Gray or Grey?

[Wolfie Kid]

This is something that has always bugged me. I know this may seem quite insignificant, but I must know. How do you spell it?! gonk  

[Patron with a Mission]

I've always thought it was "gray."  

[Wolfie Kid]

Yes, that seems the obvious one, but all my friends say it's 'Grey'. I'm not sure if it's spelt differently in the US, or something, as in TV shows, it's spelt like that. But.... oh, I don't know.  

[abarrach]

Yes.

I mean, both.

It's one of those oddities in the English language where both spellings are correct and doesn't not seem to be regional (i.e. Brittish vs US, e.g. colour vs color).  

[abarrach]

Wolfie Kid

Yes, that seems the obvious one, but all my friends say it's 'Grey'. I'm not sure if it's spelt differently in the US, or something, as in TV shows, it's spelt like that. But.... oh, I don't know.

The "Grey" in the TV show (and the book from which it stole the title) "Grey's Anatomy" refers to a person's name.  

[Enen]

I used the dictionary-thingy.

gray [gray]
adj (comparative gray·er, superlative gray·est)
1. of the color of ash: having the color of ash or lead
2. dismal: dismal or gloomy
3. dull: dull and colorless

grey

adj , n , vti
See gray1


>.>
I think either way works.  

[Wolfie Kid]

It's strange though, isn't it? Are there any other words like that? you know, they can be used either way?  

[ChibiStarlet]

That is an oddity. Thanks for asking, because I was wondering the same thing myself. Not that spell-check counts for anything, but it always says one is wrong, but I didn't think there was a difference. (Apparently spell-check likes "gray" but not "grey.") *shrugs*  

[SilverMaple]

I do believe that "grey" is the British spelling, and "gray" the American one.

This actually confused me when I was nine, and I was so afraid of spelling it wrong I sort of freaked a bit. XD  

[Miko_Sohma]

I have been wondering about this, too. I always struggle with which one to use when I write the word. I've seen it spelled both ways in America, so I don't think it really matters...but for whatever reason, "grey" seems better. xd  

[Woodnut]

I've always, for whatever reason, preferred "grey." I would probably use "gray" in writing assignments though, because I've always assumed it was the standard American spelling.

I checked my old dictionary (from the 1930s), and it lists them together as "gray, grey." "Grey" then has its own entry where it specifies, "this spelling of the word is the usual form in England." But since they're listed together in both old and modern dictionaries, I guess either could be considered correct.  

[Zombielight]

It's spelled gray. 3nodding  

[Imaginary Tears]

It depends on your preference.
British:
Grey
Colour
Favourite

American:
Gray
Color
Favorite  

[m a d c a p .]

I prefer grey.
Which apparently makes me a very pompous American.  

[The Lady Narcissa]

m a d c a p .

I prefer grey.
Which apparently makes me a very pompous American.

Don't worry; I am, too (and prefer grey). 3nodding