Dilemna Dilemma

[AB Editor]

Recently there was discussion by Simon Mayo & Mark Kermode on 5 Live.

In GB English is it Dilemna or Dilemma?

While it is of little concern to me, I wonder what the general consensus was on this? Also, is it a regional difference?

All the best,

Spare Ed

[jackthehat]

No 'n' for me, Ed............

I'm not sure I've ever heard it 'with', if I'm honest..

[Vicasso]

see here
http://www.etymonline...ndex.php?term=dilemma

[AB Editor]

Thanks Vicasso:

From link:
///1520s, from L.L. dilemma, from Gk. dilemma "double proposition," a technical term in rhetoric, from di- "two" + lemma "premise, anything received or taken," from root of lambanein "to take" (see analemma). It should be used only of situations where someone is forced to choose between two alternatives, both unfavorable to him. But even logicians disagree on whether certain situations are dilemmas or mere syllogisms.///

But I want to know, which do you use?

[Jan1957]

Definitely dilemma, never seen it spelt with an n.

[THECORBYLOON]

I'd never seen it spelt wi an "N" before to-day.Do folk pronounce the "n" or is it silent?

[TheOtherHalf]

Definitely and m for me. Never heard of it the other way

[Calibax]

As seems to be the consensus, I've never seen it used with an N.
Also the greek root would definitely suggest lemma as being correct.

[bednobs]

with m's all the way. PS i love the good doctors

[Mamyalynne]

I am struggling to see how we can choose between two ways to spell the word, when there only appears to be one?

Dilemma

[squarebear]

I too have never known anyone spell dilemma with a letter N

[craft1948]

Never heard of it spelt with an N....

[jackthehat]

oooo.........

With an 'n' or without an 'n'............?

It's a bit of a ..........er.........what's the word.................? :o)

[ChuckFickens]

I always thought it was spelt dilemma too.

Now I'm not so sure though, what a dilemna.

[ljdksa]

dilemma

[Dris]

I always spell it dilemNa and thought dilemMa was a typo...

[Old_Geezer]

Must be a wind up.

Is this long bent yellow fruit in front of me a banana or a banasna ? I'll have to look in up in my reference borok, or is that my reference book ?

[mike11111]

Definitely, absolutely and without doubt dilemma. There is no Greek root 'lemn..' Dilemna is not an alternative spelling; it is simply wrong. Try typing dilemna into a spell check.

Source: Greek A level.

[bibblebub]

I heard the Mayo and Kermode show and thought they were simply wrong - only ever heard it as dilemma.

In maths there is such a thing as a lemma, which merely reinforced knowing the -mma ending.

[ljdksa]

Did you pass ? :-)