Proceed and Precede: Definition, Synonyms, and Usage
Proceed and Precede – Definition and Part of Speech
“Proceed” and “precede” are verbs that carry distinct meanings in English:
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Proceed: To continue an action or activity after a pause or interruption. It often implies moving forward from the current point.
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Part of speech: Verb
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Precede: To come before something else in time, order, or position.
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Part of speech: Verb
Both verbs can appear in various forms such as present (proceeds/precèdes), past (proceeded/preceded), and gerund/participle form (proceeding/preceding).
Core Synonyms (Table Format)
| Synonym | Brief Definition/Nuance | Example Sentence | Style/Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continue | To carry on or extend over a period of time. | “After a brief intermission, the play continued without further delay.” | Formal/Informal |
| Move Forward | To make progress in space or time. | “She decided to move forward with her plans despite the setbacks.” | Business/Casual |
| Follow | To come after something else in order or sequence. | “Please follow these instructions carefully for best results.” | Academic/Professional |
| Go On | To keep going, usually used informally. | “Let’s not dwell on this any further; just go on with the discussion.” | Informal/Casual |
| Come Before | To appear or happen before something else. | “The introduction comes before the main content in a book.” | Formal/Academic/Professional |
Usage Notes
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Continue: Ideal for both formal and informal contexts where ongoing action is highlighted, such as business meetings, academic lectures, or casual conversations.
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Example: “We will continue this discussion tomorrow.”
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Move Forward: Common in business writing and motivational contexts where progress and advancement are the focus.
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Example: “To move forward, we must address these challenges promptly.”
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Follow: Often used when instructions or guidelines are given. This is common in academic papers and professional documents.
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Example: “In conducting this experiment, please follow the established procedures closely.”
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Go On: Best suited for casual speech where continuation is implied without much formality.
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Example: “I’m getting hungry; what time do we go on eating?”
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Come Before: Frequently appears in academic and professional settings to indicate temporal or hierarchical order.
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Example: “In the project timeline, the research phase comes before data analysis.”
Common Pitfalls
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Mixing up proceed with precede: While both involve a sequence of events, proceeding involves continuing from a point, whereas preceding involves coming before. This can lead to confusion in narratives or instructions.
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Example: “The introduction precedes the chapters,” versus “We proceeded with our meeting as planned.”
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Confusing synonyms like continue and go on: While they are often interchangeable, “continue” may imply a more formal continuation, while “go on” is typically less formal.
Final Recap
In summary, “proceed” and “precede,” along with their respective synonyms such as “continue,” “move forward,” “follow,” “go on,” and “come before,” offer nuanced ways to express actions or sequences in English. Each synonym fits different contexts from business writing and academic papers to casual conversations and creative narratives.
To expand your vocabulary effectively, practice using these words by crafting sentences relevant to different situations you encounter. This will help solidify understanding and ensure appropriate usage in varied registers and styles.