First, the results of the principal/principle survey

The spelling of many English words are confusing even to those whose first language is English.

There were 45 per cent of the subscribers on the Focusing on Words Newsletter list who responded to the survey.

• 1. The (principal/principle) reason for this discussion is to improve one’s spelling skills.
  
  Of those responding, 68 per cent chose the right answer (principal).
  
  
• 2. All of us should live by certain moral (principals/principles).
  
  Ninety-nine per cent chose the right answer (principles) in number two.
  
  
• 3. The (principal/principle) character in the play is ill.
  
  In number three, eighty-two per cent chose the right answer (principal).
  
  
• 4. His political (principals/principles) are less than acceptable.
  
  In number four, ninety-seven per cent chose the right answer (principles).
  
  
• 5. As a matter of (principal/principle), he refused to borrow money from anyone.
  
  In number five, ninety-seven per cent chose the right answer (principle).
  
  
• 6. The (principal/principle) invested in that project was $100,000.
  
  Of those participating, eighty-five per cent made the correct choice of (principal) in number six.
  
  
• 7. We must instill into the minds of our youth (principals/principles) of honesty and morality.
  
  Ninety-seven per cent of participants indicated the right answer (principles) in the last number.
  
  

A few words about the use of mnemonic devices that make it easier to remember how to spell certain words correctly.

Although many subscribers had different mnemonic devices for determining which principal/principle to use in a sentence, the best mnemonics to use seem to be “main” for principal and “rule” for principle.

Note the relationship of the “a” in main and principal and the “le” in rule and principle. Always make these relationships and you will always use them correctly.

Mnemonic [nee MAH nik], as in mnemonic device, comes from the Greek element that means, “memory” or “to remember” and refers to a technique that facilitates making the right choices for words that are otherwise confusing.

Whenever you want to make sure you have chosen the correct principal/principle, substitute the words main and rule in place of one or the other principal/principle, to see if it makes sense and when it does; it is certain that you have the right choice. For example, in number one, you could say, “The rule reason for this discussion ....” or say, “The main reason for this discussion ....” and you would logically have to choose main or “principal” because the other choice simply doesn’t make any sense.

So many people have used the mnemonic device of saying, “You spell the principal of the school with pal because he/she is your pal” or something similar to that. I strongly urge that you NOT use this mnemonic because it can be very misleading. It tends to make people think that the use of pal is used only with that particular principal. It is far better to say that the principal of the school is spelled with pal because he/she is the MAIN administrator, teacher, or educator of the school.

Did you notice the erratum in sentence number seven of the survey. Mea culpa. I used “install” instead of “instill into the minds ....”

Congratulations to nine subscribers (out of the 412 who participated) who saw and told me about this error (erratum). If there had been more than one erratum, then I would have had to confess to errata.

Thank you, if you were one of those who contributed to the survey. It was amazing to see that MOST of the participants made no errata in their submissions. I apparently have a VERY knowledgeable list of subscribers!