When to use "Greys" and "gray".

[Old Soldier]

Sounds just my cup of tea ! Sorry, couldn't resist.

They won't get it!!

 

[35th MA InfRegt]

Sounds just my cup of tea ! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Please try harder to resist next time!

 

[35th MA InfRegt]

They won't get it!!

Why is that? Surely those posters who are Star Trek Next Generation fans would know that Captain Picard drinks Earl Grey tea.

 

[Old Soldier]

Why is that? Surely those posters who are Star Trek Next Generation fans would know that Captain Picard drinks Earl Grey tea.

Personally, I'm more original Star Trek.!

 

[DoctorKingSchultz]

While both describe the exact same color and are pronounced the same, are the two interchangeable?

While 'grey' is the English version of the American 'gray, when is it proper to use each? Many American militia companies used the term 'Greys' in their name. So the Adrian Greys wore gray uniforms.

In the 1970s Great Britain was a leading source of information about uniforms. Due to this I have found some American works using the English 'grey' by saying X company wore 'grey' uniforms. Where this become a problem for me is in my Michigan militia uniform data base. I will state that the Adrian Greys wore gray uniforms But the quote I use to support this has the newspaper using "grey' for the uniform color.

It's like color & colour, specter & spectre or realize/realise or organize/organise. Sulfur & sulphur, crystalization/crystallisation. Same difference, yes they are interchangeable. British (not English) vs. American English so naturally the only difference is with exact spelling. Certain countries use one or the other, or both in different uses. It literally refers to the colour grey (or color gray, if you prefer!)

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

specter & spectre

A literal phantom is a specter; a figurative phantom is a spectre.

Sort of like how you go to a theater to watch a movie and a theater to watch a stage play.

 

[DoctorKingSchultz]

A literal phantom is a specter; a figurative phantom is a spectre.

Sort of like how you go to a theater to watch a movie and a theater to watch a stage play.

But alas; perhaps in the United States, and only them assumptively some parts... Most dictionaries, i.e. the Cambridge or Oxford dictionary have spectre as a ghost or phantom; specter is simply the direct American English equivalent as the UK sees it, and it is no different to laser/lazer or catalog/catalogue.
You do bring up something quite interesting though - American English still, here and there, absorbs certain "British" terms or British spellings and adds additional contexts to them, for whatever reason! Bill Bryson's got a book or five all about them! Biscuit being another coming to mind.

 

[CW Watch & Sword Guy]

...

There are shades of gray if debating morality, but 50 Shades of Grey if you read naughty novels because the character's last name.

...

And I thought 50 Shades of Grey was a book about Confederate uniforms. Oh, my!

 

[Peace Society]

For people with either spelling of this name, can only imagine the number of times spelling mistakes might have occurred on documents/writings bearing their name (and the frustrations/inconveniences this may have created for them).

Particularly bad if they are dealing with medical issues. I've had a prescription for blood work rejected because the doctor changed one letter in my name.

 

[Peace Society]

Sounds just my cup of tea ! Sorry, couldn't resist.

I used to drink Earl Grey before I found out how bad caffeine is for mind and body. Now I stick with Lincoln's "Adam's ale".

 

[RetiredCanuck]

Grey is the English version. Which is the Canadian version. Hence it must be correct. LOL

 

[Intrafinesse]

In the USA we use Grey, as in Blue and Grey.
The heathen barbaians in the UK spell it Gray.
(I won't pick on the Canadians because we visited Quebec and loved it. Our daughter then went way east, near Newfoundland and went kayaking and saw Minke Whales. I'd love to go back.)



I find it interesting that residents of Europe are as interested in the American Civil War as they appear to be (to me at least). To me a big part of the interest is the politics, what lead up to it, and it's impact. If I was a European I assume I'd be far more interested in Napoleon

 

[Old Soldier]

In the USA we use Grey, as in Blue and Grey.
The heathen barbaians in the UK spell it Gray.
(I won't pick on the Canadians because we visited Quebec and loved it. Our daughter then went way east, near Newfoundland and went kayaking and saw Minke Whales. I'd love to go back.)



I find it interesting that residents of Europe are as interested in the American Civil War as they appear to be (to me at least). To me a big part of the interest is the politics, what lead up to it, and it's impact. If I was a European I assume I'd be far more interested in Napoleon

Quebec is FRENCH-Canadian - whether they like it - or not.