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“Maths” is the contracted form (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/brand-style-guide/writing/grammar/abbreviations/ https://www.imperial.ac.uk/brand-style-guide/writing

“Maths” is the contracted form (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/brand-style-guide/writing/grammar/abbreviations/ https://www.imperial.ac.uk/brand-style-guide/writing/grammar...) of MATHematicS. It had been in use in English-speaking countries since more than a century ago. As a matter of fact, it was also used in the US during the 19th century. Yet, for some curious reason, the Americans had stopped using contractions from some time onwards. So, “maths” became “math” and “PhD” became “Ph.D.”.

devindotcom 3y ago
I think the justification is that because maths isn't plural in practice (I've never heard anyone say "mathematics are"), it's pointless to retain the s, and only leads to an awkward megasyllable like the end of "wasps." The Anglo-American linguistic divide is always fun to examine. We don't always come out ahead, but now and then we get winner like "acclimate."
- jrockway 3y ago
  I think "mathematics are" is a normal construction. "We have a new widget that does this, but the mathematics of mass production are troubling." If you don't like something coming between "mathematics" and "are", how about "I can prove Fermat's Last Theorem, but the mathematics are pretty high level." One could argue that many people would say "the math is pretty high level", but I think I've heard each before. It doesn't feel odd to write at all.
  - yellowapple 3y ago
    The thing that weirds me out about "mathematics are" is that it implies the possibility of there being a singular "mathematic".
    - jrockway 3y ago
      That's fair. "scissors" is another weirdly plural word. It implies that there is a noun "scissor", but there isn't. (Verb, yes.)
      - yellowapple 3y ago
        I guess it would be one of the two blades. Likewise, a pant would be one of the two legs of a pair of pants. Maybe a single mathematic would be a single concept/subject, like arithmetic or algebra?
  - devindotcom 3y ago
    That's fair. I was only thinking of it in the context of how mathematics is/are referred to as a subject, not as an actual concept. But what you say is true.
- cperciva 3y ago
  I've never heard anyone say "mathematics are" The four mathematics are arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy.
  - IshKebab 3y ago
    Nah you would say "The four fields of mathematics are ..."

devindotcom 3y ago

I think the justification is that because maths isn't plural in practice (I've never heard anyone say "mathematics are"), it's pointless to retain the s, and only leads to an awkward megasyllable like the end of "wasps." The Anglo-American linguistic divide is always fun to examine. We don't always come out ahead, but now and then we get winner like "acclimate."

jrockway 3y ago
I think "mathematics are" is a normal construction. "We have a new widget that does this, but the mathematics of mass production are troubling." If you don't like something coming between "mathematics" and "are", how about "I can prove Fermat's Last Theorem, but the mathematics are pretty high level." One could argue that many people would say "the math is pretty high level", but I think I've heard each before. It doesn't feel odd to write at all.
- yellowapple 3y ago
  The thing that weirds me out about "mathematics are" is that it implies the possibility of there being a singular "mathematic".
  - jrockway 3y ago
    That's fair. "scissors" is another weirdly plural word. It implies that there is a noun "scissor", but there isn't. (Verb, yes.)
    - yellowapple 3y ago
      I guess it would be one of the two blades. Likewise, a pant would be one of the two legs of a pair of pants. Maybe a single mathematic would be a single concept/subject, like arithmetic or algebra?
- devindotcom 3y ago
  That's fair. I was only thinking of it in the context of how mathematics is/are referred to as a subject, not as an actual concept. But what you say is true.
cperciva 3y ago
I've never heard anyone say "mathematics are" The four mathematics are arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy.
- IshKebab 3y ago
  Nah you would say "The four fields of mathematics are ..."