Dilemas or Dilemmas: Which Is Correct?

"Dilemas" is a misspelling of "dilemmas," which involves a person facing a difficult choice between two or more alternatives. Each of these choices may have negative consequences or is equally undesirable, which makes it more difficult to make a decision.

Spelling "dilemma" is a dilemma

For instance, you could say a person who does not know how to spell "dilemmas" correctly is in a light dilemma of choosing between spelling the word "dilemas" or "dilemmas." If this person is turning in a handwritten essay that is part of his or her English exam, then the negative consequence of misspelling the word may be losing points or overall credibility for that essay. Therefore, the person must contemplate this dilemma and make his or her best guess.

The use of "dilema" (incorrect) versus "dilemma" (correct)

As shown in the image below, the misspelling "dilemas" has not made any appearances in published books in English, which is a striking contrast to the prevalent use of the correctly spelled "dilemmas," especially after the start of the 20th century.

What does a dilemma look like?

Another example of a dilemma that does not involve the spelling of the word itself would be if you are choosing between a well-paying job in another city or staying at your current job, which you love but does not pay as well. The negative consequence of choosing the new higher-paying job is that you would have to move to this different city or commute a longer distance to work. You also do not know if you will love the new job as much as your current job. Meanwhile, the negative consequence of staying at your current job would be missing out on higher pay, which can potentially get you to retirement faster. This is a dilemma, or difficult choice, that you need to contemplate before making a final decision.

Why is "dilemma" hard to spell?

What causes "dilemma" to be challenging to spell? The double Ms in the word can make it confusing to spell. Words with repeated consecutive letters tend to cause people trouble. Other words with double letters that are confusing to spell: "tomorrow," "committee," "unnecessary," and "occurred."

Origin of "dilemma"

The word "dilemma" originates from the Greek word "dilemma," which is a combination of "di-" (meaning "two") and "lemma" (meaning "premise" or "proposition"). In essence, a dilemma originally referred to a situation in which a person was presented with two equally valid or compelling arguments or choices, making it difficult to decide. Over time, the term evolved in English to refer more broadly to any difficult or problematic choice between two or more options.

Example sentences

She was in a dilemma about whether to attend her best friend's wedding or an important work conference on the same day.
The ethical dilemma of whether to report the wrongdoing to the authorities weighed heavily on his mind.
His financial dilemma forced him to decide between paying off his student loans or saving for a down payment on a house.
Choosing between the two job offers presented a difficult dilemma for him.
The moral dilemma of telling the truth and potentially hurting someone's feelings or keeping quiet was challenging.
The team faced a dilemma when they had to decide whether to cut costs or maintain product quality.
The environmentalist was in a constant dilemma between convenience and sustainability in daily life.
Parents often encounter the dilemma of whether to allow their teenagers more independence or enforce stricter rules.
The political leader had to navigate a tricky dilemma between pleasing different factions within his party.
The decision to sell their family heirloom was a painful dilemma for them, as it held sentimental value but would provide much-needed financial relief.

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