Gray vs. Grey

The spelling gray is more commonly used in the US, while grey is more common in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Both gray and grey are correct spellings of the same word.

Example sentences

Gray

The gray elephant headed toward the river to hydrate itself.
The sky was gray and ominous, and the townspeople felt like something bad was about to happen.
The metallic gray elevator doors closed with an aggressive thud.
He wore a neutral gray suit to the ball in hopes of not standing out.
The truck driver’s hair had grayed, and his back became permanently slouched.

Grey

The grey smoke filled the flat, and the group of friends evacuated the building.
His head was speckled with grey hair, and his teeth had yellowed from the years of drinking coffee.
The ethical implications of human experimentation have always been a grey area.
My nanny’s brilliant grey eyes twinkled mischievously.
Even a dog’s fur grows grey with age.

Notice how in the sentence with gray, American English is used (toward instead of towards and elevator instead of lift), and the sentences with grey use British English (flat instead of apartment and nanny as a nickname for a grandmother) for consistency in style. Make sure to be consistent with the style of English you choose to write in.

References:

Example sentences

Gray

Grey

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