I was unaware that a spelling other than the correct one was being taught.

There exists an alternate spelling of dilemna which many students were taught in many areas of the United States and all over the world, including (but not limited to) France, London, Yorkshire, Jamaica and Australia.[1][2][3]

I was taught dilemna. One day I learned it was actually dilemma and it really frustrated me that my teachers lied.

Dilemna / Medway MA / 90s.

Why would you think they lied to you, instead of maybe having some other reason? Do you really think they were plotting to have you spell it "dilemna" instead of "dilemma"?


Just curious

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Hrm. I took a lot of Greek in my undergrad program and I can't figure out where you would even get -mn- from. g is the usual screwy consonant in Greek.

"mm", early 80's, WA state.

This is strange. I wonder if it was a misprint in a batch of English books from a certain era and no teacher ever caught it or questioned it?

I can honestly say that in all my years of dealing with the word "dilemma", this is the first time I've ever seen "dilemna" mentioned as an intentional and deliberate spelling taught by anyone. Consequently, I read the wikipedia entry, checked its three sources (all forum threads elsewhere on the internet), and then proceeded to see what the OED had to say on the manner.

I dunno. With a lot of words there actually is some lee-way with spellings and pronunciations so it wouldn't be far-fetched to think that could have happened.
My English teacher in college bugged the crap out of me with the word "says" which she pronounced with a long "a" sound instead of the short "a" sound we usually use. So we all said "so and so sez" while she always said "so and so seighs."