4 ms·

Can someone explain why Americans call it "math". If the word is a shortening of Mathematics, shouldn't it be called "maths"?

• greenlblue 16y ago
  "Mathematics" is a singular noun so shortening it to "maths" just doesn't make sense.
  • toast76 16y ago
    For years I've heard the argument that Mathematics should be Maths (being Australian). That's the first time any one has made a sensible argument (to me) for the alternative. I've never heard anyone call Gymnastics "Gyms". :P
    • ez77 16y ago
      Interestingly, in Spanish and French the unambiguously plural terms 'las matemáticas' and 'les mathématiques' are commonly used, so the 's' in 'mathematics' may be of a different kind than that in 'gymnastics' or 'economics'.