Color vs. Colour: What's the Difference?
Learn why color and colour are both correct regional spellings, how related forms work, and why technical code and proper names need special care.
Color is the standard American spelling. Colour is the standard British spelling and common in many other varieties. The meaning is identical, but technical code, CSS properties, product names, and official titles may require a fixed spelling.
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A British designer writes colour in the interface copy but must still use the CSS property color in the stylesheet. Human language follows regional style; the programming language follows its specification.
Color vs. Colour at a glance
| Word | Typical role | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| color | American noun or verb | a visual property; pigment; to add or influence color | Choose a color with sufficient contrast. |
| colour | British noun or verb | the same visual property, pigment, or action | Choose a colour with sufficient contrast. |
How to use color
Use color, colors, colored, and coloring in American English. In web standards and many software APIs, color is also the fixed technical spelling regardless of the writer's regional variety.
Choose a color with sufficient contrast.
How to use colour
Use colour, colours, coloured, and colouring in standard British English and many Commonwealth varieties. Preserve the American form inside code, commands, identifiers, and official product names when required.
Choose a colour with sufficient contrast.
Rules that make the choice easier
Match the audience in prose
Use color for US readers and colour for UK readers unless a house guide specifies otherwise.
Follow technical syntax exactly
CSS uses color, not colour. Code keywords cannot be regionalized.
Keep names and quotations fixed
Do not respell a brand, title, organization, or quoted passage.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not put colour into a CSS property name.
- Avoid alternating spellings in ordinary prose.
- Do not change an official name merely to match the document's regional style.
Quick practice
1. Which spelling is standard in US English?
Answer: color
2. Which spelling is standard in UK English?
Answer: colour
3. Which spelling does CSS require?
Answer: color
Frequently asked questions
Is color or colour correct?
Both are correct regional spellings.
Which countries use colour?
British English and many varieties influenced by it generally use colour.
Is coloring or colouring correct?
Coloring is American; colouring is British.
Should code use colour for a UK site?
No. Programming syntax must use the spelling defined by the language, such as CSS color.