Grammar Tips & Articles »

“Principle” vs. “Principal” - A Summary

This Grammar.com article is about “Principle” vs. “Principal” - A Summary — enjoy your reading!


35 sec read
2,722 Views
  Ed Good  —  Grammar Tips
Font size:

In sum, the word principle is always a noun. Essentially it means “rule.” It will never appear as an adjective. Its only possible adjectival form is principled.

The word principal is an adjective or a noun. As an adjective, it essentially means just one thing: “main.” As a noun, it refers either to people or money (or a rafter).

With these ideas now firmly in mind, you can see how your main high-school principal, who knows about finances, might refer to his primary money rule like this:

the principal principal’s principal principal principle

It is, after all:

the main principal’s primary money rule

 

Previous: The Word “Principal”

Next: Our chapter title should thus read…

“Principle” vs. “Principal” - A Summary

Rate this article:

Have a discussion about this article with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this article to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "“Principle” vs. “Principal” - A Summary." Grammar.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.grammar.com/principle-vs-principal-a-summary>.

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Check your text and writing for style, spelling and grammar problems everywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Check your text and writing for style, spelling and grammar problems everywhere on the web!

    Browse Grammar.com

    Free Writing Tool:

    Instant
    Grammar Checker

    Improve your grammar, vocabulary, and writing -- and it's FREE!


    Quiz

    Are you a grammar master?

    »
    Identify the sentence with correct use of the past perfect continuous tense:
    A She had been studying for hours before the exam.
    B We were visiting the museum all day.
    C I have played the piano yesterday.
    D He had sings a song for the audience.

    Improve your writing now:

    Download Grammar eBooks

    It’s now more important than ever to develop a powerful writing style. After all, most communication takes place in reports, emails, and instant messages.