Precede means come before in time, order, or position. Proceed means go ahead, continue, or move forward. At a pottery workshop, a demonstration precedes the practice session. After the demonstration, participants proceed to their worktables. Merriam-Webster on precede and proceed.
Precede tells you what comes first
A demonstration precedes the practice session. The demonstration happens first. To start the sentence with the practice session, use preceded by. The practice session is preceded by a demonstration. The order of the events stays the same.
Precede can describe position as well. In The title page precedes the table of contents, the title page appears earlier in the book. Merriam-Webster’s entry for precede.
Proceed tells you what moves ahead
When the instructor says You may proceed, the group can go ahead. Add to to name a destination or the next action, or with to name the activity that can go forward.
| Pattern | What follows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| proceed to | A destination | Please proceed to your worktables. |
| proceed to | A verb naming the next action | Once seated, proceed to shape the clay. |
| proceed with | An activity that can go ahead | After the break, we’ll proceed with the lesson. |
Proceed from can name a starting point, as in We proceeded from the studio to the gallery. It can also mean come from a source, as in The humming proceeded from a fan in the hallway. Merriam-Webster’s entry for proceed.
A quick way to choose the spelling
Think of pre in preview when you mean come before. Write precede. Think of pro in progress when you mean go ahead. Write proceed with two e’s in a row.
Practice choosing precede or proceed
- Choose the verb. A short welcome will ___ the concert.
- Correct the verb to show that the group resumed its work. When the lights came back on, we preceded with the rehearsal.
- Rewrite the sentence to start with The film was. Keep the order of events. A brief introduction preceded the film.
- Complete the instruction with proceed and one other word. Pick up your badge, then ___ ___ the auditorium.
- What does proceeded from mean here? A soft clicking proceeded from the wall clock.
- Combine these sentences into one using both verbs. The band goes ahead of the dancers. Both groups move toward the stage.
Show answers and explanations
- Precede. The welcome comes before the concert.
- When the lights came back on, we proceeded with the rehearsal. Proceeded with means the group went on with the rehearsal.
- The film was preceded by a brief introduction. The by phrase names the event that happened first.
- Pick up your badge, then proceed to the auditorium. To the auditorium names the destination.
- Came from. The wall clock is the source of the sound.
- The band precedes the dancers as both groups proceed to the stage. Precedes puts the band at the front. Proceed to says where the groups are going.
Related writing guides
- Look up other words with similar spellings or sounds. Confusing Words.
- Check word choices during your final review. The Art of Proofreading.
