What's the difference?

Question

why do some people spell the word color like this, colour. what's the difference between color and colour?

Answer 1

No difference in the meaning. Orginally the word was spelled COLOUR. Over time, the American spelling became COLOR.

American and British English spelling differences became noticeable after the publishing of influential dictionaries. In the early 18th century, spelling in English was not regular. Current British spellings follow, for the most part, those of Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language (1755). Some of the now characteristic American spellings were introduced, although often not created, by Noah Webster (An American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828).

Webster was a strong proponent of spelling reform for reasons both philological and nationalistic. Many spelling changes proposed in the U.S. by Webster himself, and in the early 20th century by the Simplified Spelling Board, never caught on. Among the advocates of spelling reform in England, the influences of those who preferred the Norman (or Anglo-French) spellings of certain words proved decisive. Subsequent spelling adjustments in Britain had little effect on present-day U.S. spelling, and vice versa. While in the 19th century American English deviated from mainstream British spelling in many cases, on the other hand it has often retained older forms.

The spelling systems of Commonwealth countries closely resemble the British system. In Canada, many "American" spellings are also used, often alongside of "British" spellings. In this article the term Commonwealth English will refer to the items shared by the English-speaking countries of the Commonwealth, as opposed to American spelling. Differences within Commonwealth usage are noted.

Answer 2

Color is the US spelling of colour, which is British.

Answer 3

Colour is the British (and most Commonwealth countries) way, where as color is the American way. It all depends where you were brought up. The meaning is the same.

Answer 4

the united states spells words as 'color' while other countries such as the UK spells it as 'colour'. =]

Answer 5

I think they spell it like that if it is various colors they are talking about. Tells all here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour

Answer 6

i think one of thems from europe, but dont quote me on that