Principal means main, or names a head of school. A principle is a rule or belief. The principal reason. A matter of principle. The test that settles it The principal is your pal — and that is also the spelling for the main one. Try it “the ___ cause” → the main one, so principal….

To precede is to come before. To proceed is to carry on. A short speech preceded the meal. Please proceed. The test that settles it Pre- means before, as in preview and prepare. Pro- means forward, as in progress. Try it “the chapter that ___ it” → comes before, so precedes. “___ to the exit”…

Premier means first or leading, and names a head of government. A premiere is a first performance. The country’s premier institution. The film’s premiere. The test that settles it The extra e is for the event. Openings, screenings and first nights all take premiere. Try it “the ___ league” → leading, so premier. “attended the…

Quiet means making little noise. Quite means fairly or completely. A quiet room. Quite good. The test that settles it This is usually a typing slip rather than a real confusion — the letters are simply transposed. Two syllables is quiet; one is quite. Try it “please be ___” → silent, so quiet. “___ difficult”…

Rain falls from the sky. A monarch reigns. A rein controls a horse. Heavy rain. A long reign. Take the reins. The test that settles it Reign and sovereign share the -eign. And a rein is a line — both spelled without the g. Try it “___ in spending” → controlling it, so rein. “the…

You raise something else. Things rise by themselves. Raise your hand. The sun rises. The test that settles it Ask what is being lifted. If there is an object after the verb, use raise. If not, use rise. Try it “prices ___ sharply” → no object, so rose. “they ___ prices” → an object, so…

Rational means reasonable. A rationale is the reasoning behind something. A rational decision. The rationale for it. The test that settles it The one with the final e is a thing. If you can put a or the in front, it is rationale. Try it “a ___ explanation” → describing it, so rational. “the ___…

Personal means private or individual. Personnel means the staff of an organisation. A personal matter. Military personnel. The test that settles it The double n word is about people in the plural. If you mean one person’s own, it is personal. Try it “a ___ question” → private, so personal. “trained ___” → staff, so…

Perspective is a point of view. Prospective means expected or potential. From her perspective. A prospective buyer. The test that settles it Only one is a noun. If you can put a in front and it stands alone, it is perspective. Try it “a fresh ___” → a thing, so perspective. “a ___ candidate” →…

Plain means simple or clear, and it also names flat open land. A plane is an aircraft, a flat surface, or a woodworking tool. Plain English. The plane landed. The test that settles it If the word describes something as simple or unadorned, it is plain. If it is a thing with a technical sense,…

A pole is a long rod, or the end of the earth or a magnet. A poll is a vote or a survey. A tent pole. The latest poll. The test that settles it Two l for the vote. If people are being counted or asked, it is poll. Try it “opinion ___” → a…

In British English, practice is the noun and practise the verb. American English uses practice for both. Piano practice. I need to practise. The test that settles it Same pattern as advice / advise. The c word is a thing; the s word is an action. Try it “an hour of ___” → a thing,…

A pedal is worked with the foot. To peddle is to sell. The brake pedal. He peddled fake watches. The test that settles it Pedal shares its root with pedestrian and pedicure — all about feet. Try it “___ harder up the hill” → feet, so pedal. “___ conspiracy theories” → selling them, so peddle….

To persecute is to harass unjustly. To prosecute is to bring a legal case. A minority persecuted for its beliefs. He was prosecuted for fraud. The test that settles it Ask whether a court is involved. Courts prosecute; oppressors persecute. Try it “___ under the Act” → a legal case, so prosecuted. “___ for their…

Loath means reluctant. Loathe means to hate. I am loath to interrupt. I loathe waiting. The test that settles it The silent e makes the verb, exactly as in breath / breathe. And it changes the sound: loath ends softly, loathe with a buzz. Try it “I am ___ to ask” → reluctant, so loath….