Grey or Gray | Difference & Example Sentences
Gray and grey are two different spellings of the same word, used to refer to the color between white and black. It can be used as a noun to refer to the color, an adjective to describe something as being that color, and as a verb to refer to the act of becoming that color.
The spelling tends to vary based on the version of English:
- In US English, ‘gray’ is standard.
- In UK English, ‘grey’ is more common.
It was supposed to be sunny today, but the sky is gray/grey.
Cooper’s beard is black with patches of gray/grey.
In the last few months, Peter’s hair has grayed/greyed.
‘Graying’ or ‘greying’
Graying/greying is the present participle of the verb gray/grey meaning ‘to become gray/grey’.
The same spelling distinction applies:
- In US English, ‘graying’ is the standard.
- In UK English, ‘greying’ is used.
Jaiden is not going bald, but he’s graying/greying.
‘Grey area’ or ‘gray area’
Gray/grey area is a phrase used to describe an unclear situation that is open to interpretation or that has no clear set of rules. It is often used to refer to legal or moral questions.
- In US English, ‘gray area’ is the standard.
- In UK English, ‘grey area’ is used.
Paul wanted to sublet his apartment but found that it was a bit of a gray area/grey area.
Other interesting language articles
If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.
Confused words
Definitions
US vs. UK spellings
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.
Ryan, E. (2022, November 28). Grey or Gray | Difference & Example Sentences. Scribbr. Retrieved 10 February 2025, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/uk-vs-us/grey-or-gray/
