Humor vs. Humour
“Humor” is the US spelling and “humour” is the UK spelling. They refer to the same noun/verb family, so the practical choice is consistency with the regional variety or house style you are using. This is a regional spelling difference, not a difference in core meaning.
“Humor” is the US spelling and “humour” is the UK spelling. They refer to the same noun/verb family, so the practical choice is consistency with the regional variety or house style you are using.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| American English spelling | humor | Use “humor” in US English. |
| British English spelling | humour | Use “humour” in British English and styles that follow it. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Is the document following American English spelling?
If yes: Use “humor.”
If no: Use “humour” when the governing variety or style uses British spelling.
Caveat: The difference is spelling rather than core meaning; follow the same regional or house style throughout the document.
Examples
The essay uses humor to make its point.
“Humor” is the US spelling.
The essay uses humour to make its point.
“Humour” is the UK spelling.
Maintain the same humor spelling throughout a US-style document.
Consistency prevents accidental regional mixing.
Further guidance
Core difference
“Humor” is the US spelling and “humour” is the UK spelling. They refer to the same noun/verb family, so the practical choice is consistency with the regional variety or house style you are using.
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.
- HUMOR — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · US spelling “humor” and cross-reference to UK “humour”
- HUMOUR — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · UK spelling “humour” and cross-reference to US “humor”