You see both spellings everywhere: behavior in one article, behaviour in another. So which one is correct? Here is the short answer: both spellings are correct. Behavior or behaviour is not a right versus wrong situation like many confusing word pairs. It is a regional spelling difference. Behavior is the standard American English spelling, and behaviour is the standard British English spelling. Neither one is a mistake, as long as you stay consistent with the dialect you are writing in.
The Quick Answer: Behavior or Behaviour in One Sentence
Behavior (no “u”) is used in the United States and generally across American English writing. Behaviour (with a “u”) is used in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most other English speaking countries outside the US. Both words mean exactly the same thing: the way a person, animal, or system acts or responds. The choice between behavior or behaviour depends entirely on your audience, not on grammar rules.
What Does Behavior (or Behaviour) Mean?
Both spellings refer to the same concept: the way someone or something acts, responds, or conducts itself, especially in response to a particular situation or stimulus.
- Part of speech: noun
- Pronunciation: bih-HAY-vyer (identical in both spellings)
- Example (American): “The teacher praised the student’s good behavior.”
- Example (British): “The teacher praised the student’s good behaviour.”
Notice the sentences are identical except for the spelling. This is a spelling variation, not a difference in meaning, grammar, or pronunciation.
Behavior or Behaviour: The Core Difference
The entire distinction comes down to regional spelling convention, not correctness.
| Term | Region | Correct? | Example Use |
| Behavior | American English (US) | Yes | “His behavior improved after the meeting.” |
| Behaviour | British English (UK, Canada, Australia, etc.) | Yes | “His behaviour improved after the meeting.” |
If you are writing for a US audience, a US publication, or US based software and documentation, use behavior. If you are writing for a UK, Canadian, Australian, or other Commonwealth audience, use behaviour.
Why Two Spellings Exist
The difference between behavior or behaviour traces back to the broader split between American and British spelling conventions. Many English words that end in “-our” in British English (colour, favour, honour, labour) drop the “u” in American English (color, favor, honor, labor). Behaviour follows the exact same pattern as these words.
This spelling divide became formalized in the early 1800s when American lexicographer Noah Webster published his dictionaries. Webster intentionally simplified many British spellings to create a distinct American standard, partly for practical reasons and partly to establish linguistic independence after the American Revolution. Behavior was one of the words affected by this reform.
Grammar and Usage Notes
Both behavior and behaviour follow identical grammar rules. There is no difference in how the word functions in a sentence.
- Singular and plural: Behavior and behaviour are typically used as uncountable nouns (“Her behavior was excellent”). When referring to specific instances or categories, the plural forms behaviors and behaviours are used (“These behaviors indicate stress” or “These behaviours indicate stress”).
- Adjective form: American English uses behavioral (as in “behavioral therapy”). British English uses behavioural (as in “behavioural therapy”).
- Related noun: American English uses behaviorist. British English uses behaviourist.
- Formal and informal use: Both spellings work equally well in formal, academic, and casual writing. The correct choice depends only on regional convention, not formality.
Real Life Examples in Different Contexts
Here is how each spelling naturally appears across different types of writing.
American workplace communication: “We need to address some concerning behavior patterns on the team.”
British workplace communication: “We need to address some concerning behaviour patterns on the team.”
American academic writing: “The study measured changes in consumer behavior after the price increase.”
British academic writing: “The study measured changes in consumer behaviour after the price increase.”
American casual conversation: “My dog’s behavior has been so much better since we started training.”
British casual conversation: “My dog’s behaviour has been so much better since we started training.”
In every pair above, the sentence structure, meaning, and tone are identical. Only the spelling changes based on the intended audience.
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Common Mistakes with Behavior or Behaviour
Most mistakes with this word pair come from inconsistency rather than genuinely using the “wrong” word.
Incorrect: She showed good behavior, and her behavioural improvements were noticed. Correct: She showed good behavior, and her behavioral improvements were noticed. (if writing in American English) Reason: Mixing behavior with behavioural creates an inconsistent spelling style within the same piece of writing.
Incorrect: The report analyzed customer behaviour using American spelling conventions throughout, except this one instance. Correct: Choose one convention (behavior or behaviour) and use it consistently across the entire document. Reason: Style guides for publications, companies, and academic journals typically require one consistent spelling system, usually either American or British English, not a mix of both.
Incorrect: Assuming behaviour is a misspelling. Correct: Recognize that behaviour is the standard spelling in British English and is not an error. Reason: Spell checkers set to American English will flag behaviour as incorrect, but it is fully correct in British, Canadian, and Australian English.
Related Terms Worth Knowing
A few related words follow the same American versus British spelling pattern:
- Behavioral / Behavioural: the adjective form
- Behaviorist / Behaviourist: someone who studies behavior, or an adherent of behaviorism
- Misbehavior / Misbehaviour: bad or improper conduct
- Color / Colour, Favor / Favour, Honor / Honour: other common American versus British spelling pairs that follow the identical pattern
Recognizing this broader pattern makes it easier to predict the correct spelling for similar words without memorizing each one individually.
How to Choose the Right Spelling for Your Writing
Use this simple checklist to decide between behavior or behaviour:
- Identify your audience. Are they primarily American, or British and Commonwealth?
- Check your organization’s style guide, if one exists.
- Set your word processor’s spell check language to match your chosen dialect (US English or UK English).
- Stay consistent throughout the entire document, including related words like behavioral or behavioural.
- If writing for an international or mixed audience, pick one spelling system and apply it uniformly rather than switching mid document.
Behavior vs Behaviour in Software and Technical Writing
In software documentation, code comments, and technical writing, behavior is overwhelmingly more common, even among companies based outside the United States. This is largely because major programming languages, frameworks, and technical standards originated in American English contexts, and much technical vocabulary has followed that convention globally. If you work in tech and are unsure which spelling to use, behavior is usually the safer default unless your company explicitly follows British English style.
American English vs British English Summary
The behavior or behaviour distinction is a clean example of a broader spelling pattern between the two dialects. American English generally favors shorter, simplified spellings, while British English retains older, French influenced spellings. Neither system is more correct than the other. They are simply two established standards that developed independently over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “behaviour” a misspelling of “behavior”?
No. Behaviour is not a misspelling. It is the standard British English spelling, used correctly across the UK, Canada, Australia, and other regions.
Which spelling should I use in an email to an international audience?
Choose based on your primary audience or company style guide. If your audience is mixed, either spelling is acceptable as long as you stay consistent throughout the message.
Is “behaviors” or “behaviours” correct for the plural?
Both are correct. Use behaviors in American English and behaviours in British English, matching whichever spelling convention you are following.
Does Canada use behavior or behaviour?
Canadian English generally follows British spelling conventions, so behaviour is the more common choice in Canada, though some American influence exists in informal writing.
Is “behavioral” spelled the same way in both dialects?
No. American English uses behavioral, while British English uses behavioural, following the same “u” pattern as the base word.
The Bottom Line
Behavior or behaviour is not a question of right and wrong. It is a question of which English dialect you are writing in. Use behavior for American audiences and behaviour for British, Canadian, or Australian audiences, and keep your spelling consistent throughout your writing.
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