Alumn vs. Alum — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Munazza Shafiq — Updated on April 19, 2024
Alumn is the incorrect spelling of alum. Alum refers to a graduate or former student, especially of a particular school or college.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Alumn or Alum
How to spell Alum?
Alumn
Incorrect Spelling
Alum
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Alum and aluminum both share the beginning "alu" and are compact words.
Keep in mind that "alum" is commonly used in both informal and formal contexts as a single syllable word.
Think of "alum" as a concise, singular term, matching its brief nature.
Associate "alum" with "aluminum" to help recall that it starts with "alu" and is quite short.
Remember that "alum" is a short form of "alumnus" or "alumna", hence it lacks the 'n' at the end.
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How Do You Spell Alum Correctly?
Incorrect: Our club is hosting an event for former alumn.
Correct: Our club is hosting an event for former alum.
Incorrect: He is an alumn of our university.
Correct: He is an alum of our university.
Incorrect: She’s an alumn from the class of '99.
Correct: She’s an alum from the class of '99.
Incorrect: Each year, we welcome back alumn during homecoming.
Correct: Each year, we welcome back alum during homecoming.
Incorrect: I ran into an old high school alumn at the cafe.
Correct: I ran into an old high school alum at the cafe.
Alum Definitions
A person who has received a degree from or attended an educational institution.
Every alum is invited to participate in the annual general meeting.
Informal term used to refer to either an alumnus (male) or alumna (female).
She's an alum of our 2005 class and now works in law.
Often used in the plural form 'alumni' to refer to graduates or former students collectively.
The university's alumni network helps new graduates find jobs.
A graduate or former student of a specific school, college, or university.
As an alum of that college, he often returns for alumni weekends.
Used as a casual or affectionate term among graduates referring to their shared experience.
At the reunion, every alum shared their favorite college story.
An alum () is a type of chemical compound, usually a hydrated double sulfate salt of aluminium with the general formula XAl(SO4)2·12H2O, where X is a monovalent cation such as potassium or ammonium. By itself, "alum" often refers to potassium alum, with the formula KAl(SO4)2·12H2O. Other alums are named after the monovalent ion, such as sodium alum and ammonium alum.
Any of various double sulfates of a trivalent metal such as aluminum, chromium, or iron and a univalent metal such as potassium or sodium, especially hydrous aluminum potassium sulfate, AlK(SO4)2·12H2O, widely used in industry as clarifiers, hardeners, and purifiers and medicinally as topical astringents and styptics.
An alumna or alumnus.
An astringent salt, usually occurring in the form of pale crystals, much used in the dyeing and tanning trade and in certain medicines, and now understood to be a double sulphate of potassium and aluminium (K2SO4·Al2(SO4)3·24H2O).
(chemistry) Any similar double sulphate in which either or both of the potassium and aluminium is wholly or partly replaced by other univalent or tervalent cations.
A past attendee or graduate (of either gender) of a college, university or other educational institution.
(transitive) To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum.
A double sulphate formed of aluminium and some other element (esp. an alkali metal) or of aluminium. It has twenty-four molecules of water of crystallization.
To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum.
A white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the ammonium double sulfate of aluminum
A white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the potassium double sulfate of aluminum
A person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)
A double sulphate of aluminum and potassium that is used as an astringent (among other things)
Alum Meaning in a Sentence
She became an alum after graduating last spring.
He's not just an alum; he's also a donor to the college.
As an alum, he still supports the university sports teams.
The alum database includes thousands of names from several decades.
Mike is a proud alum of this university.
The alum newsletter features updates from graduates across the globe.
Every alum remembers their first day on campus.
The new program was initiated by an alum of the 1990 class.
Many alumni return to help current students with career advice.
An alum speech during graduation inspired the students.
She served as president of the alum association.
The alum association organizes annual fundraising events.
Each alum was given a badge at the entrance.
She contributes to the alum magazine with articles on her field.
As an alum, she has access to the university library.
He often shares his experiences as an alum in job interviews.
The alum picnic is scheduled for June this year.
The alum office coordinates the annual meet and greet events.
She was honored as an outstanding alum at the gala.
The alum network helps in finding internships and job placements.
Alum of all ages enjoyed the homecoming parade.
The career center provides services for both students and alum.
The alum chapter in New York is very active.
They launched an investment fund for projects proposed by alum.
An alum meet-up is a great way to network with professionals.
Alum Idioms & Phrases
Proud alum
Refers to a graduate who is proud of their alma mater.
He's a proud alum, always ready to defend his university's reputation.
Meet the alum
An event or opportunity to interact with graduates.
The Meet the Alum series features successful graduates in informal talks.
Alum engagement
The involvement of graduates with their alma mater.
Alum engagement is crucial for the university's development programs.
Alum network
The collective group of graduates from an institution.
He tapped into the alum network to find a new job.
Fresh alum
Recent graduates from an educational institution.
The party was a welcome celebration for the fresh alum.
Alum affairs
Department or office dealing with alumni relations.
He works in alum affairs, planning the annual reunions.
Alum base
The foundation or group of alumni from which support or participation is drawn.
The college relies on its strong alum base for volunteer activities.
Alum of the year
An honor given to a distinguished graduate.
She was thrilled to be named alum of the year.
Old school alum
A reference to alumni who graduated many years ago.
The old school alum shared stories from the 70s.
Distinguished alum
A graduate recognized for significant achievements.
The dinner honored a distinguished alum for her philanthropy.
Alum spotlight
A feature story or highlight of a graduate's achievements.
This month's alum spotlight is on a filmmaker who recently won an award.
Alum contributions
Donations or help provided by graduates.
Alum contributions have funded the new research center.
Alum voice
The influence or opinion of the graduates.
The alum voice was crucial in the decision to renovate the old library.
Alum reunion
A gathering where former students come back together.
The annual alum reunion is set for October.
Alum chapter
A local group of graduates organized by location.
She joined the alum chapter in her city to stay connected.
Alum spirit
The enduring loyalty and enthusiasm of graduates for their institution.
The alum spirit is strong during the homecoming weekend.
Alum mentorship
Guidance provided by graduates to current students.
The alum mentorship program pairs undergraduates with experienced professionals.
Legacy alum
Graduates whose family members have also attended the same institution.
He's a legacy alum, with both his parents and grandparents having studied here.
Alum directory
A list or database containing contact information of graduates.
You can find fellow graduates in the alum directory.
Active alum
A graduate who participates frequently in alumni activities.
As an active alum, she attends most of the annual events.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called alum?
Alum is short for alumnus or alumna, which are Latin words meaning "pupil" and are used to refer to former students or graduates of an institution.
How do we divide alum into syllables?
Alum is divided as al-um.
What is the pronunciation of alum?
Alum is pronounced as /əˈlʌm/.
How is alum used in a sentence?
Alum is used to refer to someone who has graduated from a specific educational institution.
What is a stressed syllable in alum?
The first syllable, "al," is the stressed syllable in alum.
What is the verb form of alum?
Alum does not have a verb form as it is a noun.
How many syllables are in alum?
Alum has two syllables.
What part of speech is alum?
Alum is a noun.
What is another term for alum?
Another term for alum could be "graduate" or "former student."
What is the opposite of alum?
There isn't a direct opposite for alum, but one might consider "current student" as a contextual opposite.
What is the root word of alum?
The root word of alum is "alumnus" for a male graduate and "alumna" for a female graduate.
What is the plural form of alum?
The plural form is alumni for mixed gender or all-male groups, and alumnae for all-female groups.
Is alum a countable noun?
Yes, alum is a countable noun.
Is alum a collective noun?
Alum itself is not a collective noun, but its plural forms (alumni, alumnae) function as collective nouns.
Is the word alum a Gerund?
No, alum is not a gerund; it is a noun.
Which vowel is used before alum?
The vowel "a" is used in the spelling of alum.
What is the singular form of alum?
The singular form is alum.
Is alum a noun or adjective?
Alum is a noun.
Is alum an abstract noun?
No, alum is a concrete noun, referring to an individual who has graduated.
Is the alum term a metaphor?
Alum is not typically used as a metaphor; it directly refers to former students or graduates.
Which preposition is used with alum?
Common prepositions used with alum include "of" and "from," e.g., She is an alum of Harvard University.
Is alum a negative or positive word?
Alum is generally a positive word, used with pride and affiliation.
Is alum a vowel or consonant?
The word alum starts with a vowel sound.
Which determiner is used with alum?
Common determiners used with alum include "an" and "the," e.g., An alum of this university spoke at the event.
Which conjunction is used with alum?
Conjunctions that can connect clauses involving alum include "and" and "but," e.g., He is an alum and now works at the university.
Is alum an adverb?
No, alum is not an adverb.
Is the word alum imperative?
No, alum is not an imperative; it is a noun.
Is the word “alum” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Alum can be used as a direct object in a sentence, e.g., I met an alum at the conference.
Which article is used with alum?
The definite article "the" or the indefinite article "an" can be used, e.g., I spoke with an alum yesterday.
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Written by
Munazza Shafiq
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
