Staples

A staple is a tiny piece of bent metal wire. It is used to hold sheets of paper together. Staples are pushed through the paper by a stapler. The ends fold on the back to keep the paper in place. Offices and schools use lots of staples every day.

How Staples Work

Staples start out as straight wire. A machine cuts and bends them into a U shape. When you press a stapler, one staple shoots through the paper. The sharp ends come out the other side. Then they fold over to grip the paper tightly.

Where Staples Are Used

Staples are used to hold many things together. You can find them in books, papers, and even boxes. Doctors use special staples to close cuts after surgery. Workers use bigger staples to hold carpet and wood. Staples come in many sizes for different jobs.

Fun Facts

• Staples are usually made of steel wire.
• Doctors can use surgical staples that dissolve in the body.
• A box of staples usually has 5,000 of them inside.

Did You Know?

Some staples are colored gold or silver and used in fancy books and cards for decoration.