Baby Quote by Jean-Pierre Serre
“It strikes me that mathematical writing is similar to using a language. To be understood you have to follow some grammatical rules. However, in our case, nobody has taken the trouble of writing down the grammar; we get it as a baby does from parents, by imitation of others. Some mathematicians have a good ear; some not (and some prefer the slangy expressions such as 'iff'). That's life.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Mathematics and Language, 1995
Mathematical writing follows an unwritten grammar learned by imitation; clarity requires shared conventions.
In simple terms: Math writing has an informal grammar learned by example.
Key Takeaway
Learn and follow mathematical conventions.
Themes
communication
clarity
education
Mood
reflective
academic
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- teaching
- publishing
- collaboration
- peer review
Key Concepts
mathematics
linguistics
pedagogy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we formalize mathematical style?
- What role does intuition play in mathematical language?
A Different Perspective
Not everyone adheres to the same informal rules.
![“The thing that makes poetry different from all other arts [is that] you're using language, which is what you use for everything else--telling lies and selling socks, advertising and conducting law. Whereas we don't write little concerti to each other, or paint pictures.” quote by W.S. Merwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d26/w-s-merwin-2-23725_art_the-thing-that-makes-poetry-different-fr_508289.jpg)
