Booher's Rules of Business Grammar - Dianna Booher 2009

It’s a matter of principle
Misspelled and misused words

PRINCIPLE VERSUS PRINCIPAL

The confusion between these words occurs because principal can be both a noun and an adjective. But because business professionals are much more familiar with the noun form (“Orilla, a principal in the law firm of Humperdink, Vanderslink, and Hoodwink …”), when they need an adjective, they select the opposite word.

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Stay with the correct word principal (meaning primary, chief, or main), understanding that it can be both an adjective and a noun.

Principal (adjective: chief, primary, main):

Our principal product is running shoes.

Principal (noun: one who has control):

Trudy Trott, a principal in our accounting firm, works in the New York office.

Principle (noun: a rule or guideline):

Our organization operates by this general principle: Customers are reasonable.

Memory tip

A principal way to remember principles is to post them on placards.