Color vs Colour: Which is Correct & What’s the Difference?

Learn the difference between color vs colour in American and British English. See clear examples, grammar rules, and tips to choose the correct spelling every time.

Have you ever seen color spelled without a “u” and colour with one? You’re not alone. Both spellings are correct, but the one you use depends on where you live or who you’re writing for.

In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between color and colour, when to use each, and how this variation came about. You’ll also see examples and spelling rules to help you write with confidence.

What Do “Color” and “Colour” Mean?

Both color and colour refer to the quality of an object or light that makes it appear red, blue, green, and so on. The word describes what you see when light reflects off a surface.

As a noun, color/colour means the visual property that lets you tell objects apart by hue. Example: The color of the sunset filled the sky with red and gold.

As a verb, it means to add or change the color of something. Example: She decided to color her drawing with crayons.

The meaning is the same in both spellings, the only difference is whether you’re using American or British English.

Example: You might describe the sky’s color/colour as blue, or talk about the color/colour of someone’s eyes.

• Color is the American English spelling.
• Colour is the British English spelling.

Color vs Colour: What’s the Difference?

Both color and colour mean exactly the same thing. The only difference lies in spelling conventions.

• American English: color (no “u”)
• British English: colour (with “u”)

These spelling differences extend to related words like colorful/colourful and colorless/colourless.

Example (American English): She loves the bright color of the flowers.
Example (British English): She loves the bright colour of the flowers.

Both are pronounced the same way: /ˈkʌlər/ in American English and /ˈkʌlə/ in British English, and used in the same grammatical contexts.. The difference is only in how they’re written, not how they sound.

Color vs Colour Examples

Seeing color and colour in real sentences helps you understand how each spelling appears in everyday writing. The meaning stays exactly the same, you only change the spelling depending on whether you follow American or British English conventions.

Let’s look at how both forms are used in context.

Examples of “Color” in American English

Here are some examples showing how color appears in American writing:

• The kids used every color in the crayon box.
• My favorite color is blue.
• The artist mixed colors to create a unique shade.
• That photo has amazing color balance.
• The company changed its logo color last year.

Examples of “Colour” in British English

Now, let’s look at colour in British English:

• The children used every colour in the paint set.
• Her favourite colour is green.
• The designer chose neutral colours for the living room.
• That picture has lovely colour tones.
• The brand updated its corporate colours recently.

“Color” vs “Colour” in Everyday Writing

The key to choosing the right spelling depends on your audience and consistency.

• If you’re writing for an American company, magazine, or website, use color.
• If your audience is in the UK, Canada, Australia, or India, use colour.

Whatever you choose, stay consistent throughout your writing. Mixing both forms in one document looks unprofessional and confusing.

American English vs British English Spelling Rules

English spelling often differs between American and British versions. You’ll see this in pairs like honor/honour, favorite/favourite, and behavior/behaviour.

American English usually simplifies words by removing unnecessary letters. British English, on the other hand, keeps traditional spellings that date back to older forms of English.

So, while Americans write color, British writers prefer colour. Neither form is incorrect—they simply follow different regional standards.

Why Does American English Use “Color”?

You can again thank Noah Webster, the American lexicographer and creator of Webster’s Dictionary who reshaped English spelling in the 19th century.

Webster aimed to make spelling simpler and more logical for Americans. He believed that many British spellings included unnecessary letters.

He removed silent or redundant letters to create a more efficient form of English. That’s why colour became color, honour became honor, and favour became favor.

Today, color is the standard spelling in American dictionaries, schools, and publications.

Why Does British English Use “Colour”?

British English preserves traditional spellings that reflect the language’s historical roots. The “u” in colour comes from French influence, as English borrowed many words from Old French after the Norman Conquest.

Words like favour, honour, and colour retained their French-style endings in British English.

Writers in the UK, Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries continue to use colour as the standard form. It aligns with their broader spelling system and literary tradition.

Other Forms of “Color” and “Colour”

Just like color and colour, the same spelling rule applies to related forms:

• American English: colorful, colorless, coloration
• British English: colourful, colourless, colouration

Example:

• American: The movie was full of vibrant colors and colorful costumes.
• British: The film was full of vibrant colours and colourful costumes.

Each version is correct within its own dialect.

Because color and colour function as both nouns and verbs, their other forms also change depending on regional spelling rules. Each variation follows the same meaning but matches the conventions of either American or British English.

Use the guide below to choose the correct form for your audience:

Part of Speech / Form	American English	British (Commonwealth) English	Notes
Noun	color	colour	Refers to hue, shade, or tone.
Verb	color / coloring	colour / colouring	Means to add or change color.
Adjective	colorful	colourful	Describes something bright or vivid.
Adjective (opposite)	colorless	colourless	Describes something lacking color.
Noun (process)	coloration	colouration	Describes the way colors appear on a surface or object.
Noun (person)	colorist	colourist	Refers to someone who works with color (e.g., artist, stylist).
Verb (continuous tense)	coloring	colouring	Used in -ing forms depending on dialect.

Canadian and Australian English:
Canada and Australia usually follow British English, so colour, colourful, and colourless are standard there. However, American spellings sometimes appear in digital or corporate writing, especially in international contexts.

Which Spelling Should You Use?

Here’s the simple rule:

• Use color if your writing follows American English.
• Use colour if you’re writing in British English or for an international audience.

If you’re unsure which form to use, check your organization’s style guide or follow your audience’s language preference.

For example:

• APA and Chicago Style: American English → color
• Oxford Style: British English → colour

In online writing, matching your readers’ region or your website’s language setting improves clarity and SEO.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to color vs colour, both spellings are correct, you just need to know your audience.

• If you’re writing in American English, use color.
• If you’re writing in British English or for an international audience, use colour.

Neither is wrong, but consistency matters. Whichever version you choose, stick with it throughout your writing.

So, the next time you need to write color or colour, you’ll know exactly which to choose, and why.

FAQs About “Color” vs “Colour”

1. Are both spellings correct?
Yes. Color is American, colour is British. Both are correct in context.

2. Do they have different meanings?
No. They mean the same thing. The difference is purely in spelling.

3. Is one spelling more formal?
No. Both are equally acceptable. Just stay consistent.

4. What about “colorful” vs “colourful”?
They follow the same rule. Colorful is American, colourful is British.

5. Which spelling should I use for international readers?
Colour is often preferred for international or British-based audiences.