Difference between revisions of "Precede - proceed"
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Revision as of 11:48, 8 July 2007
The two verbs proceed and precede can be confused, because in rapid speech they sound similar. They are virtual homophones. Note that the spelling is different.
- To precede means 'to go before'. It is usually transitive - "a person with a mace precedes the Vice-Chancellor on formal occasions"; "King Richard III preceded Henry VII"; "the meal will be preceded by a reception."
- To proceed means 'to go on', or 'to go forward'. It is intransitive - "We will proceed next week"; "the events of the day proceeded as planned"; and "The policemen proceeded on his way". It may be followed by the preposition with - "we will proceed with Agenda item 12"; or "Proceed with your studies."
- There is a also a transitive verb to process, meaning to subject raw materials to a process, or a procedure - an activity that will alter them. Some speakers use the verb to proceed something (transitively) in this sense; but for academic English they should not be imitated.
