couple of reviewers who use "gears" improperly in print, so it's no wonder that folks are confused as to the term's proper usage.
cornfedboy
1,645 posts
 
meant to address my last post to michael (swampwalker) not craig. oops! -cfb
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