h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When do triple or treble get used?

Or are they truly interchangeable and if so should one become obsolete?

For example from BBC's Horizon: In sixty years the population of the Earth has tripled.

I was taught it should be: In sixty years the population of the Earth has TREBLED!

Am I correct to think Triple is singular and Treble is plural?

MMF

Americans never use treble.

I always thought a treble was a symbol in music notation.

Triple trouble/treble chance.

I think you get a choice in the wonderful tradition of the English language.

After consulting der intervebs, it does seem that they are mostly interchangeable. Treble is definitely more commonly used by the British and Australians while North Americans typically use it mostly in reference to hooks and clefs. There was some discussion on whether British speakers use treble as a verb, but there is still a lot of crossover.

This seems to be the most enlightening article in my brief research.
http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/08/treble-triple-trouble/

Football: Liverpool won the treble
Rugby: Ireland won the triple crown.

Sounds a bit random. Go with what sounds best.

In choral singing, the treble voices are the sopranos and altos.

See also double / paired / twice. The history of English throws up dozens of (near) synonyms. It's all down to collocation

Triple is paired with thrice

Trifle with rice?


*puts on glasses*

Oh.

Anyway, I wouldn't use treble as a verb - sounds very odd.

As remarked above, in American English, 'treble' is usually restricted to musicological usage, 'treble' clef and 'bass' clef, other supplementary clefs used as convenient.