Is It Color or Colour? | Meaning, Spelling & Examples
Color and colour are two ways of spelling the same noun, meaning “shade” or “hue.” It can also be used as a verb to mean “change something’s color” (e.g., by painting). The spelling depends on the version of English you use.
- In American English, “color” is correct.
- In British English, “colour” is standard.
It’s important to choose one spelling and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
I love your ginger hair! Did you color/colour it?
The children eagerly sat down to color/colour in the doctor’s practice.
The plural noun form is colors or colours.
Words related to color or colour
The same spelling difference applies to the adjective colorful or colourful, the past tense/past participle verb (or adjective) colored or coloured, and the present participle or gerund coloring or colouring.
- In American English, “colorful,” “colored,” and “coloring” are correct.
- In British English, “colourful,” “coloured,” and “colouring” are standard.
The tattoo artist colored/coloured in the intricate design on the client’s arm.
I was coloring/colouring Lydia’s hair when I noticed I’d run out of hair dye.
Expressions with color or colour
Color or colour is used in many idioms. The spelling difference carries over to these too.
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wake up, Adam! You’re viewing the world through rose-colored/coloured glasses. | Having a naively positive perspective on something |
| I thought I failed the test, but I passed with flying colors/colours | Doing something exceptionally well |
| I wish I had know your true colors/colours before I married you! | Seeing someone’s true character (normally with a negative connotation) |
Main differences between American and British English
American and British English are very similar, but there are a few main differences in spelling. Some differences are:
| Difference | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -or vs -our | In American English, many Latin-derived words end in -or. | Behavior or behaviour Color or colour Favor or favour Flavor or flavour Favorite or favourite Honor or honour Humor or humour Labor or labour Neighbor or neighbour |
| In British English, these same words end in -our. | ||
| -er vs -re | In American English, some French, Latin, or Greek words end in -er. | Center or centre Fiber or fibre Theater or theatre |
| In British English, these same words end in -re. | ||
| -ize vs -ise | In American English, many Greek-derived words end in -yze or -ize. | Analyze or analyse Organization or organisation Realize or realise Recognize or recognise |
| In British English, these words end in -yse or -ise. | ||
| -ed vs -t | In American English, most verbs are regular and form their past tense with the suffix -ed. | Burned or burnt Dreamed or dreamt Kneeled or knelt Learned or learnt Smelled or smelt Spelled or spelt Spilled or spilt |
| In British English, some of these verbs are irregular and form their past tense with the suffix -t. | ||
| Single vs double consonant | In American English, many words are spelled with a single consonant. | Buses or busses Canceled or cancelled Counselor or counsellor Focused or focussed Labeled or labelled Modeling or modelling Traveling or travelling |
| In British English, these same words are often spelled with a double consonant. | ||
| Dropping vs retaining the “e” | In American English, “e” is often dropped when forming a noun from a verb | Acknowledgment or acknowledgement Aging or ageing Judgment or judgement |
| In British English, the “e” is often retained. | ||
| Different verb and noun spellings | In American English, most words have identical verb and noun spellings. | License or licence Practice or practise |
| In British English, some words have different spellings for the verb and noun forms. | ||
| Other spelling differences | There are many other spelling differences between the two English variants. | Airplane or aeroplane Aluminum or aluminium Check or cheque Cozy or cosy Defense or defence Dependent or dependant Enrollment or enrolment Fulfil or fulfill Gray or grey Jewelry or jewellery Karat or carat Mold or mould Offense or offence Pajamas or pyjamas Program or programme Skeptical or sceptical Tire or tyre |
Other interesting articles
If you want to know more about job applications, research, or idioms, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Job applications
Research
Frequently asked questions about color or colour
- Is it color or colour in Australia?
-
Color and colour are two spellings of the same noun (which can also be used as a verb). The spelling depends on the type of English.
- In American English, you use “color.”
- In British English, you use “colour.”
Australian English mostly follows UK guidelines, so colour is standard.
The same difference applies to similar words, such as “behaviour or behavior,” “honor or honour,” “labor or labour,” “favorite or favourite,” “favor or favour,” and “humor or humour.”
It’s important to choose one type of English and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
- Is it color or colour in Canada?
-
Color and colour are two spellings of the same noun (which can also be used as a verb). The spelling depends on the type of English.
- In American English, you use “color.”
- In British English, you use “colour.”
Canadian English mostly follows UK guidelines, so colour is standard.
The same difference applies to similar words, such as “behaviour or behavior,” “honor or honour,” “labor or labour,” “favorite or favourite,” “favor or favour,” and “humor or humour.”
It’s important to choose one type of English and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
