Why "principle character" isn’t the right leading role

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 09/10/2024, 08:38

English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

Principle character or principal character. What's correct?

Word choice error

Why do people make this mistake?

People often confuse "principle" with "principal" because they sound similar and are homophones. "Principle" refers to a fundamental truth or proposition, while "principal" can mean the head of a school or the main participant in a situation.

What is correct?

The correct term to use is "principal character" as "principal" in this context means "main" or "leading".

Examples of correct usage

The principal character in the novel is a young detective.
In Shakespeare's plays, the principal character often grapples with significant moral dilemmas.