View source for Precede - proceed

The two [[verb]]s '''proceed''' and '''precede '''can be confused, because in rapid speech they sound similar. They are virtual [[homophone]]s. Note that the spelling is different.

::'''Proceed''' is one of the 117 mis-spellings listed as 'Common difficulties' in the section on 'Spelling' within 'Writing' in [[UEfAP]]. 

*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.
[[category:spelling common errors]]
[[category:disambig]]
[[Category:Gillett spellings]]