Scrit

A scrit (noun, pronounced skrit) is the term for a standard writing instrument of any type.

Origin

Necessity is the mother of invention, and the need for this word facilitated its creation by Jason Harden and Jon Reddick during the fall of 1990 while roommates at Florida State University.

The two were discussing the wasted and time-killing dialog which takes place between a person with no writing instrument (Person A) who needs to write something down in a hurry (i.e. phone number, quick note, etc.) but has no preference for instrument and the person who has writing instruments available for loan (Person B) but is over-eager to provide just the right instrument.

Person A: (waving to get atention) "Hey, do you have a pen?"

Person B: "I have a pencil, but no pen."

Person A: (aggravated) "Good, a pencil, that's fine. Can I use your pencil?"

Person B: (irritated) "Well, why didn't you say 'pencil' then? Don't get aggravated at me."

Person A: (exasperated) "Because it didn't make any difference. Can I have the pencil now, please?"

The case in point here is that Person A just needed to jot something down, and it made no difference with what. Person B was just trying to be efficient, because sometimes, if someone asks for a pen and you offer a pencil, it may be refused because a pen is required for the task.

Scrit remedies this problem. By asking for a scrit, you are in effect saying, "I need to write something down, and pretty much any sort of standard writing instrument, including but not limited to pen, pencil, magic marker or a Sharpie. A inkwell and quill is right out, though."

Usage

Scrit is used in place of a specific writing instrument. For example, here it is used in place of "pen" in the example from above.

Person A: (waving to get atention) "Hey, do you have a scrit?"

Person B: (tossing a marker) "Sure, here's a purple pen."

Person A: "Thanks."