Defining scratching/scratches

From the singular/plural thread:

NWF_Renim said:
It appears that scratch is actually somewhat ambiguous. It's being used to cover both scratches as well as scratching. It might be worthwhile in this case to alias scratch to either scratches or scratching to remove the ambiguity of the tag.

Additionally what actually divides a scratch/scratches that are bleeding from a cut? In most cases they seem to be the same visually.

Worth discussing in its own thread. Suggestions on definitions?

I think a scratches -> scratch alias is needed.

To me, scratch should refer to the scratch itself, while scratching refers to the action.

I think singular would be more useful since you could have a single scratch, and I don't think its a natural plural or however it should be called.

As for cut, I think scratch should implicate cut (as you could have scratching that is seen but not the scratch itself).

I'm not sure what the problem in the last part is. Is it that cuts and scratches are the same visually?

When I looked over it again, it really seemed there are two types of "scratches." One that is an abrasion of the skin and the other which is a cut.

I think the best way to do it is use the tag primarily for the abrasion type, but allow cut-type scratches with restrictions. For example for the cut-type require that there be more than one line parallel (looks like a claw did it) or require that the actual act of scratching be also depicted. In cases where it is just one bloody scratch, without that extra information it will commonly look identical to a cut.

Instances of cut-type scratches should also be tagged cut, but since there are non-cut types of scratches, the tag shouldn't implicate cut.

Abrasions are tagged scrape.

Yes, but these type have a very distinct pattern unlike just regular scrapes. Scratch is more of a method of how the injury was created, but it can result in two different kinds of injuries. One that is surface level and one that goes deeper.

A scrape would really be categorized by having a larger, typically round-ish spot of shading and/or large number lines to indicate being scuffed up. An abrasion type scratch would simply be just a single long line or a few parallel lines of irritated skin.

Abrasion type: post #479335
Cut type: post #749848
Scrape: post #471859
Scrape (lines): post #801666