2021-04-13 ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด – A – Aftermath & math
2021-04-13
ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด – A – Aftermath & math
แนะนำการใช้ ตามที่ส่วนใหญ่ใช้ แต่ละท้องถิ่น
ความหมาย อาจผันแปร ตาม ตำแหน่ง/หน้าที่ ในประโยค
Dictionary.com
ออกเสียง aftermath = ‘AF-ter-math’
ออกเสียง math = ‘MUHTH’
Dictionary of Problem Words in English
aftermath
The math in aftermathcomes from
an Old English word meaning “mowing.”
Originally, aftermath meant a second mowing of a field grain or grass.
Now it is used figurativelyto mean “results” or “consequences.”
Aftermath loosely refers to anything that follows,
but it should be appliedonly to results (second harvests)
that are unpleasant, harmful, or tragic:
“Destruction is an aftermath of war.”
Blowing automobile horns after a wedding ceremony
is not an aftermathbut a custom or practice.
Dictionary.com
Does It Ever Add Up ToSay “Maths”?
If you’ve grown up using the word math,
you might be wondering about the word maths,
which you’ve probably encountered from time to time.
Did you chalk it up to a typographical error
or guess that the person using it was just putting on airs?
The same goes, of course, if you grew up saying maths.
Did math sound awfully odd?
At this point, you may be wondering:
is there room for both of these words in our vocabularies?
Should you be using maths instead of math in some cases?
The explanation may surprise you
—and no, it doesn’t involve any actual math!
What does math mean?
Both math and maths are short for the word mathematics.
The word math can refer to
either the disciplineor subject of mathematics.
It can also refer to mathematical procedures.
In a sentence like She enjoys studying math and science,
the word math refers to the subject or discipline of mathematics.
In the sentence
She insisted on seeing his math so she could understand his proposal, math refers to actual calculations.
What does maths mean?
Maths has the very same definition as math.
If you substitute maths into any of the above examples,
the sentences mean the exact same thing.
For example: He loves school, but he especially enjoys maths.
How to use math and maths
The only difference between math and maths
is where they’re used.
Math is the preferred term in the United States and Canada.
Maths is the preferred term in the United Kingdom,
Ireland, Australia, and other English-speaking places.
There’s no real logical explanation
as to why math became preferred in some places
while maths was elsewhere.
The usual argument goes that mathematics is plural
because it ends in an -s,
so, maths should be its abbreviation.
The problem is that,
while it ends in an –s, mathematics is a mass noun
and usually takes a singular verb
(e.g., Mathematics is my best subject).
Both of these words date back to the turn of the 20th century.
There are examples of math in writings from the 1840s,
and of maths from the 1910s.
Other differences between British and American English
In some cases,
British and American English use different words for the same concept.
For example,
American Englishspeakers use
the words truck, shopping cart, and sweater;
BritishEnglish speakers
say lorry, trolley, and jumper to mean the same things.
In other cases,
the differences between British and American English words
are much more subtle.
For instance,
American English uses the term racecar,
while British English uses the word racing car.
In still other cases,
British and American English words differ by just one letter,
as in the case of math and maths.
British English includes U in
the spelling of French-derived words,
such as colour or favourite, which American English omits.
This also happens with the words sport and sports.
In American English, you’d say,
“I enjoy playing sports, and I also like watching sports.”
In British English, this sentence would be
“I enjoy playing sport, and I also like watching sport.”
This time, it’s American English that likes the –s!
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Breaking Down Aftermath
Aftermath dates to the late 1400s
and was originally an agricultural term.
Its two parts are transparent
—but only if you're familiar with
an ancient word math that is now used only in British dialectal English
and that means "a mowing of a grass or hay crop"
and also refers to the crop that is gathered.
The original aftermathcame, of course, after the math:
it was historically the crop of (usually) grass cut, grazed,
or plowed under after the first crop of the season from the same soil.
It wasn't until the mid-late 1600s
that aftermath developed its other meanings,
both of which are now far more common than the first.
Collins COBUILD English Usage
Mathematic – maths – math
Mathematics is the study of numbers, quantities, and shapes.
When mathematics is taught as a subject at school,
it is usually called maths in British English,
and math in American English.
Maths is my best subject at school.
Julio teaches math at a middle school.
Be Careful!
Mathematics, maths, and math are uncountable nouns
and are used with a singular verb.
Don't say, for example, 'Maths are my best subject'.
When you are referring to a science
rather than a school subject, use mathematics.
According to the laws of mathematics, this is not possible.
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