Is it ‘principle’ or ‘principal’?
Is it principle? Or is it principal?
If you’re looking for a way to remember the difference between these confusables, these mnemonics will help you out…
Principal
There are three meanings here, adding to the bafflement.
As an adjective #1
What is it? The first, main or most important thing.
► My principal concern is that the mozzarella sticks will have all been scoffed before I reach the front of the buffet queue.
How to 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.
► I’m not clued up on investments and repaying the principal balance on a loan, so let’s skim on past that.
How to 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.
► The school principal accidentally slipped out a squeaker in assembly as she leant over to change the acetate on the overhead projector. (I have no modern day educational reference – it’s still 1993 to me.)
How to 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.
► 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.
► 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 to remember it: Principle has an ‘le’ and so does rule.
Word wobbles
Principle and principal only differ by two letters, but they’re a small slip-up that’s easy to overlook when you’re focused on the bigger picture.
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