“Favour” vs. “Favor” – Clearing Up the Confusion

Do you ever find yourself getting tripped up by the spelling of “favour” and “favor”? Well, you’re not alone! These two words may look similar, but they are actually quite different in meaning and usage. In this blog post, we’ll be taking a closer look at the difference between “favour” and “favor” so you can confidently use the right word in your writing.

What’s the difference?

The first thing to note is that “favour” and “favor” are simply different spellings of the same word. “Favour” is the British English spelling, while “favor” is the American English spelling. In this blog post, we’ll be using the American English spelling, “favor”.

When it comes to their grammatical functions and usage, both “favour” and “favor” can be used as nouns and verbs. As a noun, “favor” refers to a kindness or an advantage given to someone. As a verb, “favor” means to support or help someone.

Let’s dive into each usage a little bit further.

Favor

Definition

As a noun, “favor” refers to a kindness or advantage given to someone. It can also refer to something that someone likes or supports.

When to use “favor”

You can use “favor” as a noun when you’re referring to something that someone has given to another person, such as a gift or a special treatment. You can also use “favor” when referring to something that someone likes or supports.

Examples

• Can you do me a favor and pick up some milk on the way home?
• The judge showed favor to the defendant and reduced his sentence.
• The band’s latest album is a favor among their fans.

As a verb, “favor” means to support or help someone. When used as a verb, “favor” is often followed by the preposition “with”.

Examples

• The manager favored the employee with a raise.
• The coach favors the player with more playing time.
• The committee favored the proposal with a unanimous vote.

That’s a quick rundown of “favor” as a noun and verb. Now, let’s take a look at the British English spelling, “favour”.

Favour

Definition

As a noun, “favour” refers to a kindness or advantage given to someone, just like “favor”.

When to use “favour”

You can use “favour” as a noun when you’re writing in British English.

Examples

• Can you do me a favour and pick up some milk on the way home? (British English)
• The judge showed favour to the defendant and reduced his sentence. (British English)
• The band’s latest album is a favour among their fans. (British English)

As a verb, “favour” means to support or help someone, just like “favor”. When used as a verb, “favour” is often followed by the preposition “with”.

Examples

• The manager favoured the employee with a raise. (British English)
• The coach favours the player with more playing time. (British English)
• The committee favoured the proposal with a unanimous vote. (British English)

Wrapping Up

Now that you know the difference between “favour” and “favor”, you’re ready to use these words with confidence in your writing! Just remember that “favor” is the American English spelling and “favour” is the British English spelling.