Color vs. Colour
“Color” is the US spelling and “colour” is the UK spelling. Neither is a universal error; choose the spelling that matches the regional variety or house style you are following.
Use “color” in American English and “colour” in British English. They represent the same word with different regional spellings.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| American English | color | Use the US spelling. |
| British English | colour | Use the UK spelling. |
| house style | one consistent variant | Follow the required regional or editorial convention. |
Quick tests
Regional spelling test
Is the document following British English spelling?
If yes: Use “colour.”
If no: Use “color” for American English, unless a house style requires another convention.
Examples
The US brochure uses color throughout.
“Color” is the American English spelling.
The UK brochure uses colour throughout.
“Colour” is the British English spelling.
Changing “color” to “colour” does not change the underlying meaning.
This is a regional spelling difference, not a semantic one.
Further guidance
Core difference
“Color” is the US spelling and “colour” is the UK spelling. Neither is a universal error; choose the spelling that matches the regional variety or house style you are following.
Fast Test
Choose by meaning, grammatical function, and documented regional convention rather than treating every visible variant as an error.
Variant Boundary
This is a regional spelling difference, not a difference in core meaning.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- COLOR — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · US spelling “color” and American usage
- COLOUR — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · UK spelling “colour”; entry cross-references US “color”