Where does the "U" come from?

Question

I live in the states and we were taught in school the spelling of certain words, like:

Color, labor, honor,

I've noticed that in most other countries there is a "u" added:

Colour, labour, honour,

Lately I've even seen americans spelling them with the u. What is the proper spelling, and where did the U come from? Or was it there first?

Thanks:))

Answer 1

there are certain differences in the way some words are written and pronounced in the UK and us...the British use 'u' in certain words and the Americans don't.....i believe both forms are acceptable..in the same way in UK certain words are written with 's' like realisation or generalise whereas in us 'z' would be used instead of 's'....it's all very confusing..

i think the uk forms of spellings were the 'correct' ones and were used first.....

Answer 2

The U was there first, and cut by Americans. We refer to it as the American spelling

Americans might be using the UK spelling after exposure to the Internet, or might be even on Y!A. There are Canadians, Australians and British on here that all use the ou spelling.

Answer 3

"Color" is the appropriate spelling in American English. "Colour" is the appropriate spelling in British English, which has a wider spread.

The U came first.

Right now in America it's become fashionable to seem British. People spell it 'theatre' and are saying stereotypical british things like "cor blimey." Probably something to do with Harry Potter fans.

Answer 4

Noah Webster, of the Webster Dictionary fame, believe in simplifying the English language. He preferred using Old French derivatives of spellings. So, he tried to promote the use of -or, instead of -our. Obviously, he succeeded in the US.

Answer 5

I'm geuss the u was the first. It' just in america we like to take the easy way out. So we spell with one letter less.

Answer 6

That's generally British/English (with the "u") spelling as opposed to U.S. spelling. "Proper" spelling is largely dependent on your audience. If you're writing in the UK, then I'd use the "u"; if you're writing in the U.S., then I'd stick with U.S./American spellings.

Answer 7

the "u" is from the british spelling which would also be common it the former colonies of the british colonies.