Is it behaviour or behavior? The words behavior and behaviour are both correct, but behavior is the preferred American spelling, and behaviour is the British English spelling. For a fuller understanding of when and where to use each spelling, read on.
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What Is Behavior?
Behavior is a noun that refers to how people conduct themselves. It can be their own actions and mannerisms or how they act toward others. Behavior is the American standard spelling.
Fun Fact: Behavior comes from the late Middle English behave, which is also the modern verb form of the word.
Sample sentences:
- Her bad behavior earned her a trip to the principal’s office.
- Our ice maker has the strangest behavior; one day, it works, and the next day, it doesn’t.
- His criminal behavior will catch up with him eventually.
- Be on your best behavior today!
- The dog’s behavior is so adorable.
- The scientists studied the behavior of various metals.
- The biologist won an award for her research on behavior of elephants.
- Even when under great stress, she always exhibits good behavior toward other people.
- My doctor told me that I need cognitive behavioral therapy.
- Different countries have different acceptable social behavior.
When and How to Use Behavior?
We most commonly use behavior as a synonym for conduct – you can think of it as people’s actions and mannerisms.
However, this also applies to animals and other living things. For example, biologists study animal behavior all the time.
Finally, we can talk about the behavior of non-living things. For example, you might refer to the unpredictable behavior of a microwave that sometimes badly overcooks things. Many scientists are familiar with the behavior of atoms, elements, and compounds. Some of those are more unstable and, hence, more dangerous than others; this is a reference to their behavior.
What Is Behaviour?
Behaviour is simply the British standard spelling of behavior. Both words mean the same thing; not accounting for differences in accents, they also sound the same.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Knowing which spelling to use means knowing where you are and who your audience is.
If you’re in the United States or your audience uses American English, the preferred spelling is behavior.
For behaviour, it is the preferred spelling in British English. Countries that use British English include the following countries:
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- Canada
- The Bahamas
- Jamaica
- India
- Australia
- New Zealand
Here are some other words that have the our/or distinction between British and American English:
- Honour/honor
- Labour/labor
- Colour/color
- Neighbour/neighbor
- Favour/favor
- Flavour/flavor
- Humour/humor
- Rumour/rumor
- Splendour/splendor
Trick to Remembering the Correct Spelling
Deciding between behaviour or behavior can be a bit tricky. So, here are some tips:
- For American English, -or ending is more common (there are some exceptions, though. “Glamour,” “contour,” and “tour,” for example.)
- -our ending is preferred in British English
Final Thoughts
Behaviour and behavior are commonly confused words. Just remember that these English terms have the same meaning and are only different in spelling. Again, behaviour is the British spelling, and behavior is the American one. If you’re mindful of your audience, you shouldn’t have much trouble.
