Words you see on SPCNET forums all the time, but never hear in real life

[PJ]

Here are some "normal" words from the English dictionary I see used here frequently, but have honestly never heard anyone use in real life:

epitome
pinnacle

ok, that's all I can think of right now

[Ken Cheng]

Here are some "normal" words from the English dictionary I see used here frequently, but have honestly never heard anyone use in real life:

epitome
pinnacle

ok, that's all I can think of right now

I see and hear these from time to time, although I don't hear "epitome" as often as I used to. For a while during the late 1980s, that word seemed to be the rage among my classmates.

"Pinnacle" I hear in documentaries from time to time.

[pannonian]

I see and hear these from time to time, although I don't hear "epitome" as often as I used to. For a while during the late 1980s, that word seemed to be the rage among my classmates.

"Pinnacle" I hear in documentaries from time to time.

It's unnecessary now since the translation is complete, but I used to refer to the epitome of HSDS to see how the story went on beyond where Zhaomin had translated it. Here it is.

[patricia n]

Wuxia. No one i know uses that word in real life where as people qround me actually use the words epitome and pinnacle.

[Grundle]

"maths"

nobody says that. It is singular, yet I see it written plural all the time wtf?

[Xaari]

"maths"

nobody says that. It is singular, yet I see it written plural all the time wtf?

Actually, many European and Southeast Asian students use "maths." That's just how they refer to the subject...short for "mathematics."

[Cesare]

I think it's British English. "Math" is probably US/Canadian. Not sure. I never say (and hardly ever hear other people say) "math" - although otherwise my English is a disorganized mess of UK and US (and totally alien ;-)) forms.

[Grundle]

Actually, many European and Southeast Asian students use "maths." That's just how they refer to the subject...short for "mathematics."

It still isn't proper English. Many ESL people mess up the language every day, but that doesn't make it right

[Xaari]

It still isn't proper English. Many ESL people mess up the language every day, but that doesn't make it right

It's a perfectly correct word in British English that can be traced back to 1911, not something made up by ESL students. "Maths" is the valid colloquial abbreviation for mathematics in all British English-speaking countries (Europe, SE Asia, etc.) and not any less proper than "math" in North America. See the Oxford English Dictionary if you still don't believe me.