Why is it that in uk we use plural and in US they use singular. Same with Overheads and Overhead?
2007-01-11 01:03:06 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Mathematics is a singular noun, you can abbreviate it how you like and both forms of abbreviation are equally correct. I prefer to abbreviate it as 'matics just to annoy my teacher.
Ha ha haaaa.
2007-01-11 02:42:56 · answer #1 · answered by chopchubes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The full word is Mathematics - a plural. So the British abbreviate it to Math, then remember it is a plural, and add an "s". The Americans abbreviate it to Math, then forget what the question was, and leave it at that.
Not sure about Overhead/s. An Overhead is either a projector or a single transparency for projection or a business cost which does not vary with output/production/turnover. Overheads are either a number of projectors or a set of transparencies or a number of items of invariant cost. Do Americans use Overhead in the economic sense as a collective noun, to refer to all overheads? I have to admit I hadn't noticed this one.
2007-01-11 09:02:44 · answer #2 · answered by keith 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maths obviously is the correct term. After many years relating with Americans, I observed that their knowledge of the origin of words is shallow. So, they change words to suit their purpose. I see that frequently with Church leaders when they cannot properly pronounce the "strange" words in the Bible, or they don't accept the translation in the King James version, originally done by knowledgeable clerics in English grammar, poetry, Latin and Greek,, and replace words or expressions with modern usage of certain words that have strayed away from the original meaning thereby changing the original intention of those knowledgeable translators who where specifically chosen to do the translation because they were the experts in the matter, whereas those of today are not, although they may recite the Bible by memory..
2015-11-07 08:28:56 · answer #3 · answered by tony 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the UK and Ireland, it is Maths, but this is not plural, it is singular. Maths is a subject, not Maths are a subject.
2007-01-11 01:23:33 · answer #4 · answered by Gnomon 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In Spanish we use singular (Matemática) or plural (Matemáticas) depending on the meaning. But English use Mathematics, so it should be shortened to Maths.
Maybe in US they say Math when they wan to refer to it as a single science branch, and they say sometimes Maths when they think on a discipline with a variety of branches. That is what we do in Spanish.
2007-01-11 04:03:02 · answer #5 · answered by Jano 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because English is a transitional language. We Americans, change things to suit our current needs. I correspond with people both in England and in Australia, and once in a while I have to ask for an explanation of some term, with which I am not familiar. They have the same problem with our American version of the language. However we all get along jolly well, don't you know.
2007-01-11 01:25:28 · answer #6 · answered by Beau R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's Maths = short for Mathematics which is a plural as it uses more that one figure.
2007-01-11 01:12:50 · answer #7 · answered by Sandra M 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Maybe Math or Math's
2007-01-11 04:42:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's Math & Overhead - and I'm English
2007-01-11 01:08:15 · answer #9 · answered by Once B 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
uk = maths
usa = math
2007-01-11 01:08:02 · answer #10 · answered by The Fat Controller 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋