Which do you say? Also, is it just Britain that says maths? Or is it just the U.S. that says math? And is maths short for MATHematicS, or is it referring to the idea that there are multiple fields of mathematics, such as geometry and statistics?
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Math or maths?
Last posted
Aug 01, 2015 at 06:04AM EDT.
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Jul 31, 2015 at 03:38PM EDT
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I don't think there's anywhere where they say "maths" exclusively- for example, I've never seen the phrase 'maths class" before. But then again, I could very well be wrong.
I only use maths when I'm joking pretty much. I know in like Australia though they call classes like "maths 3" or something for example. But generally at least where I live it's math.
"Math" is an American thing, just like the imperial system, "analyze", and "color".
"Maths" is used by the rest of the world, like the metric system, "analyse", and "colour".
Simple.
Roy G. Biv
Deactivated
Particle Mare wrote:
"Math" is an American thing, just like the imperial system, "analyze", and "color".
"Maths" is used by the rest of the world, like the metric system, "analyse", and "colour".
Simple.
Okay, good to know. I thought it might have been just another case of the U.S. trying to be different, but every so often there's stuff like driving on the left side of the road vs driving on the right side of the road, where the U.S. isn't alone at all, so I wasn't sure. Thanks!
lisalombs
Banned
Canada says math too.
'Mathematics' was shortened to 'math' by the US in the 1800s, the UK didn't add the 's' until 1910.
USA!
USA!
Particle Mare wrote:
"Math" is an American thing, just like the imperial system, "analyze", and "color".
"Maths" is used by the rest of the world, like the metric system, "analyse", and "colour".
Simple.
A-ha! I have caught you in a falsehood, Particle Mare! For you see, Canada uses "math" as well! Now the crown of the ruler of all numbers on KYM, real, imaginary or complex, will belong to me for the next 1000 moons!
0.9999...=1 wrote:
A-ha! I have caught you in a falsehood, Particle Mare! For you see, Canada uses "math" as well! Now the crown of the ruler of all numbers on KYM, real, imaginary or complex, will belong to me for the next 1000 moons!
If you had only taken a break from maths in highschool in order to attend a geography class or two, you would be aware of the fact that the US bought Canada for 50 cents in 2007 and now they are literally the same country.
Particle Mare wrote:
"Math" is an American thing, just like the imperial system, "analyze", and "color".
"Maths" is used by the rest of the world, like the metric system, "analyse", and "colour".
Simple.
I'll simplify that for you.
All the undesirables say "Maths". All the normal people say "Math". Hahaha.
HolyCrapItsBob wrote:
I'll simplify that for you.
All the undesirables say "Maths". All the normal people say "Math". Hahaha.
Actually, mathematics is (and I quote the source I already linked to) "a mass (i.e. uncountable) noun that happens to end in an s".
0.9999...=1 wrote:
Actually, mathematics is (and I quote the source I already linked to) "a mass (i.e. uncountable) noun that happens to end in an s".
Wasn't necessarily always this way
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_noun#Metonymic_merging_of_grammatical_number
"The word "mathematics" may have originally been plural in concept, referring to mathematic endeavors, but metonymic shift--that is, the shift in concept from "the endeavors" to "the whole set of endeavors"--produced the usage of "mathematics" as a singular entity taking singular verb forms."
You youngsters need to learn to respect tradition.
@Particle
>Britain
undesirables
I rest my case.
Particle Mare wrote:
Wasn't necessarily always this way
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_noun#Metonymic_merging_of_grammatical_number
"The word "mathematics" may have originally been plural in concept, referring to mathematic endeavors, but metonymic shift--that is, the shift in concept from "the endeavors" to "the whole set of endeavors"--produced the usage of "mathematics" as a singular entity taking singular verb forms."
You youngsters need to learn to respect tradition.
>"may"
>MAY
Also, no sources. Nice try, Mare.
0.9999...=1 wrote:
>"may"
>MAY
Also, no sources. Nice try, Mare.
You're sourcing from a blog called "grammarist", which isn't even a real word… JUST LIKE "MATH"!
Particle Mare wrote:
You're sourcing from a blog called "grammarist", which isn't even a real word… JUST LIKE "MATH"!
And you're a moderator on a memesite, which is a real-ly pathetic way to feed an unfounded sense of self-superiority.
0.9999...=1 wrote:
And you're a moderator on a memesite, which is a real-ly pathetic way to feed an unfounded sense of self-superiority.
I hope that was at least a pun on real numbers, otherwise we've gone horribly off-topic.
Particle Mare wrote:
I hope that was at least a pun on real numbers, otherwise we've gone horribly off-topic.
I've never written a sentence in my life that didn't contain a pun.
Roy G. Biv
Deactivated
Oh dear, it looks like I accidentally pulled an Eris.
Whoops.
Why hello Riff-Raff, didn't expect to see you here