Can I write different spellings of the same word in the same context?

Question

Can I use "color" in one paragraph, but write "colour" in the next one? Yes, I just did it. But is it acceptable to do so when not talking about spelling differences?

Answer 1

Different spellings of the same word usually have a cultural difference. For example, "color" is the expected American-English spelling, while "colour" is the spelling used in British English, Australia, and some parts of Canadian English. Although English is one language, each country will have their own accepted way to write and spell (in Canada, the differences are actually regional!) and it is generally considered acceptable to write and spell the way your country (or region) does. If you're American, using "colour" would be considered incorrect. If you were British, using "color" would be incorrect. If you happen to be Canadian, where the differences are regional, rather than national, follow the regional rules that you are writing for.

Although there are many styles of grammar, it is most acceptable to follow a single style, unless you are mixing them for stylistic purposes.