Language is full of evolving terms, and occasionally, we encounter words that seem familiar but leave us questioning their validity. One such word is ‘scrumming.’ It appears to stem from the world of rugby or agile project management, but is it a legitimate word? Is it formally recognized, or is it just casual jargon? To fully understand whether ‘scrumming’ is a real word, it’s important to explore its usage, roots, and acceptance in standard English. This exploration will guide us through grammatical rules, real-world applications, and dictionary references related to the term.
Understanding the Base Word: Scrum
What Does ‘Scrum’ Mean?
The base of the word ‘scrumming’ is ‘scrum.’ In its most traditional sense, ‘scrum’ is a term used in rugby to describe a specific formation where players bind together and push against the opposing team to gain possession of the ball. However, in more recent decades, ‘scrum’ has also been adopted by the business and tech world to describe a framework used in agile project management.
- In Rugby: A method of restarting play involving players packing closely together and competing for the ball.
- In Agile: A structured project management methodology involving short development cycles, regular team meetings (called scrums), and incremental progress.
The Verb Form: To Scrum
Although ‘scrum’ is primarily a noun, in both sports and business contexts, it has occasionally been used informally as a verb. For example, someone might say, ‘The team scrummed at 9 a.m. this morning.’ This indicates the act of participating in a scrum, especially in a project management setting.
Is ‘Scrumming’ a Recognized Word?
Grammatical Formation
In English, it is common to convert nouns into verbs and then into present participles or gerunds by adding ‘-ing.’ For example:
- Google (noun) → to google (verb) → googling (present participle)
- Email (noun) → to email (verb) → emailing
Following this pattern, ‘scrum’ can logically become ‘to scrum,’ and therefore, ‘scrumming’ becomes its present participle. While this logic holds in casual usage, the question remains whether it’s accepted in formal English.
Dictionary Recognition
Most major dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster, Oxford English Dictionary, and Cambridge Dictionary recognize ‘scrum’ as a noun but do not list ‘scrumming’ as a separate entry. This suggests that while ‘scrumming’ might be understandable in context, it is not officially recognized as a standard word in formal dictionaries at least, not yet.
Usage in Practice
Despite lacking formal dictionary approval, ‘scrumming’ is used in many professional environments, especially within tech and agile teams. Here are some examples:
- ‘The developers were scrumming in the break room while discussing the sprint goals.’
- ‘We’ve been scrumming daily to keep the project on track.’
- ‘Scrumming has improved our communication and productivity significantly.’
This kind of usage is widespread enough that it’s easily understood among those familiar with the agile methodology. In these contexts, ‘scrumming’ functions as a verb to describe active participation in a scrum meeting or collaborative effort.
Colloquial vs Formal Language
Acceptability in Informal Settings
In informal communication, especially within specialized industries like software development, ‘scrumming’ is often used without hesitation. Colleagues, managers, and team leads may use it in emails, meetings, and documentation to describe routine agile practices.
Use in Formal Writing
In contrast, ‘scrumming’ may be avoided in formal writing such as academic papers, official reports, or publications. Because it has not been formally recognized by standard language authorities, it could be seen as informal or even incorrect in such settings. Instead, phrases like ‘participating in a scrum’ or ‘holding a scrum meeting’ are typically preferred.
Other Similar Words and Patterns
Language Evolution
English is constantly evolving. Many now-common words once started as informal or industry-specific jargon. For instance, ‘blog,’ ’email,’ and ‘texting’ were not always part of standard English vocabulary. The more a term like ‘scrumming’ is used and understood, the more likely it is to eventually be adopted by mainstream dictionaries.
Tech and Business Influence
The influence of the tech industry on language is significant. Words are often created to fill new roles and concepts that didn’t previously exist. ‘Scrumming’ is a perfect example of such linguistic adaptation, molded by the needs of agile teams to quickly communicate their daily routines.
Can You Use ‘Scrumming’ in a Sentence?
Yes, here are a few grammatically correct ways to use ‘scrumming’ in a sentence:
- ‘The engineering team has been scrumming every morning to ensure alignment.’
- ‘Scrumming helps us identify blockers and adjust priorities in real time.’
- ‘After scrumming with the product team, we decided to shift the feature release.’
In each example, ‘scrumming’ serves as the present participle of a verb, much like ‘running,’ ‘planning,’ or ‘meeting.’
Is Scrumming a Word?
So, is ‘scrumming’ a word? The answer depends on how we define ‘word.’ If we require official dictionary recognition, then ‘scrumming’ may not yet qualify. But if we consider practical usage, communicative effectiveness, and contextual clarity, then ‘scrumming’ is certainly functioning as a real word in the language of agile development and business collaboration.
In modern usage, especially within agile environments, ‘scrumming’ is understood, applied, and widely accepted even if not officially endorsed by dictionaries. It may not appear in academic English handbooks, but it is thriving in boardrooms, tech startups, and software teams. As language continues to evolve, it’s entirely possible that ‘scrumming’ will earn a place in formal dictionaries. Until then, it’s a perfect example of how context and community shape the way we speak and write.