• The forum upgrades have been completed. These were moderate security fixes from our software vendor and it looks like everything is working well. If you see any problems please post in the Forum Technical Support forum or email us at forum_moderator (at) aawforum.org. Thank you
  • February 2026 Turning Challenge: Cookie Jar! (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Matt Carvalho for "Red Mallee Folded Form" being selected as Turning of the Week for February 9, 2026 (click here for details)
  • AAW Symposium demonstrators announced - If the 2026 AAW International Woodturning Symposium is not on your calendar, now is the time to register. And there are discounts available if you sign up early, by Feb. 28. Early Bird pricing gives you the best rate for our 40th Anniversary Symposium in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 4–7, 2026. (There are discounts for AAW chapter members too) For more information vist the discussion thread here or the AAW registration page
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Shear scraping

When used as a verb the difference between shear and sheer often leads to confusion because of similar, but different meanings. However, the adjective "sheer" means “nothing other than,” “unmitigated,” or “of very thin or transparent texture.” A less common use of "sheer" as a noun would mean a sudden change in direction or straight up or down as in a "sheer cliff". The noun "shear" refers to the act or process of cutting or slicing. The terms "shear cut" and "shear scrape" are noun phrases. Not that Lyle will agree, but you are correct.

The simple way to remember which is correct would be if whatever you are talking about has anything to do with slicing or cutting then the correct word to use is "shear" (sheep shearing, wind shear, metal shears, shear scraping, etc). Otherwise, "sheer" is usually the right word (sheer luck, sheer cliff, etc).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top