Gray vs. Grey
“Gray” is the usual US spelling and “grey” is the usual UK spelling of the same color word. “Grey” also occurs in Canadian and other varieties; follow the target regional or house style rather than treating one form as globally wrong.
“Gray” is the usual US spelling and “grey” is the usual UK spelling of the same color word.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| usual US spelling of the color word | gray | Use “gray” for ordinary US English. |
| usual UK spelling of the same color word | grey | Use “grey” for ordinary UK English. |
| proper name, brand, quotation, or fixed title | preserve established spelling | Do not normalize a fixed form solely to match regional style. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you choosing the ordinary spelling for a regional variety rather than reproducing a fixed name or quotation?
If yes: Use “gray” in US English and “grey” in UK English.
If no: Preserve the established form when a proper name, title, or quotation controls.
Caveat: The ordinary color meanings are the same; the main difference is regional spelling convention.
Examples
The wall is painted gray.
“Gray” is the usual US spelling.
The sky turned grey before the rain.
“Grey” is the usual UK spelling.
The citation preserves the spelling used in the source title.
Fixed or quoted forms can override house spelling.
Further guidance
Core difference
“Gray” is the usual US spelling and “grey” is the usual UK spelling of the same color word.
Fast Test
Choose the form that matches the intended meaning, grammatical role, and documented regional convention; do not treat a standard regional variant as an error.
Variant Boundary
“Grey” also occurs in Canadian and other varieties; follow the target regional or house style rather than treating one form as globally wrong.
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.
- GRAY — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · US spelling of “grey”; regional note
- GREY — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Mainly UK spelling; US usually “gray”