Reuters | November 4, 2023
"Government to proceed with infrastructure project despite protests."
Proceed vs. Precede
The '30 Seconds' Difference At A Glance
'Proceed' means to go forward or continue. 'Precede' means to come before something else in time, order, or position.
A brief introduction will precede the main speech, after which we'll proceed with the awards ceremony.
A Deeper Look
'Proceed' is all about moving forward or continuing what you're doing. Think of it like a green light - it's your signal to keep going. You'll often hear it when someone wants you to continue after a stop or pause.
"Your payment has been approved. Please proceed to checkout."
"If there are no more questions, let's proceed with the meeting."
'Precede' is simpler than it sounds - it's just about one thing coming before another. If A precedes B, A comes first, then B follows.
Lunch precedes dinner (lunch always comes first)
The trailer always precedes the movie
Quick trick: If you're talking about moving forward or continuing, use 'proceed'. If you're talking about what comes first, use 'precede'.
The thunder preceded the rain, and then we proceeded with our outdoor plans once the storm passed.
Common Usage Patterns
Proceed
Common phrases: proceed with caution, proceed to checkout, proceed as planned, please proceed
Precede
Common phrases: precede by, preceded with, historically precede, immediately precede
Key Patterns
'Proceed' often appears in instructions or directions. 'Precede' typically describes sequence or chronological order.
What Teachers Say
"Think of 'proceed' as moving forward - like a procession. 'Precede' is about what comes before - think 'pre' for before."
-- Andrew, Seattle
"In academic writing, students often discuss how one event preceded another, while methodologies describe how to proceed with research."
-- Laura, Manchester
"In business contexts, 'proceed' is often used in a formal way to mean 'go ahead' or 'continue'. 'Precede' is more about describing order or sequence."
-- Raj, Mumbai
From The Headlines
The Guardian | May 12, 2018
"Studies show warming temperatures preceded major extinction events."
BBC News | March 30, 2015
"The head of the project said that construction will proceed once safety checks are complete."
Test Yourself!
1. Please _______ to the next room when your name is called.
2. The Renaissance period _______ the Industrial Revolution.
3. The ceremony will _______ as planned, but it must be _______ by a security check.
