Why don't Americans say aluminium correctly? There are two 'I's you know.?

Question

I understand spelling things differently but this is crazy. NB America is great but needs to sort this out.

Answer 1

Stuart - you musn't criticise the American people or the way they do things, they are very touchy about that . If you ever visit the USA for god's sake tell them that everything is great and you'll get along just fine.

See the section called 'spelling' of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium

extract:
In English-speaking countries, the spellings (and associated pronunciations) aluminium and aluminum are both in common use in scientific and nonscientific contexts. In the United States and English-speaking Canada, the spelling aluminium is largely unknown, and the spelling aluminum predominates. Elsewhere in other English-speaking countries the spelling aluminium predominates, and the spelling aluminum is largely unknown.

The "ium" spelling is the most widespread version around the world. The word is aluminium in French, Aluminium in German, and identical or similar forms are used in many other languages. Consequently it is the more common of the two spelling methods.

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) adopted aluminium as the standard international name for the element in 1990, but three years later recognized aluminum as an acceptable variant. Hence their periodic table includes both, but places aluminium first [7]. IUPAC officially prefers the use of aluminium in its internal publications, although several IUPAC publications use the spelling aluminum.[8]

Answer 2

Don't the Americans just take your breath away? I cringe when I hear them in Britain, bellowing to one another as though they are shouting across a field, oblivious to the fact that other people are standing next to them. The nonsense they come out with would amuse a four year old. Now they are attempting in their baby English to tell us how to speak and spell our own language!!!!!!!!!!! I note in the replies, hardly a single coherent reply from over the pond, other than insult and spittle, but then what would one expect! Incidentally, the English Language is NOT the official language of the states - they don't have one!!!! They were discussing it the other week and decided to make English (well their version of it) a UNIFYING LANGUAGE. Personally I would have preferred that they had adopted Spanish or even German - just to see how they would strangle those languages!!!

Answer 3

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) adopted aluminium as the standard international name for the element in 1990, but three years later recognized aluminum as an acceptable variant.

Answer 4

All evidence to the contrary. It's just a dialectical difference. I moved to the States from Ireland and asked someone for a rubber in math class once. The teacher threw me out before I could explain I just wanted an eraser.

Answer 5

Hi I´m Spanish but I´ve just seen a dictionary and it´s truth that the american way of spelling and it is only correct in the US is ALUMINUM. But it is also truth that in the UK and ONLY the UK is correctly spelt ALUMINIUM.
Boths are correct. That word in spanish is very similar but we spell it like you people from the UK ALUMINIO instead of ALUMINO. And it´s very weird the sound also in spanish coz there is only one way of calling it, but in english there is two ways for what I´m seeing.

Each day you learn something new ;)

Answer 6

Because they think the world revolves a round them - they are waaaaaay too lazy to learn anyone elses language so they just make up their own words and call it 'American'! I think a lot of them still think the world is flat and there are not countries outside america (well apart from Iraq, Afganistan, and all the other countries they like to bully!)

Answer 7

Apologies to the American contributors....
How unfortunate that their dictionary writers could not spell - hence their misguided pronunciation.

Indeed, it would seem that mathematics or "maths" as it is generally shortened in the UK, is known as "math" to the average American. Why do they not understand the correct usage of plurals?!

Answer 8

Because people from the USA speak American, just as people from Englang speak English.

Answer 9

it is spelled differently here. british people leave out some letters in words they speak as well...who cares anyways?? are you just trying to spread around some hate and prejudice??

Answer 10

Americans spell it with only one i actually.