For example: Someone posting a question "help with maths" (even though thats not a question) where it should be "help with math." I have seen so many people do it; it drives me insane!
2006-07-18 01:32:45 · 13 answers · asked by Grant H 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
It's a British thing. Irish and Indian people use it as well. They probably wonder why we just say "math"!
Or they could just be bad typists. *shrug*
2006-07-18 01:37:02 · answer #1 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you are wrong basically.
Around 1380 the term mathematic was used to denote the mathematical sciences, but this had been universally replaced by the early 1600s by the plural mathematics.
The abbreviation maths - also a plural - is therefore the more gramatically correct. However, the American preference for the less correct math arose around 1890.
2006-07-18 08:44:34 · answer #2 · answered by Epidavros 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on where you where you were educated. I hear a lot of Americans use the phraseology - 'math'. However, in Australia, we go to our 'maths' class. It's not about being illiterate as this was the last comment the so called gentleman with the grey beard left. It's about how you were taught to speak and sound out words.
I think people should be more evolved and not so close minded about how differing countries sound out their vocabulary.
2006-07-18 08:49:20 · answer #3 · answered by cheeky_beth_62 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basicly its just a shortend version of Mathematics(emfisis on the S). Here in South Africa maths is the norm (you could say math drives me insane). Every part of the world has derivitives of english with uniques meanings and takings of words. (this can be seen when installing programmes they offer english(US), English(UK) ect...).
2006-07-18 08:44:17 · answer #4 · answered by milan_r05 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been thinking of asking this question for awhile. I was thinking that it may be a regional thing. I have only heard "math" not "maths" up in Ohio. I looked it up in my dictionary and saw both "math" and "maths" listed. I believe that my books in elementary school had "math" on the front and not "maths".
2006-07-18 12:09:05 · answer #5 · answered by raz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Americans say math. English people say maths, short for mathematics. Just one of many small differences.
2006-07-18 08:37:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They probably need help with more than one type of math and think writing it in plurals relays that information to the answerer.
2006-07-18 08:36:33 · answer #7 · answered by nastaany1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'maths' word is correct because the real name of this subject is'mathematics',not 'mathematic'.isn't it? So if you called this subject 'math' it will be wrong.
2006-07-18 08:44:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Misuse of the word mathematics.
2006-07-18 08:36:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
big deal, my dear!! and so, what's the matter? i believe u are a mathematician or something close to it!! such people ask such questions and stick to trivia like it!! don't care!
2006-07-18 09:14:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋