ELA: Principal versus Principle Practice
Choosing the correct commonly confused word
ELA: Principal versus Principle Practice
Choosing the correct commonly confused word
Language Arts - Grade 4-5
- 1
Choose the correct word: The school _____ greeted students at the front door on Monday morning.
Think about a person who works in a school office.
The correct word is principal. A principal is the leader of a school. - 2
Choose the correct word: Honesty is an important _____ to follow.
Think about a value or belief, not a person.
The correct word is principle. A principle is a rule, belief, or value that guides behavior. - 3
Choose the correct word: Our _____ announced that the school library would stay open after school.
The correct word is principal. The sentence is talking about the leader of a school. - 4
Choose the correct word: The class discussed the _____ of treating others with respect.
Respect is a value people can try to live by.
The correct word is principle. The sentence is talking about a rule or value for behavior. - 5
Write a sentence using the word principal correctly.
A correct sentence could be: The principal visited our classroom during science time. The word principal is used correctly because it means the leader of the school. - 6
Write a sentence using the word principle correctly.
Use principle to talk about an idea, rule, or value.
A correct sentence could be: Fairness is a principle that helps people make good choices. The word principle is used correctly because it means a belief or rule. - 7
Choose the correct word: The _____ amount of money in the savings account was $50 before interest was added.
This sentence is about money, not a school rule.
The correct word is principal. In money and loans, principal means the original amount of money. - 8
Choose the correct word: A good _____ is to listen before you speak.
The correct word is principle. The sentence describes a helpful rule or belief for behavior. - 9
Correct the mistake in this sentence: The principle called an assembly for all fourth and fifth graders.
The sentence is about a person with a job at school.
The corrected sentence is: The principal called an assembly for all fourth and fifth graders. Principal is correct because it means the leader of the school. - 10
Correct the mistake in this sentence: One principal of teamwork is sharing the work fairly.
The corrected sentence is: One principle of teamwork is sharing the work fairly. Principle is correct because it means a rule or value. - 11
Fill in both blanks with principal or principle: The school _____ reminded us that kindness is a _____ we should practice every day.
One blank names a person, and one blank names a value.
The correct sentence is: The school principal reminded us that kindness is a principle we should practice every day. Principal means the school leader, and principle means a value or rule. - 12
Explain the difference between principal and principle in your own words.
Principal can mean the leader of a school or the original amount of money. Principle means a rule, belief, or value that guides actions.