TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Waring blenders From:Randy Allen Harris <raha -at- WATARTS -dot- UWATERLOO -dot- CA> Date:Wed, 5 May 1993 09:13:29 -0400
I'm sure there are other outliers in the -ware list to the
Adjective-Mass (aka Collective) Noun pattern, but the only
one I can think of is "housewares" which seems to wear a
steady plural, but still can't be a full-fledged count noun
("six housewares" sounds pretty odd to me).
My guess as to how the "one software" usage developed would be
that it came from the adjectival use, rather than the mass noun
use, the way we get "I had a lifesaver roll with six reds!"
But it's just a guess.
