One is a school head or the most important thing; the other is a rule or moral belief.
"Principal" as a noun is the head of a school or the most important person in something. As an adjective it means main or most important. "The principal reason" = the main reason.
The school principal called a meeting with all teachers.
Our principal concern is the safety of the staff.
She was the principal investor in the project.
"Principle" is a fundamental rule, belief, or moral value that guides behaviour. "Act on principle" = act according to your values. "A matter of principle" = an issue of ethics.
He refused to sign the contract on principle.
The principle of equality is at the core of the law.
Never compromise your principles for short-term gain.
Common mistake
Trick to remember it
Quick rule
Did you know?
In finance and investment, PRINCIPAL has a precise technical meaning: the original capital of a loan, mortgage, or investment, as distinct from INTEREST. When you pay a mortgage, part of each payment reduces the PRINCIPAL (the capital you owe) and another part pays the period's INTEREST. The amortization of a long-term mortgage is mostly interest in the early years and more principal toward the end. That is why the first years of a mortgage "barely reduce the debt", because most of the payment goes to interest, not principal.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The _____ of the school called an emergency meeting for all teachers.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She refused to cheat as a matter of _____ . She believes in being honest.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy