math vs. maths

[hirashin]

hello, native English speakers,

According to my dictionaries, British people use maths (plural form) rather than math (singular form).

Which of them do you use?

Hirashin

 

[Grandpa Frank]

I would just use math.

Maybe if I were a student of math and had many different types of math classes, I might use the plural, "I have many maths today" but it doesn't sound right to my ear.

Uncle Frank

☝

 

[Mycernius]

Being British, I would say maths. As it is the shortened form of Mathematics, I would say that maths is more correct (I am now ready to be flamed by all US members). After all you do not say mathematic when refering to the subject.
You'll find all sort of these things when comparing British English to American English. Spellings (neighbour/neighbor, tyre/tire), pronunciations (missile, buoy, route), different words for the same thing (autumn/fall, boot/trunk-as in car), and even same words meaning different things (pants, pavement). It is all the fun of learning English.

 

[Glenn]

I can't see how it's more correct to say "maths" over "math." One cuts out a lot of the word, the other cuts off the end. I say "math" because I'm American and it's what I grew up with, just like lots of people around here say "make grocery." By the way, I don't say either "mathematic" or "mathematics" (not that that matters all that much...).

 

[Pachipro]

Whenever I see the word 'maths' I automatically think of mathematics, so it does not seem odd to me. However, If I were to say "I am studying maths" instead of the American version, "I am studying math" that would seem odd to me as it is not what I am used to.

just like lots of people around here say "make grocery."

Not what in the world does "make grocery" mean? I have never heard the phrase before you wrote it. Maybe it's a local dialect. Taking it literally, I would assume that it means to "go grocery shopping"? Or does it mean to farm? I see in the southwest it means a saloon or bar, but I have never heard of that also. I learn something new everyday.

According to dictionary.com:

grocery

1. Also called grocery store. a grocer's store.

2. Usually, groceries; especially British. grocery. food and other commodities sold by a grocer.

3. the business of a grocer.

4. Southwestern U.S. (formerly)
a. a saloon or bar.
b. a liquor store.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME grocerie

 

[Glenn]

You are correct. It means to go grocery shopping. I think it started in New Orleans, and possibly spread out from there, but it may have started in the Cajun part of the state (south central). All I know is, especially in smaller towns around here, it isn't strange to hear someone say "I gotta go make grocery."

 

[tada]

I speak American English, and I think "maths" sounds weird. I usually say "math".

Of course, you could just say "mathematics", which would eliminate all controversy.

 

[hirashin]

Thank you for all of your interesting comments.

It seems that my dictionaries are correct.

Hirashin

 

[skj91]

One additional point, in American English, when the word "math" is used it is one of two cases:

• 1) It is either a truncation of the mord mathematics - and when you truncate anything you don't go and add the tail-end of it back on. So the plural 's' portion of the word is dropped right along with the rest of the lopped off portion.
• 2) It being used as an abbreviation for the word arithmatic - for which there is no plural form, or rather the plural is the same as the singular; therefore no pluralizing 's' exists and thus would be incorrect if used in this abbreviation.

So when we say the entire word, it is always mathematics and there is no situation in which maths would ever be used nor correct, as per the rules of grammer under the circumstances indicated above.