Learn How To Spell and Use “Precede” and “Proceed” Correctly
Precede is a verb that means “to exist or come before something in time.” Proceed is a verb that means “to continue with an action” or “move forward.”
- The speech will precede the dinner.
- Please proceed to the next room.
It’s no secret that the English language can be baffling. In fact, it is notorious for being comically confusing among native speakers and learners alike! There are homophones, silent letters, and countless grammar rules, not to mention the exceptions. But there are also words that are challenging simply because they are spelled and pronounced similarly, like precede and proceed.
But we’re here to clarify the pesky perplexity surrounding these commonly confused words, so you can understand how to use precede and proceed correctly.
Let’s proceed!
What Does “Precede” Mean?
Precede is a verb that means “to be, come, or go before someone or something.” It can also mean to “outrank someone in importance.” Its different forms are:
| Base | Precede |
|---|---|
| Past Tense | Preceded |
| Past Participle | Preceded |
| Present Participle | Preceding |
| Third-Person Singular | Precedes |
In the example above, the use of the word precede helps indicate that the letter “C” comes before “D” in the alphabet.
Here are a few more example sentences that contain the word precede.
A synonym of precede is predate, which indicates that “something dates back to a time before something else.”
Remember that “precede” involves existing or going before in time or place.
What Does “Proceed” Mean?
Proceed is a verb that means “to begin or continue an action or process,” but it can also mean “to move forward.”
| Base | Proceed |
|---|---|
| Past Tense | Proceeded |
| Past Participle | Proceeded |
| Present Participle | Proceeding |
| Third-Person Singular | Proceeds |
Knowing that the prefix “pro-” can mean “forward” can help you remember how to use proceed correctly.
In the sentence above, John asked Sarah to continue with an action, in this case, telling him what happened.
Here are a few more example sentences that contain the correct use of the word proceed.
A synonym for proceed is continue.
It’s important to note that proceeds can also function as a noun that refers to the “amount of money made after a sale, performance, or event.” However, when used as a noun, there’s an emphasis on the first syllable (pro-ceeds).
Remember that “proceed” involves continuing an action or moving forward.
“Preceding” vs. “Proceeding”
There’s one more thing we want to clarify: the use of preceding and proceeding. As shown in the tables above, preceding is the present participle of precede, whereas proceeding is the present participle of proceed. However, preceding can also function as an adjective and proceeding as a noun.
As an adjective, preceding describes a noun as “existing or coming immediately before in time or place.”
As a noun, proceeding refers to a “procedure or legal action.”
Remember the Difference Between “Precede” and “Proceed”
When you’re trying to decipher these two words, just take a look at the prefixes and remember that “pre-” means “before” and is associated with time or place. On the other hand, “pro-” indicates action or movement “forward” or “toward the front.”
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LanguageTool ensures you spell “proceed,” “precede,” and all other words correctly.
