Grey vs. Gray: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Grey" and "Gray" are both correct spellings for the color between black and white; "Grey" is commonly used in British English, while "Gray" is preferred in American English.
Key Differences
The distinction between "Grey" and "Gray" primarily lies in their usage in different forms of English. "Grey" is the preferred spelling in British English, often seen in UK publications and commonwealth countries. It represents a color that is a mix of black and white, symbolizing neutrality and indecision. On the other hand, "Gray" is the American English spelling, widely used in the United States. It also denotes the same color, embodying balance and transition.
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While "Grey" reflects the British English's historical depth and traditional spellings, "Gray" aligns with the American tendency for simplified and phonetically intuitive spellings. Both spellings are recognized globally, but the preference for one over the other often signals the writer's linguistic background. In literature and art, "Grey" and "Gray" often carry symbolic meanings, representing dullness, modesty, or the absence of color in British and American contexts, respectively.
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In scientific and technical contexts, both "Grey" and "Gray" describe the color seen in nature and materials, but regional spelling conventions may dictate the choice. For instance, "grey matter" in the brain is spelled as "gray matter" in American medical literature. Finally, in names, titles, and brandings, the spelling of "Grey" or "Gray" is usually consistent with the origin or preference of the individual, company, or product, highlighting the flexibility and adaptability of the English language.
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Comparison Chart
Spelling Tradition
Reflects traditional British spelling norms
Aligns with American simplified spellings
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Common Associations
Often associated with British culture, literature, and art
Commonly linked to American culture and media
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Technical Usage
Used in British academic and scientific publications
Used in American scientific and technical documents
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Global Recognition
Recognized worldwide but primarily associated with the UK and Commonwealth
Globally recognized but strongly associated with the US
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Grey and Gray Definitions
Grey
Color Between Black and White
The sky was a dull grey on the overcast morning.
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Gray
Of or relating to an achromatic color of any lightness between the extremes of black and white.
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Gray
Intermediate in character or position, as with regard to a subjective matter
The gray area between their differing opinions on the film's morality.
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Gray
An achromatic color of any lightness between the extremes of black and white.
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Gray
The SI unit for the energy absorbed from ionizing radiation, equal to one joule per kilogram.
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Grey
Queen of England for nine days in 1553; she was quickly replaced by Mary Tudor and beheaded for treason (1537-1554)
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Grey
Englishman who as Prime minister implemented social reforms including the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire (1764-1845)
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Grey
Any organization or party whose uniforms or badges are gray;
The Confederate army was a vast gray
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Gray
To include a large or increasing proportion of older people
"Federal food programs can't keep up with the nation's rapidly graying population" (Michael J. McCarthy).
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Gray
Having a color somewhere between white and black, as the ash of an ember.
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Grey
An achromatic color of any lightness between the extremes of black and white;
Gray flannel suit
Hair just turning gray
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Grey
Showing characteristics of age, especially having gray or white hair;
Whose beard with age is hoar
Nodded his hoary head
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Grey
Used to signify the Confederate forces in the Civil War (who wore gray uniforms);
A stalwart gray figure
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Gray
Relating to older people.
The gray dollar, i.e. the purchasing power of the elderly
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Grey
Intermediate in character or position;
A gray area between clearly legal and strictly illegal
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Grey
Darkened with overcast;
A dark day
A dull sky
A gray rainy afternoon
Gray clouds
The sky was leaden and thick
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Gray
To turn progressively older, alluding to graying of hair through aging (used in context of the population of a geographic region)
The graying of America
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Gray
To give a soft effect to (a photograph) by covering the negative while printing with a ground-glass plate.
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Gray
An animal or thing of grey colour, such as a horse, badger, or salmon.
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Gray
An extraterrestrial humanoid with grayish skin, bulbous black eyes, and an enlarged head.
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Gray
In the International System of Units, the derived unit of absorbed dose of radiation (radiation absorbed by a patient); one joule of energy absorbed per kilogram of the patient's mass. Symbol: Gy
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Gray
Any color of neutral hue between white and black; white mixed with black, as the color of pepper and salt, or of ashes, or of hair whitened by age; sometimes, a dark mixed color; as, the soft gray eye of a dove.
These gray and dun colors may be also produced by mixing whites and blacks.
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Gray
A gray color; any mixture of white and black; also, a neutral or whitish tint.
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Gray
An animal or thing of gray color, as a horse, a badger, or a kind of salmon.
Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day.That coats thy life, my gallant gray.
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Gray
The Confederate army or a soldier in the confederate army; as, a battle between the blue and the gray.
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Gray
The SI unit of absorbed dosage of ionizing radiation, equal to an absorbed energy of 1 joule per kilogram of irradiated material; - abbreviated Gy. This unit is 100 times the commonly used unit, the rad.
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Gray
Any organization or party whose uniforms or badges are gray;
The Confederate army was a vast gray
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Gray
English poet best known for his elegy written in a country church-yard (1716-1771)
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Gray
American navigator who twice circumnavigated the globe and who discovered the Columbia River (1755-1806)
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Gray
United States botanist who specialized in North American flora and who was an early supporter of Darwin's theories of evolution (1810-1888)
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Gray
An achromatic color of any lightness between the extremes of black and white;
Gray flannel suit
Hair just turning gray
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Gray
Showing characteristics of age, especially having gray or white hair;
Whose beard with age is hoar
Nodded his hoary head
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Gray
Darkened with overcast;
A dark day
A dull sky
A gray rainy afternoon
Gray clouds
The sky was leaden and thick
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Gray
Used to signify the Confederate forces in the Civil War (who wore gray uniforms);
A stalwart gray figure
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Gray
Intermediate in character or position;
A gray area between clearly legal and strictly illegal
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is "Grey" used outside the UK?
Yes, in many Commonwealth countries and other regions influenced by British English.
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Can "Grey" and "Gray" be used interchangeably?
Yes, but it's best to be consistent with regional spelling conventions.
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Does "Gray" appear in British English?
Rarely, but it's predominantly an American English spelling.
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Is "Grey" or "Gray" the correct spelling?
Both are correct; "Grey" is British English, "Gray" is American English.
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Are there any phrases where "Grey" or "Gray" is fixed?
Yes, like "grey area" in British English and "gray area" in American English.
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In science, is one spelling preferred over the other?
It depends on the region; "Grey" in the UK, "Gray" in the US.
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Do "Grey" and "Gray" have different meanings?
No, both refer to the same color between black and white.
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How do artists view "Grey" vs. "Gray"?
The choice of spelling usually aligns with their cultural or regional background.
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Do "Grey" and "Gray" have different origins?
Both stem from the Old English "grǣg."
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Can "Grey" be a surname?
Yes, and it's spelled either "Grey" or "Gray" depending on family origin.
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Do "Grey" and "Gray" have variants in other languages?
Yes, many languages have their versions, like "gris" in French.
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Can businesses choose either spelling?
Yes, but they often stick to the regional preference.
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In digital media, is there a preference for "Grey" or "Gray"?
It depends on the target audience's region.
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Are "Grey" and "Gray" used differently in fashion?
No, fashion industries use both spellings interchangeably.
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In literature, do "Grey" and "Gray" carry different connotations?
No, the connotations are generally the same, though usage varies by region.
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Is "Grey" more formal than "Gray"?
No, formality is not affected by the spelling.
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In branding, does the spelling of "Grey/Gray" matter?
Yes, it can reflect a brand’s cultural or linguistic identity.
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Are "Grey" and "Gray" used in color psychology?
Yes, both represent neutrality and balance.
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Do "Grey" and "Gray" have the same RGB values?
Yes, in digital design, they represent the same color.
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Are there idioms exclusive to "Grey" or "Gray"?
Some idioms are region-specific but generally similar in meaning.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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