Search results
Gray and grey are both common spellings for the various neutral shades of color between black and white. Gray is more frequent in American English, and grey more common in Canada, the UK, and elsewhere.
- How to Use "Gray"
- How to Use "Grey"
- Examples
- How to Remember The Difference
- Exceptions
- Why The British and American difference?
- Sources
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
The spelling "gray" (with an “a”) is more common in American English. Therefore, if you are writing for an American audience, use "gray" when you mean the color.
In the United Kingdomand where other variants of English are used, "grey" is the preferred spelling of the color word—and has always been. But because of the widespread adoption of the American spelling in the United States, the number of instances of the British spelling in English-language texts started declining in the 1880s. What it comes down ...
"Gray" and "grey" are flexible. For the purposes of these examples, we'll use the American "gray," but know that "grey" can take its place. When used as a noun, it typically refers to a shade of the color itself, as in, “The walls were painted an ominous shade of gray” or "a fight between the Blue and the Gray" in the American Civil War. As an adje...
Though the use of "gray" and "grey" is still often confused and debated, as long as they are used in reference to the color, they can actually be used interchangeably anywhere in the English-speaking world. So, if you write, “The Queen wore a gray dress,” in London, you might be considered a rebel, simpleton, or tourist, but you would not be wrong....
Though you can use either "gray" or "grey" in your daily writing and get by, there are a handful of instances where they are not interchangeable. When getting specific with color, "gray" and "grey" can be used to denote different shades or hues, with "gray" being a simple mixture of black and white and "grey" containing a little blue. For example, ...
So, why are some words like “gray” and “grey” customarily spelled differently in America than in Great Britain? Why, for example, does “color” become “colour,” “organize” become “organise,” and “liter” becomes “litre?” In most cases, Noah Webster, of Merriam-Webster dictionary fame, is to blame. Until the 18th century, people on neither side of the...
"Gray (adj.)." Online Etymology Dictionary."Grey." English Oxford Living Dictionaries. Oxford University Press.MacDonald, Cheyenne. "The Future Is Gray for British English." Daily Mail Online. Last updated 28 July 2016.Learn the difference between "gray" and "grey" as spellings of the color word, and the rules and exceptions for using them in American and British English. Find out the origin, history, and examples of both spellings.
- Robert Longley
Grey or gray is a neutral color between black and white, with various meanings and associations in different cultures and contexts. Learn about its etymology, history, art, fashion, and symbolism in this comprehensive article.
Dec 16, 2020 · Learn how to spell the color gray/grey correctly depending on where you live and what you mean. Find out the history and usage of both spellings, and see examples of proper names and exceptions.
Sep 11, 2012 · The meaning of GREY is of the color gray. How to use grey in a sentence.
Jun 10, 2019 · They refer to a color of a neutral tone between black and white, and can also be used metaphorically to convey gloom and dullness. However, gray is the more popular spelling in the US, while grey reigns supreme in the UK as well as Ireland, Australia, and other places that use British English.
Gray and grey are two acceptable spellings of the color. However, they vary according to the shade you’re referring to and the audience you’re writing to. Keep reading to learn the difference between grey and gray. Learn how to spell the color based on the different English variants and shades.
