Distinguishing Between Principal & Principle

Principal vs Principle

Principal and principle are two words that can be confusing for English language learners due to their similar pronunciation. The difference between the two lies in the use of the letters “a” and “e,” which completely changes their meanings and usage. In this article, we will clarify the meanings of principal and principle to help avoid mistakes in their usage.

What does Principal mean?

To help differentiate between principal and principle, students are often taught to remember the phrase “principal is my pal.” This mnemonic device helps them remember to use this spelling when referring to a school principal. Principal is a noun meaning the chief person. However, this memory aid doesn’t address that principal can also be an adjective meaning main, chief, or most important, as in the following sentence:
The principal reason behind my success was regular studies.
So, principal can function as both a noun, when referring to a person, and as an adjective when it means central or most important. Principal is used for persons or objects that are physical and can be seen, like a school principal, principal engineer, or principal pillars of a building. The origin of the word principal is found in Middle English. Additionally, there are several phrases in English that use the word principal, particularly in the field of Law, such as principal in the first degree or principal in the second degree.

What does Principle mean?

On the other hand, principle can never be an adjective and is always a noun. It means a law, concept, or code of conduct. Principle is often used in the plural form (as in principles, such as moral principles). Although the words principal and principle may sound similar, they are significantly different in meaning. Unlike principal, which is used for physical persons or objects, principle is used for abstract concepts such as the working principle behind a phenomenon or a device. Principles in life are laws that people establish for themselves and follow. The origin of the word principle is found in Late Middle English from Old French.

Key Takeaways

• Principal refers to the most important or chief person or thing, whereas principle refers to a basic law or concept.
• Principle is always a noun, while principal can be both a noun and an adjective.
• Principal is used for physical persons or objects, while principle is used for abstract concepts or laws.