Quick answer: In Australia, always use humour (with a “u”). This is the standard British English spelling used in all Australian writing, publishing, and formal communication. The spelling “humor” is American English and is considered incorrect in Australian contexts.
If you are drafting content for an Australian audience, you have probably paused over this exact question. Australian English follows British spelling conventions, which means words ending in “-our” keep that “u”. This article will settle the debate once and for all and show you exactly when to use each spelling.
| Term | Meaning / When to use | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| humour | The correct spelling in Australian English, British English, and most Commonwealth countries. Use this for all Australian writing. | “Her dry humour had the entire office laughing during the Monday morning meeting.” |
| humor | The American English spelling. Only use this if you are specifically writing for a US audience or quoting American sources. | “His sense of humor really shines through in his stand-up comedy routines.” |
When to use humour
In Australia, humour is the only acceptable spelling in professional, academic, and everyday writing. This follows the broader pattern of Australian English, which maintains British spelling conventions for words ending in “-our”. According to the Wikipedia entry on Australia, Australian English developed from British English and has retained many of its spelling conventions, including the “-our” ending.
The rule is straightforward: if you are writing for an Australian audience, whether that is a blog post, a university essay, a business email, or a social media caption, you must use humour. This applies across all contexts:
- Professional emails: “I appreciate your humour in handling that difficult client situation.”
- Academic papers: “The study examined the role of humour in workplace productivity.”
- Marketing copy: “Our brand uses wit and humour to connect with younger audiences.”
- Casual texting: “Your humour is too good today, I’m crying laughing!”
I have corrected this spelling countless times in manuscripts destined for Australian publishers. The error is surprisingly common, especially among writers who consume a lot of American content online. Here are three real-world examples I have encountered:
Example 1 – Job Application Cover Letter:
- Incorrect: “I believe my sense of humor would be a great fit for your creative team.”
- Corrected: “I believe my sense of humour would be a great fit for your creative team.”
Example 2 – University Essay:
- Incorrect: “Shakespeare’s use of humor in his comedies reveals deeper social commentary.”
- Corrected: “Shakespeare’s use of humour in his comedies reveals deeper social commentary.”
Example 3 – Business Proposal:
- Incorrect: “Our advertising campaign uses humor to make the brand more relatable.”
- Corrected: “Our advertising campaign uses humour to make the brand more relatable.”
The consistency matters. Australian readers notice when American spellings creep into local content, and it can undermine your credibility. The Wikipedia article on humour notes that the word derives from Latin “humor” meaning “moisture” or “fluid”, but the British and Commonwealth spelling evolution added the “u” to create “humour”.
When to use humor
The spelling humor is exclusively American English. You should only use this spelling when:
- You are writing specifically for a United States audience
- You are quoting directly from an American source
- You are writing for an American publication or website
- Your style guide explicitly requires American English (some international companies use US English as their corporate standard)
If you are an Australian writer working on content for a US client, you would switch to “humor” along with other American spellings like “color”, “favor”, and “labor”. However, this is a deliberate stylistic choice for a specific market, not the default for Australian writing.
Here are scenarios where “humor” would be appropriate:
- Writing a blog post for a New York-based media company
- Drafting marketing materials for a US product launch
- Contributing to an American academic journal that requires US English
- Creating content for a US-focused social media account
Example 1 – Email to US Client:
- Context: You are an Australian freelancer writing to a California-based client.
- Correct: “I think adding more humor to the website copy will resonate with your target demographic.”
Example 2 – Resume for US Job Application:
- Context: An Australian applying for a position in Chicago.
- Correct: “Known for using humor to defuse tense situations with difficult customers.”
Example 3 – Academic Paper for US Journal:
- Context: Submitting research to an American university press.
- Correct: “The data suggests that self-deprecating humor increases likability ratings among American participants.”
The key is consistency. If you are writing in American English, you must use “humor” throughout, along with all other American spellings. Mixing “humor” with “colour” or “favour” in the same document looks sloppy and unprofessional.
How to remember the difference
Here is a simple memory trick that I teach to all my editing clients:
“Australians love their ‘u’s – we put them in humour, colour, favour, and labour.”
Think of it this way: Australia, like the UK, keeps the “u” in these words as a nod to their British heritage. The United States dropped the “u” to simplify spelling, but Australia never followed that reform.
Another helpful mnemonic:
“Our humour has a ‘u’ because we’re down under, not over there (in the US).”
Or try this editor-level insight: create a mental checklist of the “-our” words that are consistently spelled this way in Australian English:
- humour
- colour
- favour
- labour
- honour
- flavour
- behaviour
- neighbour
If you remember that Australia uses “colour” not “color”, you can apply the same rule to “humour”. They follow the identical pattern.
Here is a practical trick I use: when proofreading Australian content, do a Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) search for “humor” without the “u”. Every instance should be changed to “humour”. This catches the most common mistake quickly.
Common mistakes and exceptions
Even native Australian writers make this mistake, and here is why: the internet is dominated by American content. When you are scrolling through social media, reading news sites, or watching US television, you are constantly exposed to “humor” spelling. This creates muscle memory that can bleed into your own writing.
The Digital Age Problem
Most spell-checkers and grammar tools default to American English unless you specifically change the language setting. If your Microsoft Word or Google Docs is set to “English (United States)”, it will flag “humour” as incorrect and suggest “humor” instead. This is a trap I see constantly.
Solution: Always set your document language to “English (Australia)” before you start writing. This ensures spell-check supports the correct spelling conventions.
The Exception: Quoting American Sources
If you are writing an academic paper or journalistic piece and need to quote an American author directly, you keep their original spelling. For example:
- “As Mark Twain once said, ‘Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.'”
In this case, you preserve Twain’s American spelling even though the rest of your document uses Australian English. However, if you are paraphrasing rather than quoting directly, you would convert it to Australian spelling:
- Direct quote (keep original): Twain believed that “humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.”
- Paraphrase (convert to Australian): Twain believed that humour is mankind’s greatest blessing.
Brand Names and Proper Nouns
Some brands use American spelling in their official names, even when operating in Australia. For example, if you are writing about the American TV show “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, you would not change the show’s official materials. But when you write about the show in your own words, you use Australian spelling:
- Correct: “The Tonight Show uses humor as its primary entertainment vehicle.”
Social Media and Informal Writing
In casual contexts like text messages or social media posts, some Australians mix spellings without thinking. While this is generally tolerated in informal settings, it is still worth being consistent. If you are building a personal brand or professional presence online, using correct Australian spelling demonstrates attention to detail.
The Canadian Confusion
Canadian English also uses “humour”, which sometimes creates confusion. Both Australia and Canada follow British spelling conventions for this word, so if you are writing for either market, use “humour”. The United States is the outlier here, not the Commonwealth countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “humor” ever acceptable in Australian writing?
Only in very specific circumstances: when directly quoting American sources, when writing for a US audience, or when referring to official American brand names. In all original Australian content, “humour” is the required spelling.
Why do Australian spellings differ from American spellings?
Australian English developed from British English in the 18th and 19th centuries and retained British spelling conventions. American English underwent spelling reforms in the 19th century, led by Noah Webster, who simplified many spellings by removing letters like the “u” in “-our” words. Australia never adopted these reforms.
Will Australians understand if I use “humor” instead of “humour”?
Yes, Australians will understand the word regardless of spelling because of exposure to American media. However, using “humor” in Australian writing marks you as either American or careless with local conventions. In professional and academic contexts, this can damage your credibility.
Does autocorrect change “humour” to “humor” on my phone?
It depends on your language settings. If your phone is set to “English (United States)”, autocorrect will flag “humour” as wrong and suggest “humor”. Change your device language to “English (Australia)” to ensure autocorrect supports the correct spelling. This is a simple fix that prevents constant frustration.
Are there other words that follow the same pattern as humour/humor?
Yes, many words follow this identical pattern. In Australian English, always use: colour (not color), favour (not favor), labour (not labor), honour (not honor), flavour (not flavor), behaviour (not behavior), neighbour (not neighbor), and harbour (not harbor). These all maintain the “-our” ending in Australian and British English but drop the “u” in American English.
Brian Garcia has always been fascinated by the intricacies of the English language. With a Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Chicago and over 15 years of experience in the field, Brian has dedicated his career to unraveling the complexities of word usage, comparisons, and spelling. His expertise lies in breaking down commonly confused words, helping readers gain clarity and confidence in their language skills. What drew Brian to this field was his passion for storytelling and his love for the art of communication. As a content creator for WordCompareHub, he focuses on engaging readers with insightful articles that demystify tricky word pairs and offer practical spelling tips. In his free time, Brian enjoys delving into etymology and exploring the evolution of words through history.