What is the difference between favour and favor

Favour has the exact same meaning and usage as favor , except the spelling with u is preferred in British English. Despite the fact that both spellings are correct, it is important to use the spelling more common in your variety of English. When to use favor : Favor has multiple meanings. As a noun, it usually means a kind act. However, it can also mean goodwill or a gift to show love, loyalty, or respect. As a verb, it usually means to prefer. However, it can also mean to show preferential treatment , to use a body part gently because of injury , or to share a resemblance with one family member over another.

Most importantly, this spelling, without the u , is the best spelling to use in America. When to use favour : This spelling has the exact same definition and usage of favor. However, this is the form preferred in British English. In the second sense, favor especially refers to damaged body parts. This is what it looks like in a sentence:. What does favour mean? Favour is the older spelling of the same word.

It was considered correct until recently, but now favor is the preferred spelling in American English, so much so that favour is considered a spelling error. The above chart graphs favour vs. If you are writing for a British audience, you should use favour. You can use it the same way you would use favor. In the above sentences, substituting favour for favor would be correct in Britain.

In American English, however, favour is at best considered pretentious or overly affected and at worst a spelling error. Stick with favor for American audiences. It's favor in the US. From my vantage point, it's the other way around. You can thank Noah Webster for that. ELU does not underline anything: I would guess your browser, being set to English, thinks the American word a misspelling.

TimLymington I knew that , just wanted to know was it Elu or something else — Argot. Show 4 more comments. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. And applies to countless other words ending in Add a comment. Featured on Meta. Now live: A fully responsive profile.