What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
prequel
Example
The Star Wars prequel trilogy tells the story of Anakin Skywalker before he becomes Darth Vader. [prequel: noun]
Example
She wrote a prequel to her bestselling novel, exploring the early years of the protagonist. [prequel: noun]
precursor
Example
The steam engine was a precursor to modern locomotives. [precursor: noun]
Example
The first iPhone was a precursor to the current generation of smartphones. [precursor: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Prequel is more commonly used than precursor in popular culture and entertainment media. Precursor is more commonly used in academic and technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between prequel and precursor?
Precursor is generally considered more formal than prequel, which is often used in casual or conversational language.
