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How to use this or that (demonstrative adj.)

This or That (How to Use Demonstrative Adjectives)

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What’s the plural of “deer”

Gray vs. grey: what’s the difference?

Here’s a riddle to launch today’s lesson: what’s the shade that’s between black and white, but technically has no hue?

✔️ Usage Note
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My hair is graying prematurely.
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The old house was painted a somber grey.

Which is the correct spelling: gray or grey?‍

If you answered “grey“, you’d be right. You’d also be using the UK English spelling. If your answer is “gray” with an “a”, then this agrees with US spelling preferences. Both are correct spellings; the difference is where either spelling ought to be used:

  • UK English spells grey with an ‘e’.
  • US English spells gray with an ‘a’.
UK English US English
She was completely grey by the age of thirty. What will you do when you are old and gray?
Part of speech Sentences with “grey”/”gray”
adjective I hate these grey/gray days.
verb The town’s population has greyed/grayed over the last two decades.
noun The paints include an exquisite range of soft greys/grays.

As an adjective, grey/gray describes having the colour between black and white, or “of smoke or ashes“. Describing someone as having grey hair or eyes is the adjectival use, e.g., ‘his beard was going grey‘.

As a verb, grey/gray describes the actual (or temporal) becoming grey/gray. It’s common to hear this in conversation meaning greying hair. For example: his hair was greying at the sides.

As a noun, grey/gray means the colour between black and white, or “of smoke or ashes”. When we mention or refer to the shade itself, we are often using it as a noun, e.g., ‘the dull grey of the sky‘.‍

Grey/gray as an adjective and verb

As an adjective As a verb
Her hair was turning grey/gray. When the rest of the world is greying/graying, young Africans will form a growing part of the workforce of the future.
—Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
What will you do when you are old and grey/gray? And what about greying/graying performers who might have happily retired years ago…
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Dec. 2023
It was a grey/gray winter day. His hair was greying/graying at the sides.
My friends have all gone grey/gray. A tall woman with greying/graying hair was standing over at the bar.
💡Pro Grammar Tip

Associate “gray” with “a” for American English, and remember that UK English adds an “e” to make “grey.”

Synonyms and phrases

Synonyms of grey Phrase Meaning
steely All cats are grey in the dark Meaning appearances don’t matter at night because it’s too dark to tell the difference anyway…
pewter To get grey hair from someone A way of saying that someone’s causing you immense stress or irritation.
slate The men in grey/gray suits A way to refer to business people, or “people in high places”.
Argentine The old grey/gray mare ain’t what she used to be Said of something that’s obsolete, outdated or less operable than it once was.
slaty Gray/grey divorce Referring to when older couples get divorced.
silver/silvery Gray matter Informally means intelligence, or the “type of tissue in your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) that plays a crucial role in allowing you to function normally from day to day.” (Cleveland Clinic).
leaden The gray/grey dollar An expression that refers to the purchasing power of older individuals.

Read about other commonly confused words

Worksheet: spelling

Question 1 of 10



FAQs

Is "gray" or "grey" the correct spelling?
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Both "gray" and "grey" are considered correct spellings. The difference is primarily regional, with "grey" being the standard in UK English and "gray" preferred in US English.

What's the difference between gray and grey?
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The main difference is geographical preference. "Grey" is the spelling used in UK English, while "gray" is the spelling used in US English. Both spellings refer to the same color.

Where is the spelling "grey" used?
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The spelling "grey" with an 'e' is the standard preference in UK English. The post gives the example: "She was completely grey by the age of thirty," showing UK usage.

Where is the spelling "gray" used?
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The spelling "gray" with an 'a' is the standard preference in US English. The post gives the example: "What will you do when you are old and gray?" showing US usage.

Can gray/grey be used in different ways?
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Yes, according to the post, "grey" or "gray" can function as an adjective (e.g., "grey days"), a verb (e.g., "greying hair"), or a noun (e.g., "range of soft greys").

"Yash,. ""Gray." "Grammarflex", Jun 24, 2025, .

Sources
  1. Gray or grey, Grammarly, accessed on Oct 10, 2023.
  2. Grey, Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, accessed on Oct 9, 2023.
  3. Origin of grey, etymonline, accessed on Oct 9, 2023.
  4. “Argentine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/argentine. Accessed 20 Feb. 2024.


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