46 Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Paperclip_Ramey

Jaydence Ramey
Doctor Lashley
English 101
Major Writing Project 3: Persuasive Objects

Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Paperclip

Let’s explore the often overlooked importance of paper clips in our everyday lives. These simple metal tools, commonly found in offices and schools, come in various sizes and colors to cater to different needs. Beyond their basic use of holding papers together, paper clips have multiple functions that many fail to recognize. Their versatility significantly contributes to making workspaces more efficient and organized. Despite their humble appearance, paper clips deserve attention and appreciation as they represent efficiency, order, and human creativity.
The paperclip is easily identifiable when it comes to its characteristics. Since the paperclip is such a common item that is seen on a daily or at least weekly basis, it’s not easy to mistake it for another item due to its unique shape. The paperclip is either metal or plastic, wrapped around itself with two loops, the middle is a bit elevated then the outer loop to hold objects between the two pieces. While to common belief the paper clip is not just used for paper, while yes this may be the most common use of the paperclip there are other uses for it. Some of the more useful uses for the paperclip is the fact that you can put clothing together for a trip, or just to organize when you’re at a hotel, or maybe even the closet. Recently, especially in the younger generations, they are using paper clips for jewelry and for fashion, earrings, bending them to look like fake piercings such as a septum or nose ring of any sorts, and for necklaces. They can also be used as bookmarks due to them being able to stay on the page without damaging it and it won’t slip out easily due to it being stuck to the page since of its unique design.
The paperclip was invented in the nineteenth century, while many believe that John Vaaler is the original inventor of the paperclip this isn’t true, the actual inventor was Samuel B. Fay. There is a lot of disagreement about who invented the paperclip, and its origins are sometimes clouded in debate. Although many people credit John Vaaler with creating it, evidence points to Samuel B. Fay as the real creator of the design. Samuel B. originally made the what he called a “clip” which was used to confine clothes together, but later was used for paper which allowed the name to be the paperclip since that was a more common use of the “clip” by 1901 when John Vaaler redesigned the original into the design that is commonly seen and used today. While there have been slight adjustments of the paperclip it’s almost identical to the one that was redesigned in 1901. While it may not seem like an important item to society, the paperclip has many important ties into society now and cultural ties. The paperclip tends to be a sign of professionalism and organization in an office situation or even a school environment. In the hit show “MacGyver” they make shapes with paperclips, this was to show teamwork and hardworking people as well as problem solving, this is one example but there are plenty more out there.

If a person is struggling with organization of papers, clothes, sticky notes, or even note cards, recipes or anything of the sorts they can use a paperclip to keep more organized and try to sort through things easier. Many times with clothes if something is too big or is torn you can use a paperclip and mend it for a short time before you can properly fix it. Historically the paperclip has been used as a symbol for unification against something, specially during World War II, specifically in Norway, they would wear paperclips or carry one around to show they are unified amongst themselves and are against the Nazi party and what they were doing to so many people. “It was in the autumn of 1940 when students at Oslo University started wearing paperclips on their lapels as a non-violent symbol of resistance, unity, and national pride.” States “Today I found it”. While there really aren’t many objects that are like the paperclip due to it being original and unique, to replace it things like rubber bands, binder clips, or clothes pins could be used however these aren’t as effective for many reasons. Rubber bands due to them being able to snap, binder clips are bulky and heavier than a paperclip and clothes pins will leave holes in the thing that is trying to be bonded together. The paperclip has way more uses and is more effective than its alternatives, if they can even be called that.
Many often believe that the paperclip is ineffective and has nothing to do with organization or focus in the work environment, however it has been proven that when in a more organized space the average adult is more likely to get more work done and work more effectively.  A study from Princeton University shows that with better organization skills the better work quality has been. Organization allows for better work quality but also for how fast things can get completed due to the fact that papers can be found more easily and workers aren’t scouring their office for papers. The paperclip is a huge factor to paper organization, and if the paperclip wasn’t invented this would almost seem as if work quality wouldn’t be as good or done as quickly due to the disorganization. While there are many who can see the point of the paperclip investigation many believe it should be left alone. Paperclips just exist, they don’t impact life and don’t affect the work environment. Unless this can be proven on either side, this can’t be settled meaning that this should be investigated.
Despite its obvious simplicity, the paper clip is a symbol of efficiency, organization, and human creativity in modern civilization. As such, it is worth studying and appreciating. Paper clips are a common sight in workplaces and classrooms; they come in a variety of sizes and colors to meet a range of applications. Beyond duties involving paper, they have other uses that are frequently disregarded. Although some people consider them to be insignificant items, their ability to improve work efficiency through organization calls for more research. Overall the paperclip has been shown to not just be an ordinary object and can affect people. It’s also a symbol in many different parts of the world and has several uses, the paperclip shouldn’t just be overlooked due to its small stature but instead seen as a massive object that impacts our life on a daily basis.

Works Cited

Holloway, Shaun. “Lesson from a Paper Clip.” Lessons from Ordinary, 14 Mar. 2016, medium.com/lessons-from-ordinary/lesson-from-a-paper-clip-b28b5a1496c0.

“Productivity.” Princeton Correspondents on Undergraduate Research, 27 Sept. 2023, pcur.princeton.edu/tag/productivity/. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.

“MacGyver Tv Series” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399045/trivia/

“Today I found it” https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/09/the-paperclip-was-used-as-a-symbol-of-resistance-during-world-war-ii/