I've seen quite a few posters here use "maths", plural of "math". I never heard or saw that before I started reading posts here, and I was wondering just what dialect is this. Some Brit posters use it, I think. Is this a Britishism? Do any American speakers here use "maths"? How about Aussies?

Thinking about it, the full term, mathematics is plural, but the short "math" has always been singular. I say "Do the math", not "Do the maths". Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I mean, if that's considered correct in your native dialect, more power to you. But it just seems odd to me and sort of sticks out when I read it.

-Richard

I don't know if it applies to this context, but I believe that the plural form derives from the fact that a mathematical system is derived from the postulates that are assumed to be true for a system. Just as you can derive a geometric system in which parallel lines do not intersect and an equally valid geometric system in which parallel lines do intersect... so can you derive different, but equally valid mathematical systems, from different sets of postulates...

Wikipedia: Mathematics

(I wonder if the same holds for similar words. Say, is economics shortened to econ and econs? Hmm... Wikipedia redirects both econ and econs to economics.)

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It's a "zee" vs. "zed" thing as far as I know. It's likely a Britishism, but I see a number of Europeans use it. (I also think that supports the idea that it's a Britishism.)

I think it's the figure of speech of such individual.

I sometimes use it with 's" .

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Well, while mathematics is plural in construction there, it is singular in usuage, and I've never heard anyone use it as really plural (save in some esoteric metamathematical discussion considering some different form). And it seems to be the same with "maths". The posters who use that form are using it as singular same as the full form.

-Richard

It's just a difference between British and American English. Google on "American British English math maths".

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I would say that "math" is an Americanism more than "maths" is a Britishism, given the greater overall useage of the later.

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In the US we use math and here in New Zealand we use maths. Its just a dialect/personal choice type of thing I'd say. Its like grey and gray. And things like that. I've just adjusted to it like with everything else.

I'm a Brit, and while I was in the UK nobody ever used the word "math" - it was always "maths". "Math" is definitely an americanism.

I first saw the expression "math" in
Scientific American some 32 years ago in a
calculator advert. I thought it was a typo.
We always talked about maths at school. And
mathematics is perhaps described as a
plurality of different techniques handed down
from great scholars in history. Just another
American oddity like third angle projection
in engineering drawings and driving on the
wrong side of the road

From Steven Schwartzman's book, _The Words of Mathematics_
(Mathematical Association of America):

mathematics: Latin mathematica was a plural noun, which is why
mathematics has an -s at the end even though we use it as a singular
noun. Latin had taken the word from Greek mathematikos, which in turn
was based on mathesis. That word, which was also borrowed into English
but is now archaic, meant "mental discipline" or "learning,"
especially mathematical learning. The Indo-European root is mendh-
"to learn."

John

Please show the relevant maths to backup any ascertations

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Separated by a common language indeed. I just can't make myself even say it with an 's', "maths". Just sounds so odd, I can't do it. And it sounds like "math" strikes Brits, Aussies, NZers, etc as odd and wrong as "maths" does to me.

-Richard

And I believe most Canucks would use the term "math", rather than "maths". So maybe it's a "North Americanism".

I bet you can't make yourself say "tomahto", just as I can't say "tomayto" (except to dumb waiters/waitresses).

Bet you say "Pa-tah-to" too. Might as well just call the whole thing off.

Christopher Walken during one of his SNL hosting stints sang that song. However, he pronounced potato and tomato the same way both times, ie "You say ta-MAY-to, I say ta-MAY-to....". One of the cast came up and explained he was doing it wrong, he needed to pronounce it "ta-MAH-to" and "pa-TAH-to".

He was mad, but relented, and then sang "you say ta-MAH-to, I say ta-MAH-to......:


-Richard

I always say "maths" but then again I can not be good source as I learn speak English 6 years only.

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how about when people use calculus instead of maths or math.

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That has not been scheduled. ( pronounced skeduled or sheduled?)

Well, technically, we drive on the right side of the road...

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