What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
prospective
Example
The company has many prospective clients lined up for next month. [prospective: adjective]
Example
I am considering all prospective options before making a decision. [prospective: noun]
prepare
Example
I need to prepare for my job interview tomorrow. [prepare: verb]
Example
She spent all day preparing the meal for her guests. [preparing: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Prepare is a more common word than prospective in everyday language. Prepare is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while prospective is less common and is typically used in more formal or professional settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between prospective and prepare?
Prospective is generally considered more formal than prepare, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
