Precede vs Proceed
precede
to come before
proceed
to go forward/continue
How to tell them apart
PREcede = PREvious, comes bEfore. PROceed = go PROgressing forward, PROceed to the next step.
Test yourself
Which word fits from context? Pick one, then reveal the answer. This is exactly how the GRE tests these pairs.
Question 1
A brief overture will the opera itself, giving latecomers a moment to settle before the first act begins.
Choose: precede or proceed
Show answer
Answer: precede
the overture comes ahead of the opera ('before the first act'), forcing precede; proceed (go forward) is intransitive and illogical here.
Question 2
Once the committee resolves this procedural objection, we may with the vote we were forced to interrupt earlier.
Choose: precede or proceed
Show answer
Answer: proceed
'with the vote we were forced to interrupt earlier' demands resuming/continuing (proceed); precede (come before) makes no sense.
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