"Grey" or "Gray"? - Style Discussion

[aliensstudios]

In our database, I think it's time to settle on a unified style for "grey" or "gray" for item descriptors. What I mean by this is how an item with a grey/gray colored variant should spell the word; should it be spelled with an "e" or an "a"? As of now, we have no unified approach, and we've got a mishmash of items in the database using both spellings.

● "Grey" spelling examples:
https://vgcollect.com/item/38526
https://vgcollect.com/item/9173
https://vgcollect.com/item/141567
https://vgcollect.com/item/72082

● "Gray" spelling examples:
https://vgcollect.com/item/9628
https://vgcollect.com/item/99844
https://vgcollect.com/item/63686
https://vgcollect.com/item/141558

It should go without saying, but if it doesn't, this will not apply to items where the official name of the descriptor on an item's packaging is "grey" or "gray".

● Example where "Grey" is the official descriptor, printed on the item's packaging:
https://vgcollect.com/item/120824

● Example where "Gray" is the official descriptor, printed on the item's packaging:
https://vgcollect.com/item/117954

For what it's worth, grey is the spelling commonly used in British English and gray is the spelling used in 'Murican English. It seems like as of now, gray with an a is the more common spelling in our database.

[snyderec3]

With the British/American English divide, perhaps it should depend on the release? "Grey" for European/Australian releases, "Gray" for North American releases. Both "Gray" and "Grey" are acceptable spellings in Canadian English, so there isn't necessarily a language divide for NA releases there.

[koemo1]

As a European I have to go with grey, but I can imagine most people spelling it with gray.

[hoshichiri]

With the British/American English divide, perhaps it should depend on the release? "Grey" for European/Australian releases, "Gray" for North American releases. Both "Gray" and "Grey" are acceptable spellings in Canadian English, so there isn't necessarily a language divide for NA releases there.

This is what I was thinking- it could make using the search functions easier if the spelling suits the most likely region the person searching would be in/looking for.

[tripredacus]

gray for North America items, grey for the rest of the world.
Packaging text takes precedence.

[telly]

gray for North America items, grey for the rest of the world.
Packaging text takes precedence.

Sounds good to me

[topspot123]

I vote for a new official spelling of græy, or GRÆY.  Problem solved! 

Alternatively, the search function should be programmed to return both spellings as common variants IMO.

[aliensstudios]

I vote for a new official spelling of græy, or GRÆY.  Problem solved! 

Alternatively, the search function should be programmed to return both spellings as common variants IMO.

Whatever we end up doing, I think we should have the opposite spelling in the Alt-Name field

[marvelvscapcom2]

I've spelled it grey my whole life and I live in NA.  I personally think it should be Gray in NA entries, and Grey in PAL or European entries.  Same with worlds like Color/Colour

[oxymoronclaws]

Being from the UK, we almost always use the spelling 'grey'. Then again, I'd have no problems with the 'gray' spelling if this is common in other PAL regions. At least we all know what colour we're talking about