The difference between the homonyms "principal" and "principle" is often confusing, and it is important to understand the meanings of these two words because you may encounter them on standardized examinations.
The word "principal" can be used as an adjective or a noun. The adjective form of "principal" means "first in importance or authority," and the noun form of "principal" means "a person who is first in importance or authority (such as the head of a school or the main actor in a performance)."
The word "principle" is a noun that means "a fundamental truth or doctrine (especially one upon which others are based); an essential quality or element of something."
The principal reason for learning the difference between "principal" and "principle" is that errors in diction can affect the impact of your writing.
An understanding of the principles of grammar and diction is helpful when taking standardized examinations.
A mnemonic device that may be useful in distinguishing between "principal" and "principle" is that "principal" contains the letter "a" and it is the only one with an adjective form. Also, "principal" contains the word "pal" and a "pal" is a person, as are heads of schools, lead actors, and other individuals who are first in importance or authority.
