call a maths class "Math" - what's wrong with the 's'?
2006-10-04 20:44:40 · 30 answers · asked by Phlodgeybodge 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
I'm only guessing, but I would say 'somechick' is an American - obviously didn't understand the question!!
2006-10-04 20:48:39 · update #1
To those who say it's not a plural. Mathematics is the study of all forms of numerical equations. If you were studying one branch of Mathematics why not call it by the branch name - ie: Algebra, Trigonometry etc? Instead we group it into one subject "Mathematics" shortened to Maths, not shortened to 'Math'. So answer the question please.
2006-10-04 20:53:00 · update #2
Well said @ asbo_arry
2006-10-04 20:59:01 · update #3
Maths is the correct word thats what i know and i dont know why not americans use s with it perhaps they want to make their own style as they have made changes in some other words
2006-10-04 20:55:38 · answer #1 · answered by Heaven Princess 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think the answer to this question is one of semantics. Clearly the work math/maths is a shortening of mathematics but to native English speakers the word math doesn't sound grammatically correct and hence in the UK maths is used.
It's a bit like the plural of sheep being sheep not sheeps because something in our brain tells use that sheeps doesn't sound right.
2006-10-04 21:46:08 · answer #2 · answered by Mark G 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It may sound odd but I always call it mathematics, any use of math and maths will be done interchangeably.
It's just the beauty of dialects, no need for people to take it as an attack upon their language(albeit "borrowed" language)
And for that desperate idiot who keeps cutting off end letters and thus induces that it is "supposed" to be math, I am sorry indeed for his knowledge of language, or rather the lack of such.
2006-10-04 23:30:35 · answer #3 · answered by yasiru89 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Come on, phlodge...the best thing to do is to write 'This question is for British readers only'...wrote a question myself a couple of weeks ago, again, meant for fellow country-persons but was sneered at by American lasses who I suspect will never wake up.
As in spelling - blame Mr. Webster and his dictionaries.
Now then...even the British can make words-placenames surreal - Who in America thinks Cambs. is Cambridgeshire, and Oxon is Oxfordshire?
2006-10-04 20:55:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
because americans always have to put their twang on it. its like their thing, ie color, intead of colour,
more below
I think it gives them a sense of identity, then they can say that they have invented the word, maths is an abbreviated mathematics, plural not singular, just bad english, because that's what they speak, but they spell it all incorrectly
2006-10-04 20:58:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
We speak in a different dialect than British people. There are a lot of differences between American English and English English, just like there is in Mexican Spanish and Spanish Spanish. After all, these countries are seperated by an ocean. I don't see how that is so hard to understand.
2006-10-04 21:28:00 · answer #6 · answered by rmtzlr 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because it is one form of math, not plural. If you were studying both, say, algebra and calc, well, it would be maths, but that is not the case usually. Most people tend to take one form of class at a time, therefor it is singular, not plural.
2006-10-04 20:47:20 · answer #7 · answered by iswd1 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Silly question I think. It's the same as asking why do the British use the word queue and the Americans use the word line to mean the same thing. Just whatever you are used to... nothing wrong with either form. 'Maths' does sound kind of lame though - sorry.
Someone once asked me why we call petroleum 'gas' because it is a liquid. I explained that gas is short for gasoline.
2006-10-04 21:51:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Nothing's wrong with the "s". It's just that Americans find it easier to pronounce math.
2006-10-04 20:46:46 · answer #9 · answered by t_raudenbush 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm English and I have often wondered that...it's MATHS as in Mathematics not MATH as in Mathematic!!!
Now we are on this question of pronouncaition why do they also pronounce the word route as "rowt"?????
2006-10-04 20:53:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋