Perspective vs. Prospective

Easing into 2023 with a special request from fellow word nerd…and a tip for remembering which is which.

First, the deets:

• Prospective is an adjective that is used to describe something that might happen, or is expected to happen, in the future. It’s all about possibilities or, better yet, prospects: as in “targeting prospective clients” or “recruiting prospective students.”
• Perspective is usually a noun that refers to a viewpoint – whether it’s the angle or position from which something is viewed (“step back to get a better perspective”) or a personal point of view (let’s hear Sara’s perspective on this issue”).

To keep them straight, just remind yourself that prospective includes the word “prospect.”

Option #2: One expert suggests remembering that prospective starts with “pro,” which indicates “forward,” which implies “future.”

You can’t go wrong either way.