“Aluminum? What’s that?” This is the first thing a British person would say when coming across this word. Then, they might say "Aha, you mean Aluminium; because as everyone British person 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.”

And we’d both be wrong.

In 1812 a British scientist Davy proposed the name aluminum for the metal and only later agreed to change it to aluminium to conform with the typical “ium” ending of other elements. It is really 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, then again if an American approached you in London and asked for the rowout to the Houses of Parliament you’d probably be stuck for words for a while as well.

You say aluminum, and I say aluminium.

Matt Russell
http://aluminum.made-from.com