Why do the British say ''Maths'' but Americans say ''Math'' ?

Answer 1

Because - as the respondent above says - Americans have no concept of 'plural'. After all, this is the country which took the old Marathon bar of choccy and called it Snickers ( A Snickers????- how can ONE bar of choc be called Snickers) They also took a pack of opal fruits and called them Starburst. Is that one starburst and several Starbursts????) Very annoying

Answer 2

So in US English we shorten mathematics to math, and in the UK they say maths. Where does the 'S' come from in the UK version? For some reason I had it in my head that this was just because it's plural so you add the 's'; referring to multiple types of mathematics. But a question on another SE site just made me think about it, and it's actually not. "Mathematics" is both plural and singular:

Answer 3

I have no idea why American English should shorten the word "mathematics" to "math" but I will point out the the non-use of the "u" in words such as color and labor is a purer form of English that the "English English" of colour and labour.
The insertion of the "u" came about after the Pilgrim Fathers had left for the New Lands and taken the language with them. In England the French influence subsequently came about, and the "u" became inserted.
American English still carries the "old English" words such as "gotten" whereas English English uses "got"
Similarly, American English uses complex phraseology such as "He beat up on me" rather than "He beat me up"
Vive la difference, as we English say

Answer 4

Yeah. i'm also conscious they call chips 'crisps' and shrimp 'prongs'. :3 i love issues human beings say in countless countries. Its cool to work out how all of us positioned our own spin on an identical language. and really, the English language got here from the language of the Anglo-Saxons, so in case you want to play that sport, we are all incorrect.

Answer 5

Like many other words that the Americans have changed the spelling and pronounciation of just so they can be different, and have a English language designated after them. That is, American English and United Kingdom English.

Found some info which might be of assistance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_differences

Answer 6

AJ & KJ- Thats not the case at all really as can be seen from the american saying "do the math".
Americans just shorten it to math and don't pluralise the abbreviation like they should.

Answer 7

Technically both make sense, Math is just a subject name, where as Maths refers to the equations being carried out.. as a plural.. working out equations.

Answer 8

I would say the British shorten the term Mathematics, where as the Americans don't like to think it is plural ? .... no idea. But then American English isn't really true English, at least according to my dictionary.

Answer 9

I like to say math as it winds my boyfriend up...

I dont think either are incorrect as both are abbreviations for Mathematics and Americans usually shorten things to make them simpler eg colour, color : )

Answer 10

because its short for mathematics... (Brit side)...we in South Africa also call it maths. i have no idea why Americans call it math. but judging by our difference in the English language... eg. RSA: Colour USA: Color. i'd have to say that plays a role as well...