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

[Jock Scot]

Hello Cacunn,I am no expert on grammer, so all I can say is how we say things,right or wrong,here in Scotland.We say "the kilt" as does Mr. C. Thompson in his book title "so you're going to wear the kilt.".Whether we are using correct English I know not,but there we go.All the best,Jock.

[Jack Daw]

I wear the kilt. I just got #7 last week.

[Galician]

In this issue, "the veil" refers to a generalized way of life. In this sense, it is a symbolic representation of the life itself. I don't see anything equivalent as regards the wearing of a/the kilt.

[Standard]

Definately "The Kilt".

[cacunn]

Jock Scot - we would say the same thing on this side of the pond. The only reason I know any of this is when working for the US Department of Defense I was an instructor in one of their training schools. The idiots above me assigned me to help develop a course in non-bureaucratic writing. The group I was with was a DOD audit agency and the reports that were being written could not be read or understood because of the bureaucratic language. The principle was why use a $10 word when a $25 dollar word was available and more obscure. I had a friend with a Doctorate in English and one day over a beer I asked about "the". Apparently, I had had too many beers by then.

In my way of thinking is it is correct English if the person you are speaking or writing to understands you. It may not be grammatically correct but only a instructor of English would care.

So are you going to be wearing the kilt tonight?

[Jock Scot]

I have been wearing the kilt all day!

[highlander_Daz]

As Jock says its common to refer to "the Kilt" youll find its possibly from Military use, a lot of soldiers wear trews or "The kilt" wether or not its correct English is another matter, although not being English Im totally unconcerned.

[cacunn]

I have been wearing the kilt all day!

I'm glad you are wearing something - we wouldn't want to scare the acrylibeasts near you.

[Roan Carter]

"The kilt" is correct.

Be darned if I've ever heard anyone in TN or VA say it though. It has always been "kilts" among my friends and family.

[Coemgen]

I say both. I usually say something like "I wear kilts, but I will also say "The history of the kilt is…" So, it depends.