Meaning & use
grey-and-white
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Having a pattern or coloring that consists of grey and white parts, especially of an animal's fur or feathers.
Grammar: Used before the noun it describes: a grey-and-white cat. It is not usually used after a verb.
Patterns
- a grey-and-white animal
- grey-and-white fur
- grey-and-white feathers
The kitten had soft grey-and-white fur.
A grey-and-white bird landed on the fence.
She wore a grey-and-white scarf that matched her coat.
Common combinations
- grey-and-white cat
- Our neighbour has a friendly grey-and-white cat.
- grey-and-white pattern
- The wallpaper had a subtle grey-and-white pattern.
- grey-and-white feathers
- The hawk's grey-and-white feathers helped it blend into the sky.
- grey-and-white coat
- The pony's thick grey-and-white coat kept it warm in winter.
Synonyms and how they differ
- grey and white
- Same meaning but written without hyphens when it comes after the noun: The cat is grey and white.
Commonly confused: grey-and-white or gray-and-white?
grey-and-white vs gray-and-white
The American spelling uses 'gray' instead of 'grey'. Both are correct; choose one spelling and be consistent.
Practice
Which sentence uses the adjective correctly?
Choose one answer.
Compound color adjectives like 'grey-and-white' usually go before the noun they describe. Option 1 is less common because the phrase is normally not used after the verb 'be'; option 3 and 4 place the adjective incorrectly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “grey-and-white”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.