There is often confusion about the proper use of principle and principal.

Principle is always a noun and is a basic truth, or a rule governing behavior.

Principal can be a noun or adjective.

As a noun it is someone or something of primary importance or a sum of money, either invested or lent.

As an adjective means the first or highest in importance.

Principle Used in a Sentence

He was a man of principle and good to his word.
All internal combustion engines work on the same principles.
The ambassador refused on principle to agree to the terms of the accord.
There exist certain fundamental principles of human rights.
Two principles of happiness are being kind and smiling a lot.
Isaac Newton published his three laws of motion in his Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy.
I do not agree with the principles of that religion.
She ate granola every morning on principle.
One example of a business principle is putting the customer's interests first.

Used In a Quote

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both." - Dwight D. Eisenhower
"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
"Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
"My guiding principles in life are to be honest, genuine, thoughtful and caring." - Prince William
"We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles." - Jimmy Carter

Principal Used in a Sentence

Used as a Noun

The principal of the school is retiring this year.
First chair of the violins is the principal.
The principal of the firm just gave everyone a raise.
Mary was the principal in the television series for 10 years.
The theater troupe had a dinner to honor its principals.
Every quarter we have to pay interest on the principal.
The corporation's principal was based in New York.
The principal of the ballet had a flawless performance.

Used as an Adjective

The principal element in the earth's crust is oxygen.
This only applies to the principal cities in the state.
The principal amount of your investment should be at least $10,000.
Air pollution is a principal cause of respiratory ailments.
The president highlighted his principal concerns in his speech.
He is the principal cellist in the orchestra.
Eggs are the principal ingredient in quiche.

Used In a Quote

"All animals, except man, know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it." - Samuel Butler
"The principal problem facing our economy today is jobs." - Jim Sensenbrenner
"My father was also a principal of a school and mother was a curriculum advisor. Both were educators." - Edwin Moses
"The dollar is currently the principal reserve currency in the world." - Robert C. Solomon
"Here is how I work: when I think that a film needs to have a principal theme, I search for a melody." - Michel Legrand

Now you have seen how both principal and principle are used in sentences and can better understand the difference between these two words.

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"Examples of Principle and Principal." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 January 2019. <https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-principle-and-principal.html>.

APA Style

Examples of Principle and Principal. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16th, 2019, from https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-principle-and-principal.html

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Examples of Principle and Principal

By YourDictionary

There is often confusion about the proper use of principle and principal.Principle is always a noun and is a basic truth, or a rule governing behavior.Principal can be a noun or adjective.As a noun it is someone or something of primary importance or a sum of money, either invested or lent.As an adjective means the first or highest in importance.