Can I always use 色々な or do I have to use 色々の sometimes?


On the web I can find many occurrences of both 色々な and 色々の.  
色々な seems to be used more often though.

Can I always use 色々な and get away with it, or is 色々の the only choice in some
particular cases?  
If yes, which cases?




This is where the status of a word is murky. It is unsettled between a na-
adjective and a noun. However, probably most of the cases where you found
"色色の" come from some old people. It has an archaic flavour. In addition, "色色"
does not take any other case markers in present-day oridinary conversation
like: "色色が" or "色色を"; it should not allow genitive "の" as well (but according
to the link Tsuyosi Ito provided, there are cases where it may be used). You
can always use "色色な", and get away with "色色の".

**Addition** : Tsuyoshi Ito's link below reminded me of another similar
example: "様様な" vs. "様様の". The contrast between them can be considered the same
as above.




This is where the status of a word is murky. It is unsettled between a na-
adjective and a noun. However, probably most of the cases where you found
"色色の" come from some old people. It has an archaic flavour. In addition, "色色"
does not take any other case markers in present-day oridinary conversation
like: "色色が" or "色色を"; it should not allow genitive "の" as well (but according
to the link Tsuyosi Ito provided, there are cases where it may be used). You
can always use "色色な", and get away with "色色の".

**Addition** : Tsuyoshi Ito's link below reminded me of another similar
example: "様様な" vs. "様様の". The contrast between them can be considered the same
as above.

