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principal and principle

These two words have the same pronunciation. The adjective principal means ‘main’, ‘most important’.

  • What’s your principal reason for wanting to be a doctor? (not … your principle reason …)

The noun principal means ‘head of a school’ (especially, in Britain, of a school for adults).

  • If you want to leave early, you’ll have to ask the Principal.

A principle is a scientific law or a moral rule.

  • Newton discovered the principle of universal gravitation. (not … the principal of universal gravitation.)
  • She’s a girl with very strong principles.