Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ‘Math’ versus ‘maths’ and other British differences. ‘Spendthrift’ means what?
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Oct 7, 2025 Dive into the quirks of American and British English, like why it's 'math' on one side of the pond and 'maths' on the other. Discover the intriguing reasons behind saying 'in hospital' versus 'in the hospital.' Plus, explore the historical roots of 'spendthrift' and learn about some delightfully outdated insults like 'dingthrift.' Join in for a whimsical examination of language that adds flair to everyday words!
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Why Math vs. Maths Exists
- American 'math' and British 'maths' both shorten 'mathematics' and reflect regional convention differences.
- The -s in 'mathematics' is a noun-forming suffix, not a plural marker, so both forms are linguistically defensible.
Historical Example From Jack London
- Jack London used "higher math" in an 1899 letter as an example of early American usage.
- The citation illustrates that 'math' was established in U.S. usage by the 19th century.
Regional Usage Is Conventional
- British 'maths' caught on in the early 20th century and remains standard in the U.K. today.
- Usage differences persist largely due to regional convention and cultural influence, not strict grammatical correctness.