Math vs Maths


Recommended Posts

I've always said maths, but never considered it plural.

 

As a child I would do "sums" and to begin with it would be addition. Thinking about it now, "sums" is quite likely an abbreviation of "summaries" (plural, ironically). But math/maths is more than just addition, so at some point as I learnt about subtraction, multiplication and division, the subject became "maths". The "s" was carried over from the "s" in sums. It doesn't represent a plural, it just sounds better - "I am doing sums" becomes "I am doing maths".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We should just destroy all other English-speaking countries... then American English would RULE THEM ALLLLLLLLL!! HAH A HAH HAAAHHAH AHHAAAA!!!

 

Just kidding.  Actually, I am involved in ESL program and I have found that most people (from other countries, continents) learn British English in school, and I am careful to remember that as they are reading aloud, so that I don't incorrectly critique them.  Sometimes I point out the slight differences in pronunciation, spelling, what-have-you.  I've found they actually enjoy learning the localized quirks, as well...  how some accents speed up words, or syllables at certain points, gloss over sounds, etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Don't you realize that there's an s on the end of mathematics"

 

Uh, yes, and there's also an ematic on the end, but that's why we call it an abbreviation. :laugh:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Casually it I say Math, however, when speaking with professors or mathematicians / PHD's i always use Maths because they do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.