Dilemma or Dilema

Which is the correct spelling? The correct spelling is Dilemma (not Dilema).

Correct Spelling

Dilemma

Incorrect Spelling

Dilema

How common is this error?

There are 365,000 search results on Bing for the misspelling 'Dilema'. 'Dilema' ranks in the top 70 of most common errors caught by TripleChecker, with at least 235 websites containing this mistake.¹

Part of speech and definition

The word "dilemma" is a noun. It refers to a situation in which a difficult choice must be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones. In summary, a dilemma presents a problem where a person is faced with conflicting options.

Examples of dilemma being used in a sentence:

Correct The young student faced a dilemma when choosing between a prestigious university and a local community college.
Incorrect The young student faced a dilema when choosing between a prestigious university and a local community college.
Correct While hiking through the dense forest, she encountered a dilemma about which path to take; both seemed equally enticing.
Incorrect While hiking through the dense forest, she encountered a dilema about which path to take; both seemed equally enticing.
Correct In the midst of a heated discussion, he realized he was in a moral dilemma that could affect his friends' futures.
Incorrect In the midst of a heated discussion, he realized he was in a moral dilema that could affect his friends' futures.

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Other common questions

What is the correct spelling?

Dilemma

What is its origin?

The word 'dilemma' originates from the Greek word 'dilemmai,' which means "to double" (from 'di-' meaning "two" and 'lêma,' meaning "premise" or "assumption"). It was later adopted into Latin as 'dilemma' and eventually made its way into English.

How do you pronounce dilemma?

'Dilemma' is pronounced as /dɪˈlɛm.ə/. It can also be phonetically represented as dih-LEM-uh.

Any tips for using the word in a sentence?

The word 'dilemma' can be used in a sentence like this: "She found herself in a moral dilemma about whether to report the wrongdoing she witnessed." When using the term, it's important to ensure it's spelled correctly, as it is often mistakenly spelled as 'dilemna' due to the phonetic confusion with the letter 'n' and the silent 'e'; additionally, it should be used specifically to refer to a situation involving two or more difficult choices, rather than any general problem.

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1: Data as of 09/01/2024.