Mold vs Mould | Definition, Spelling & Examples
Mould and mold are different spellings of the same word. In American English, mold is correct, and in British English, it is spelled mould.
Mould/mold has two distinct meanings. One is related to forming something into a certain shape, and one is related to a type of fungal growth that develops in damp areas. Each meaning has both a noun and verb form.
Teaching young children is a tremendous responsibility, as you are able to mould/mold their lives from an early age.
The mould/mold in the apartment wasn’t just unsightly; it was a health hazard too.
Mould or mold
Whether you choose to spell the noun and verb mould or mold depends on whether you are using American English or British English. It is as simple as that. There is no difference in meaning.
If you soften the plastic carefully with a heat source, you can mould/mold it to shape.
Not all mould/mold is bad, as lovers of brie and camembert cheese will tell you!
Mold or mould as a noun
The noun mould or mold has two distinct broad meanings. It is an example of a word with two totally different etymologies arriving at the same eventual spelling.
A mould/mold can be a physical object used to shape a product. This can be a container into which a liquid or malleable substance is placed to set in a certain shape, or the mould/mold can be forced into the material to produce the required shape. Many manufacturing processes rely on the use of a mould/mold.
Mould/mold, meaning a fungal growth, comes from a completely different root. It can refer to the black mould/mold found in badly ventilated bathrooms, but equally it can describe the distinctive blue veins in cheeses like Roquefort. Probably the most “famous” mould/mold (and certainly the most valuable) is the one that produces penicillin, which started the antibiotic revolution in medicine.
Whichever meaning you are using, the spelling rule is the same and depends on whether you are using American English or British English.
Large plastic tanks are made by applying vacuum pressure to a mould/mold containing an inflated tube of malleable plastic.
The characteristic veins in a blue cheese are caused by a penicillin mould/mold encouraged by the fromager inserting copper wires through the rind to allow in oxygen.
Before we moved in to the apartment, we had to deal with the mould/mold growing in all the rooms!
Mold or mould as a verb
When used as a verb, mould/mold is much more common when referring to shaping something than when it means “grow mouldy/moldy.” A synonym for mould/mold as a verb with this meaning is the related moulder/molder.
When it refers to shaping something, mould/mold can be literal or figurative. We can mould/mold a physical object, but it is also possible to mould/mold someone or an organization to be how we think they should be.
You can mould/mold the clay as long as it is moist enough, so splash on water as necessary.
The skill of the fromager lies in creating the perfect conditions for the cheese to mould/mold and form its crust.
Wallpaper isn’t a good choice for your bathroom as it can easily mould/mold and form unsightly black patches.
Main differences between American and British English
American and British English are very similar, but there are a few main differences in spelling. Five important differences are:
| Difference | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -or vs -our | In American English, many Latin-derived words end in -or. | Behavior or behaviour Labor or labour Favor or favour Favorite or favourite Color or colour Honor or honour |
| In British English, these same words end in -our. | ||
| -er vs -re | In American English, some French, Latin, or Greek words end in -er. | Theater or theatre Center or centre Meter or metre Liter or litre Saber or sabre Fiber or fibre |
| In British English, these same words end in -re. | ||
| -ize vs -ise | In American English, many Greek-derived words end in -yze or -ize. | Realize or realise Recognize or recognise Analyze or analyse Organize or organise Minimize or minimise Finalize or finalise |
| In British English, these words end in -yse or -ise. | ||
| -ed vs -t | In American English, most verbs are regular and form their past tense with the suffix -ed. | Learned or learnt Burned or burnt Kneeled or knelt Dreamed or dreamt Smelled or smelt Spelled or spelt |
| In British English, some of these verbs are irregular and form their past tense with the suffix -t. | ||
| Single vs double consonant | In American English, many words are spelled with a single consonant. | Modeling or modelling Traveling or travelling Canceled or cancelled Labeled or labelled Buses or busses Focused or focussed |
| In British English, these same words are often spelled with a double consonant. |
Frequently asked questions about mold vs mould
- Is there a difference between mold and mould?
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The only difference between mold and mould is that mold is the correct spelling in American English, and in British English it is spelled mould.
This is true of the verb and the noun. As a verb, mold/mould means “shape something or someone” or “become moldy/mouldy.”
The noun mold/mould means the physical object used to form something (e.g., plastic) into a specific shape, or it refers to the fungal growth found in damp places.
The QuillBot Grammar Checker has selectable language regions, so you can always be sure you have the correct spelling of mold or mould.
- Is mold correct in British English?
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No, mold is incorrect in British English. The correct spelling for both the noun and the verb is mould. Mold is the correct American English spelling.
This is also true for all related words such as mouldy, moulder, and the verb forms moulds, moulded, moulding.
You can choose different regional settings in the QuillBot Grammar Checker to make sure you have the correct spelling of mold or mould.
