Principal (adjective): Most important/leading role Principal (noun): Head/leader/invested sum

Refers to a fundamental truth, law, or belief that guides behaviour or action.Įxample: Simplicity is one of his guiding principles in life. Refers to the head or leader of an organization, school, or institution.Įxample: The principal of the school addressed the students during the assembly.Ĭan also refer to the original sum of money invested or loaned.Įxample: He received a high interest rate on his principal investment.ĭescribes something that is most important or influential.Įxample: The principal cause for their success was effective teamwork. Let's dive into their meanings and usage. Understanding the difference between 'principal' and 'principle' is essential to navigate the maze of leadership and ethics.

Intrigued? Read on to learn more about principal vs principle meaning, principal vs principle examples, and even tips on principal vs principle pronunciation! Principal vs Principle Meaning However, if you mistakenly use the word 'principal' instead of 'principle,' it can lead to confusion or miscommunication. You want to convey that integrity is an essential principle for any successful leader. Now, imagine this: You are writing an essay about leadership qualities. You should therefore be able to work out the correct term from the context.Have you ever found yourself confused about when to use 'principal' and when to use 'principle'? Don't worry, you're not alone! Many English learners struggle with these two words because they sound similar but have completely different meanings.ĭid you know that 'principal' can be both a noun and an adjective, while 'principle' is always a noun? This distinction is important because it affects how we use these words in sentences. But telling the noun forms of these words apart can be tricky! Our advice is to remember that a “principal” is usually a person, whereas a “principle” is a rule or belief. With these terms, if you are looking for an adjective, it will always be “principal” that you need.

You won’t need to know technical definitions like this to use this term on a day-to-day basis, but it is worth looking out for unusual usages! Principle or Principal? As a legal term, for example, it refers to the person directly responsible for a crime. The noun form of “principal” also has some less common meanings. The new principal addressed the students at assembly. When used like this, it usually refers to the person in charge of a school: In these cases, “principal” works as a synonym for “main” or “most important.” My principal reason for taking the job was the salary. Petroleum is the principal export of Saudi Arabia. When used like this, it means “first in order of importance.” For example: “Principal” is most often an adjective (i.e., a word that describes a noun). Your e-mail address Subscribe Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter! Principal (First or Most Important) Here, saying “in principle” means “in theory” or “as an idea,” but this is contrasted with concerns about how the “principle” will be applied in real life. I’m in favor of the new law in principle, but it could cause problems. In addition, sometimes “principle” is used in contrast to practice. I am kind to animals as a matter of principle.

You’ll find principles for almost everything.Ī similar use of “principle” is to refer to a “moral standard,” such as if we say: The first sentence above refers to established scientific laws. Time travel would violate the principles of modern science.ĭemocracy works on the principle of one person, one vote. Typically, it refers to an idea or rule that explains or controls how something happens. “Principle” is always a noun (i.e., a naming word). Don’t worry, though! You can follow our advice on how to use “principle” and “principal” correctly to make sure your work is error free. However, there is an important difference between these words. In addition, neither word is very common in everyday language, so it can be hard to remember what each term means. “Principle” and “principal” sound and look very much alike.

Spelling principal vs principle