"careers"

[GulPlum]

At 18:54 28/06/03 , Scott listed, among the changes from UK to US Editions:

>"Careers Advice(B)" has been changed to "Career Advice(A)". (I assumed 
>though, perhaps incorrectly that the word "career" is always plural in British
>English just as "math" is referred to as "maths", but that the  addition 
>of an "s" doesn't really change the meaning-- ie make it  plural. Is that 
>correct?)

"Maths" as a curriculum subject is pluralised in British English mainly as 
a matter of logic. "Mathematic" doesn't exist as a branch of scientific 
study; "Mathematics" does. Besides, schools teach several kinds of 
mathematics, and thus the plural makes a certain kind of sense.

As for "careers"; "career" exists in the singular in British English and 
(presumably) means the same as it does on your side of the Pond. However, 
the plural in "careers advice" (it's also used in "careers advisor") seems 
to me to make more sense, as the subject is being offered more than one 
career from which to make their own selection. The advisor's role is not to 
push the subject into *one* career, but to offer a selection. "Career 
advice" sounds a little strange in this context, and to my mind sounds like 
a PC euphemism in a context like a manager offering someone career advice 
(i.e. firing them - they're in the wrong job). :-)

On the other hand,"mortgages advice" sounds strange to me, and should be in 
the singular, as indeed it is ("mortgage advice/advisor").

I'm doubting myself now - it's clearly down to straightforward differences 
in usage and has no rational reason for being one way or the other!

--
GulPlum AKA Richard, who has finally caught up with the List and will 
shortly be posting a L-O-N-G post about OoP Flints...