As the name implies, it works with the same principle as the French Guillotine, a gruesome execution device invented and used in France more than 200 years ago. Fortunately, the use of today's guillotines is limited to just cutting paper and similar types of media, and is considered an invaluable resource for most classrooms and businesses.

A paper guillotine or a paper cutter is a simple and convenient device used to cut large stacks of paper at a time, leaving every sheet with a straight, clean edge. You simply align a stack of paper along the designated cutting guide, and holding the handle; bring the guillotine or the elongated blade down onto the paper stack in a swift chopping motion. The blade is connected to the corner edge of a cutting board, and the base is normally covered with grid lines and ruler measurements (usually about 1 foot) along the edges of the cutting board. This kind of paper cutter is called an Arm paper cutter, and is relatively inexpensive. Most can fit onto a desk top, so they don't take up too much space. Some paper guillotines now come equipped with a safety locking mechanism on the blade to prevent cutting accidents and injuries. It's not the most efficient due to fact that it's still operated manually, but the amount of paper (200+ sheets) that can be cut at a time is a great benefit. These are a little expensive, and are usually found in professional copy shops and businesses.

For those looking to use a paper guillotine around children, it's a good idea to think about safety first-especially for the home or school environment. The sliding trimmer or a rotary paper cutter works with a blade that slides on a rail attached to the side of the cutting base. Since the blade cannot be lifted vertically to chop the paper, it can only cut a minimal amount of paper at a time, as the sheets must fit under the rail to be cut by the sliding blade. This kind is popular for cutting other media besides paper; it's also faster and easier to use.

Still, some people may need a machine that keeps up with technology like the electric paper cutter. It operates with the paper being fed into the machine, and it's then cut into specific measurements. Since this machine requires specialized training and extreme care, it's used mostly in larger companies and businesses-not a machine meant for personal use.