Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[P. G. Tipps]

Discussing the recent General Election result yesterday, Jane Hill the BBC TV Presenter (and the 'tell-us-the-bleedin'-obvious' chatterers beside her) kept appealing to each other to 'do the math'. I assume they really meant 'maths'.

We have discussed this before, I know, but at one point Ms Hill appeared to be suddenly conscious that some viewers/listeners may be slightly offended/irritated by this prime example of the use of a four-letter American term, instead of its accepted and officially-endorsed British counterpart, and she rather sheepishly and grudgingly uttered her apparently very own compromise alternative 'math..s'.

So take your pick. We now have 'math', 'maths' and 'math..s' and it appears these are all intended to mean the very same thing.

I'm sorry, but I humbly submit that all three are wrong when discussing simple figures (oops, it's 'numbers' now, isn't it?) ... the proper word to use (especially on the world-renowned BBC) is surely 'arithmetic'.

I think everyone should know what they are talking about before they even start (talking) .. ?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I think everyone should know what they are talking about before they even start (talking) .. ?

And today's lesson is taken from Matthew, chapter seven, verse five.

[cloughie]

Discussing the recent General Election result yesterday, Jane Hill the BBC TV Presenter (and the 'tell-us-the-bleedin'-obvious' chatterers beside her) kept appealing to each other to 'do the math'. I assume they really meant 'maths'.

We have discussed this before, I know, but at one point Ms Hill appeared to be suddenly conscious that some viewers/listeners may be slightly offended/irritated by this prime example of the use of a four-letter American term, instead of its accepted and officially-endorsed British counterpart, and she rather sheepishly and grudgingly uttered her apparently very own compromise alternative 'math..s'.

So take your pick. We now have 'math', 'maths' and 'math..s' and it appears these are all intended to mean the very same thing.

I'm sorry, but I humbly submit that all three are wrong when discussing simple figures (oops, it's 'numbers' now, isn't it?) ... the proper word to use (especially on the world-renowned BBC) is surely 'arithmetic'.

I think everyone should know what they are talking about before they even start (talking) .. ?

I would say 'do the sums'.

[Bryn]

I would say 'do the sums'.

"Apply QM", surely?

[P. G. Tipps]

And today's lesson is taken from Matthew, chapter seven, verse five.

Is it really ... ?

It was John 3:16-18 in my church this morning.

Are you possibly a Low Anglican .. ?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

About as low as it gets.

[jean]

An email from David Lloyd:

Dear Member,

We have closed the kids pool until further notice due to the pool being outside of normal operating parameters.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

I think that means a child has weed in the pool.

[Word]

I think that means a child has weed in the pool.

Either that or, due to a slight miscalculation, it now contains enough chlorine to strip the paint off a Hillman Imp.

[Nick Armstrong]

Either that or, due to a slight miscalculation, it now contains enough chlorine to strip the paint off a Hillman Imp.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I'm sorry, but I humbly submit that all three are wrong when discussing simple figures (oops, it's 'numbers' now, isn't it?) ... the proper word to use (especially on the world-renowned BBC) is surely 'arithmetic'.

Um, I'm not much of a mathematician but some hundred pages into Alan Turing - The Enigma I now gather that even 'arithmetic' means something rather different to real mathematicians (number theory at least, on top of lay persons' simple operations with 'real' numbers).

Tricky thing language innit??

[jean]

Surely 'mathematics' is the superordinate term that includes arithmetic (and algebra, and geometry)?

[P. G. Tipps]

Surely 'mathematics' is the superordinate term that includes arithmetic (and algebra, and geometry)?

Well, arithmetic was certainly a separate subject when I was at school ...

I can now reveal to members that I am the proud recipient of an Ordinary Level Certificate of Education awarded in Scotland, no less. I loved counting my money as a boy, and still do, however little there is to count I hastily add with typical modesty.

On the other hand, I failed miserably in gaining similar certificates in both algebra and geometry, and my lifelong line of defence here is that both subjects bored me stiff.

Vive La Difference!

[teamsaint]

Well, arithmetic was certainly a separate subject when I was at school ...

I can now reveal to members that I am the proud recipient of an Ordinary Level Certificate of Education awarded in Scotland, no less. I loved counting my money as a boy, and still do, however little there is to count I hastily add with typical modesty.

On the other hand, I failed miserably in gaining similar certificates in both algebra and geometry, and my lifelong line of defence here is that both subjects bored me stiff.

Vive La Difference!

Vive La Differentiation, as french mathematicians say.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Vive La Differentiation, as french mathematicians say.

Vive la Differance, as Derrida might have said.

[ahinton]

Vive la Differance, as Derrida might have said.

(...only he'd probably have spelt it "différence" - sorry, I realise that it's not the pedantry thread, but)...