"I wear kilts," or "I wear the kilt." What do you say?

[Jock Scot]

I am not too sure of the grammatical niceties and I would not be the least bit surprised if there is a difference between one side of the Atlantic and the other.I/we would say "the kilt "as singular.For example, I would say;"I wear the kilt to watch rugby" or "we wear the kilt to watch rugby".I would also say "I saw the Black Watch parade today wearing the kilt and so was I".Any help?

[cacunn]

I am not too sure of the grammatical niceties and I would not be the least bit surprised if there is a difference between one side of the Atlantic and the other.I/we would say "the kilt "as singular.For example, I would say;"I wear the kilt to watch rugby" or "we wear the kilt to watch rugby".I would also say "I saw the Black Watch parade today wearing the kilt and so was I".Any help?

I believe the correct grammar would be that "I wear a kilt to watch rugby" However, when saying "I saw the Black Watch parade today wearing the kilt and so was I" I could be assumed that "the kilt" being worn by the Black Watch was the Black Watch tartan and that you also were wearing a Black Watch kilt.

Now it must be remembered that in many cases spoken, written and grammatically correct language are not the same thing. Also remember that as has been said before the US and UK are two countries separated by a common language.

I just went back to Dictionary.Com and the second definition for "the" is:

"(used to mark a proper noun, natural phenomenon, ship, building, time, point of the compass, branch of endeavor, or field of study as something well-known or unique): the sun; the Alps; the Queen Elizabeth; the past; the West."

or definition number 4:

(used to mark a noun as indicating the best-known, most approved, most important, most satisfying, etc.): the skiing center of the U.S.; If you're going to work hard, now is the time.

I think this applies more directly.