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Rumor Vs Rumour: When To Use Each One In Writing?

Rumor Vs Rumour: When To Use Each One In Writing?

Rumor vs rumour: what is the correct spelling for the term that means “piece of unverified information whose origin is uncertain?” Many people do not know the correct spelling of these two words. We are happy to let you know the basics of these words.

Rumor and rumour are both correct English words. However, rumor is a predominant spelling in American English, while rumour is predominant in British English. Both terms refer to a statement or claim of questionable accuracy from an unknown source, generally spread by word of mouth or text.

Spelling is one of the most complex elements in English. Perhaps, the most significant challenge regarding English spelling is that British and American spellings differ. The best way to know this is by getting into details about these words, which we’ll cover in this article.

fake rumors

Definitions Of Rumor And Rumour

Many English words confuse people because of their similar spellings. This is primarily because of the ever-changing rules about English spelling. People also get confused because of the many new words they come across daily. Also, the number of English words keeps proliferating.

Let’s clarify the differences between “rumor” and “rumour.” We’ll start with the definitions of each word.

Definitions Of Rumor

A rumor is a claim of questionable accuracy from an unknown or unreliable source that spreads fast by word of mouth. For example, “There is a rumor that the president contracted the COVID-19 virus during the European trip.”

Another definition of a rumor is “misinformation contained in a questionable claim spreading fast, whose source is unknown or clear.” As a verb, rumor refers to “the act of telling a rumor or gossip.”

Definitions Of Rumour

This is the alternative spelling of “rumor.” It means “a statement, belief, or claim of unreliable or questionable accuracy from an unknown source that spreads quickly, often by word of mouth.” This spelling is prominent in British English. People from Great Britain nations, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, and Australia, use this spelling.

Another definition of rumour (related to the above meaning) is “information, mostly untrue or inaccurate, contained in such a claim, belief, or statement.

Another source defines a rumour as “a flying or famous report.” Such a rumour is in the public domain and it’s very notorious. For example, “The rumour went around the city, and everyone spoke about it.”

Another definition of a rumour is “a current story passing from one person or group to another, without any authority for its truth or the actual source.” Sometimes a rumour is a mixture of truth and untruth.

As a verb, the word rumor means:

  • To report a rumor
  • To participate in the spreading of rumors

How To Properly Use Rumor And Rumour In A Sentence

The content in the definitions section above explains that the words rumor and rumour are synonyms. Therefore, they have the same meaning, even if their spellings differ slightly. However, one version is more common in British English than American English.

Now that the questions about the definitions and comparisons between these words have been addressed, you can now use them. Below are some guidelines:

How To Use The Word Rumor

Use this word when writing in American English. When using American English, it’s wise to apply American spellings in your entire sentence. For instance, “The girls spread rumors about their new classmate’s hair colour. This sentence is incorrect because the spelling of the rumor is American, and the colour is British. So, the correct sentence would be, “The girls spread rumors about their new classmate’s hair color.”

Something else worth noting is that this word is both a noun and a verb. So, use it as a noun when referring to:

  • Misinformation or gossip circulating by word of mouth
  • An attempt to defame someone
  • An indistinct whispering sound
  • Widely distributed misinformation
  • New unconfirmed misinformation about something

In contrast, you can use it as a verb when regarding:

  • To tell unconfirmed information
  • To  engage in gossip
  • To indicate something indirectly

How To Use The Word Rumour

Use this word when writing in British English. Since this word has the same meaning as “rumor,” you can apply the tips above when using it in sentences.

Other Word Comparison Posts

Rumor Vs Rumour: Use Correct Words Based On Your Accent

Rumor and rumour are both correct spellings and have the same meaning. Besides being different English versions, you can learn other interesting facts about these words. They include:

Pronunciation Matters

Something else you should note about these words is their respective pronunciations based on your accent and origin. Other than the spellings, American and British English differ in some pronunciations. Both pronunciations are pretty hard to miss when you know the basics.

The correct pronunciation of the word “rumor” is “/roo-mer/.” On the other hand, the correct way to pronounce “rumour” is “/ru-ma/.” Notice that the British pronunciation is shorter than the counterpart. However, both words have two syllables.

The “Ou” And “U” Spelling Trend

Apart from “rumour” and “rumor,” several other words follow this trend. For instance, color, labor, odor, and glamor suit American English. The same words have the extra letter “u” in British English. That is colour, labour, odour, and glamour.

However, this fact confuses a lot of English speakers, especially non-native English speakers. A simple trick for mastering the spelling differences is remembering that American English words drop letters while British English picks extra letters. In this case, the dropped letter is “u.”

rumor men

List Of Examples Of Rumor And Rumour Use In Sentences

As you already know, rumor and rumour are synonyms with different spellings. However, rumour is more common in British English, while rumor is common in American English. This implies that you cannot use them interchangeably in writing, as you must always stick to one English version.

However, these words have the same meanings. More so, these words differ in their pronunciations. In addition, we have come up with some examples to give you a heads-up on how to use these words in sentences. Here are some sample sentences with the words rumor and rumour:

Example sentences of the word rumor

  1. The county government sewed the newspaper for publishing an unfounded and untrue rumor about its leadership.
  2. Patricia loved spreading the rumor about her mates.
  3. The political rumor destroyed Mary’s chances of winning the election.
  4. Jane ended her friendship with Martha after spreading the nasty rumor.
  5. Although Hanna helped spread the rumor about her ex-best friend, she knew it was untrue.

Example sentences of the word rumour

  1. The information remains unconfirmed; it’s a mere rumour.
  2. The newspaper published an article debunking the rumour about the new governor.
  3. Dr. George almost lost his medical license because of the rumour about misconduct in his office.
  4. The rumour returned to Felicia, who made it her business to prove it wrong.
  5. The girls got into a lot of trouble for spreading the damaging rumour about their classmate.

Conclusion

In summary, the main difference between the words “rumor” and “rumour” is their spelling and the areas where they are prominently applied. The first spelling is prominent in American countries, while the latter is prevalent in British countries or Great Britain. 

While they are synonyms, you cannot decide to use them on a whim. Instead, if you write using British English, you should stick to British English spellings throughout the writing, and vice versa. Also, if you are instructed to use a specific version in your writing, you should stick to it because that’s what the audience will understand better.