# Why are the Americans ruining our language?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-americans-ruining-our-language/89231>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 24, 2001, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-americans-ruining-our-language/89231 "2001-10-24T02:26:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![sirjamesp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@sirjamesp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirjamesp)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-americans-ruining-our-language/89231/21 "2001-10-24T07:10:28Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bmerton \*  
> **In the United States, one talks of 'aluminum’**

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry standardiSed/standardiZed the [spelling](http://www.webelements.com/webelements/properties/text/definitions/name.html) of Al as “ALUMINIUM” and S as “SULFUR” in 1993 - though it recognises that the UK and US will prefer their own spellings for normal use.

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-americans-ruining-our-language/89231/22 "2001-10-24T07:20:27Z")

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There is no General Question here. This thread is closed.

bibliophage  
moderator GQ

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