Principle or principal?
Lorraine Williams
Specialist report proofreader ? research reviews ? reports ? white papers ? science ? tech ?? WLTM opportunities to train as a part-time Software Tester ??
Is it principle? Or is it principal? And has overthinking them got your headhole in a pickle?
If you’re after a way to remember the difference between these confusables, here are the mnemonics I use myself…
Principal
There are three meanings here, adding to the bafflement.
As an adjective 1
What is it? The first, main or most important thing.
Example: My principal concern is that the mozzarella sticks will have all been scoffed before I reach the front of the buffet queue.
How I remember it: Principal has an ‘a’, which is first in the alphabet.
As an adjective 2
What is it? A sum of?money?invested or lent to someone.
Example: I know nowt about investments and repaying the principal balance on a loan, so let’s skim on past that.
How I remember it: Principal has a ‘pa’ and so does paid.
As a noun
What is it? The most important person in an organisation or rank.
Example: The school principal accidentally slipped out a squeaker in assembly as she leant over to change the acetate on the overhead projector.
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How I remember it: They’re the top person so they’re the top pal.
Principle
It’s a noun
What is it? A rule, belief, law, theory, standard or fact.
Example: Concocting sea salt hair spray with sea water, rock salt from the kitchen grinder and a tub of 97p Superdrug hair gel (purple – you know the stuff) seemed an ace idea in principle. It was not.
Example: She stood by her principles. There’s nothing wrong with microwaving frozen food that doesn’t specifically state microwave cooking instructions. Adds a touch of chew to the fish finger sarnie.
How I remember it: Principle has an ‘le’ and so does rule.
Word wobbles
If other word pairs like lead/led or program/programme get your boxers in a bunch, take a look at these regularly confused words in your marketing copy. You might find some of these slip through too.
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This post first appeared on the Lighthouse Proofreading blog:?https://www.lighthouseproofreading.co.uk/blog/principle-or-principal.?There are more articles to read over there too!
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