Why do we call Reading, Writing and Arithmetic the 3 R's?!!?

Question

I presume this is just a slang term, or is there another explanation?

Answer 1

Reading, Writing and Arithmetic were considered the three main subjects in school. All three start with an R sound, so they became the 3 Rs. This is an old reference, more than 100 years old. It was in use at least in the 1880s, perhaps before. It has been used in songs, poems, books etc.
Of course now days, we rarely use the word arithmetic. We usually refer to mathematics. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

The 3 R's is just a political way of saying that all the tree words have a letter R in them. Reading starts with R, Writing and Arithmetic have R as the second letter. It is a lazy man'sway of saying the three words without actually saying them its like saying UK instead of United Kingdom, USA instead of United States of America or SA instead of South Africa.

Answer 3

Well it's because they can all sort of be pronounced with a letter 'r', reading, riting and 'rithmetic! i think it comes from when grammar schools first started in the '50's and that was what they focused on, maybe the slogan was part of a gov't initiative or something

Answer 4

because in the olden days they did use slang and call it Reading, Riting and Rithmatic I don't know I am just guessing maybe more people needed the first one Reading and they would then know you do not spell Arithmatic and Writing with Rs

Answer 5

its because the way they are pronounced. I'm sure u understand Read and wRiting. aRithmetic is because the "a" is a soft a. if it was a hard "A" we would pronounce its AIR-rith-metic. in which case you hear the A more than the r.

Answer 6

reading and writing when you say them begin with an 'R' sound, when you say arithmetic fast without the 'A' it sounds like rithmetic.
Thefrefore:
Reading, Riting and Rithmetic: 3 R's

Answer 7

Because the way the words are pronounced (sloppily) sounds like all 3 start with the letter R:

"Readin, ritin, rithmetic"

Get it?

Answer 8

it's sort of a pun, and as far as i know it started with a song which i knew as a child in the 50's, so it predates that. a line in the song went
"reading and 'riting and 'rithmatic
talk to the tune of a hic'ry stick"
etc...

Answer 9

Real. Rich. Relevant

Answer 10

yes. They were all invented by very short people or as they were called at the time- runts ergo- 3 r's