Proceed and precede may look and sound alike, but any set of twins will tell you that doesn’t mean they’re the same.
One difference is in the prefixes. Although pre- and pro- can both mean before, pro- typically means in favor of.
The second difference is that they mean completely different things.
Proceed also is a verb, but it means to move forward with an action. For example, We will proceed with the ceremony.
Precede is a verb that means to come before something. For example, She preceded him in office.
Wait, these words really aren’t anything alike! Tell me again why you’re using them incorrectly?
Proceed and use words correctly!
TammyL says
What a very clear explanation. Thank you.
My word pet peeve: misuse of “fewer” and “less”!
profkrg says
@TammyL That’s a good one! I’ll have to remember it for a future post.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
Kenna
finikiotis says
@jeanniecw @profkrg When did proper usage become relegated to the domain of nerds?
jeanniecw says
@finikiotis we we strted txting/IMs. 🙂
profkrg says
@finikiotis I adore nerds! It was the highest compliment I could give. 🙂 @jeanniecw
deleted_2698155_BruceSallan1 says
Yeah, I actually knew this one…I love these posts, Prof…
Please tell peeps not to say, “Reason why” as it’s redundant and NOT to say, “Orientated” ’cause it’s just WRONG!
profkrg says
@BruceSallan1 Is there a reason why you don’t like orientated? LOL. I’m just jacking with you, Bruce! Thanks for the future “Nerd Note” ideas!
Kenna
LauraC says
Good stuff, it’s fun running across the grammar police. I wonder how bad people will be at spelling in a generations time when classes are taken on iPads and everything is automatically spell checked.
profkrg says
@LauraC I’m sad to admit that I am not a great speller. I was not the “computer generation,” so I’d hate to see what they’ll come up with. I know reading some text messages from my daughter or her friends is pretty brutal.
Thanks for reading!
Kenna