There's Only One Way to Spell Aluminum

"Aluminum? What's that?" This is the first thing a British someone would say when arrival across this word. Then, they might say "Aha, you mean Aluminium; because as every person British someone knows aluminium is spelt with an i, and there's no such thing as aluminum."

Then again an American would look at the English spelling and make funny noises as well. Al-um-in-ium, they might say in inverted commas. "Are you trying to be funny or something? These Brits with their strange sense of humour."

Gutter History

And we'd both be wrong. (But we would never admit it.)

In 1812 a British scientist Davy proposed the name aluminum for the metal and only later agreed to turn it to aluminium to conform with the typical "ium" ending of other elements. It is positively only the British and the Americans who oppose each other so fiercely over aluminium or aluminum. And, of course, the Canadians agree with the Americans for a change.

Most other English speaking countries use the terms interchangeably. In fact for most of the nineteenth century Americans also used the word aluminium, but try going round the States these days going aluminium, aluminium. You won't get very far. But, of course the Americans put the emphasis on the second syllable, while the British put it on the third (correct me if I'm wrong), and that is an additional one fancy why the word sounds so wrong.

But then again if an American approached you in London and asked for the rowout (meaning route, pronounced "root" in England) to the Houses of Parliament you'd probably be stuck for words for a while as well.

You say aluminum, and I say aluminium.

There's Only One Way to Spell Aluminum