- For knives, it can refer to their sharpness, condition, or usability. For example, a knife may be described as being in "good plight" if it is sharp and well-maintained, or in "poor plight" if it is dull or damaged.
- For pens, it can refer to the quality of the pen's ink flow, its overall functionality, or its appearance. For instance, a pen may be said to be in "excellent plight" if it writes smoothly and consistently with no skips or smudges, or in "bad plight" if it is leaking ink or has a broken nib.