Color or Colour? Favorite or Favourite?

[Peevel]

God, this has always bothered me, and finally, there are some people here who will know and won't be rude. xD
So please help me get this figured out!

Thank you!  

[Imaginary Tears]

Actually, it's either. The u's are the british way of the spelling.  

[abarrach]

In Canada we learn to spell those the British way, i.e. with the 'u'. I spell them 'colour', 'favourite', 'centre'.  

[GirlPuck]

The use of colour versus color depends on where you live. Any words like these, where you can spell them two different ways, the difference is just between the British and Amercain spellings. If you live in any english colony: Canada, Australia or Great Britain itself, then you use the extra "u". If you live in the States then you leave the "u" out.

Other examples include neighbour/neighbor, favourite/favorite and a slightly different one: grey/gray.

Neither spelling is wrong, it just depends on where you live.  

[The MoUsY spell-checker]

GirlPuck

The use of colour versus color depends on where you live. Any words like these, where you can spell them two different ways, the difference is just between the British and Amercain spellings. If you live in any english colony: Canada, Australia or Great Britain itself, then you use the extra "u". If you live in the States then you leave the "u" out.

Other examples include neighbour/neighbor, favourite/favorite and a slightly different one: grey/gray.

Neither spelling is wrong, it just depends on where you live.

Exactly. I've been taught British spelling when I went to school so that's what I use.

I once had an art teacher who had to keep reminding the class that "colour" has a U in it, because in Microsoft Word the spell-checker is in US English by default, so it picks out "colour" as a misspelling. I also had a drama teacher who hated it when people wrote "theater" instead of "theatre". xd

By the way, notice the other thread titled "Gray or Grey"? It's almost on the same topic. Please at least look through the other threads that have had replies in the past week or so before making a new one.  

[The Shoe Pile]

I'm Canadian but there's some words that I just have to spell the American way. I write colour with a "u" but I write favorite without one. confused

It's also the same with "center". The British or Canadian way is suppose to be "centre".  

[BlueBlythe]

Imaginary Tears

Actually, it's either. The u's are the british way of the spelling.

Really?!
I never knew that.  

[saotomi5102]

It is actually either.....British People spell it both ways and so do Americans.....another word is shop also spelled shoppe
aluminum aluminium  

[Hermonie Urameshi]

There's more than that. xd Even though I'm American I tend to use the British spelling for some reason. There's also programme and program and more with u's like behaviour...I can't remember anymore, but they're all acceptable.

 

[CCubed]

Since they're both in the dictionary, I have to say it doesn't matter.  

[Ilinca]

Languages are changing constantly. However, it was the British spellings that are the originals. Americans simply decided that it was not necessary to have the extra "u", etc.
The question is, is this a sign that the English language is deteriorating? Or is this change for the better?  

[CCubed]

No, our language is deteriorating because we borrow words...believe that? We borrow words and usage rules. For instance, we borrowed Burrito from Spanish because we didn't want to make a name for a rice patty with beans. Not that I have one in mind at all. xd  

[Smoozle]

In New Zealand, we use the British way, colour and favourite.  

[s0prano42_x3]

I'm in America, and I prefer using "color" and "favorite," but I prefer the British spelling of "grey." Spell checkers usually dislike the British spelling.  

[[Aelfwyn]]

If I am not mistaken, it was Noah Webster that changed these words into the so-called "American" spelling. Forgive me if I am wrong.
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/DKitchen/new_655/webster_language.htm