Persuing vs. Pursuing – Which is Correct?
The correct spelling is pursuing, not “persuing.” Pursuing means actively working toward a goal, continuing an activity, or seeking something. The error usually results from omitting the second “r” in the pronunciation. Use pursuing in applications, essays, and professional writing whenever you mean following a goal.
Persuing or Pursuing – Which is Correct?
Pursuing is the correct spelling. Persuing is a misspelling and is not accepted in standard American English. The correct word comes from pursue, which contains the letter sequence pursu-. When the suffix -ing is added, the spelling becomes pursuing.
Similar-looking verbs can cause confusion, as explained in Prosecute vs. Persecute, another pair with distinct meanings.
The mistake commonly occurs because the second “r” is not strongly pronounced in everyday speech. However, omitting it in writing produces the incorrect form persuing. Use pursuing when describing the act of working toward a goal, following an interest, seeking an opportunity, or chasing someone or something.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Remember that pursuing begins with pursue. The word pursue contains two “r” sounds in its spelling pattern: one before the “s” and another after it. A useful mnemonic is: “You pursue success with two r’s.” Before writing persuing, mentally restore the base word pursue and add -ing: pursue + ing = pursuing.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| pursuing | Verb form | Working toward, seeking, or following something | She is pursuing a degree in engineering. |
| persuing | Misspelling | No standard English meaning | Incorrect: She is persuing a degree. |
How to Use Pursuing
Pursuing is the present participle or gerund form of the verb pursue. It can describe actively working toward an objective, seeking a person or opportunity, continuing an activity, or physically following someone or something. The word works in casual, academic, business, and formal writing.
Use pursuing after a form of be to create a continuous verb phrase, as in “They are pursuing a solution.” It can also function as a gerund acting like a noun, as in “Pursuing excellence requires patience.”
Example 1: Maya is pursuing a career in environmental science.
Example 2: The company is pursuing new partnerships in international markets.
Example 3: The detective continued pursuing every credible lead.
What are the different forms of Pursuing?
Pursuing is formed by adding -ing to the verb pursue. The main forms of the verb are:
- Base form: pursue
- Third-person singular: pursues
- Past tense: pursued
- Past participle: pursued
- Present participle: pursuing
The final silent e in pursue is removed before adding -ing. Therefore, the correct spelling is pursuing, not pursueing or persuing.
Etymology of the word Pursuing
Pursuing comes from the verb pursue, which entered English through Anglo-French and Old French forms related to the Latin verb prosequi, meaning “to follow” or “to continue.” Over time, pursue developed both literal and figurative meanings, including following someone, seeking an objective, and continuing a course of action.
Related Concepts
Understanding the word’s base form and spelling pattern makes it easier to recognize why pursuing is correct and persuing is not.
- Present participles: A present participle is usually formed by adding -ing to a verb. In pursuing, the final silent e in pursue is dropped before the suffix is added.
- Verb forms: Verbs change form to express tense, aspect, or grammatical function. Pursuing can appear in continuous tenses or function as a gerund.
- Spelling and pronunciation: English spelling does not always mirror pronunciation exactly. A sound that is subtle or reduced in speech may still need to be represented in writing.
- Common misspellings: Misspellings often result from omitted letters, especially when a word contains an unstressed sound or an unfamiliar letter sequence.
Examples from Media and Literature
The correct spelling pursuing appears in many types of writing, including journalism, fiction, biographies, and professional communication.
- News writing: A report may state that investigators are pursuing additional evidence in an ongoing case.
- Career features: A magazine profile may describe a student pursuing a career in medicine or technology.
- Biographies: A biography may explain how an artist kept pursuing creative work despite repeated setbacks.
- Adventure fiction: A novel may describe a character pursuing a dangerous rival through a crowded city.
- Academic writing: A university article may discuss researchers pursuing a new treatment or scientific theory.
Pursuing Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Seeking | Trying to find, obtain, or achieve something |
| Chasing | Following or attempting to catch someone or something |
| Following | Going after someone or continuing along a path or course |
| Working toward | Making an effort to achieve a particular goal |
| Pursuing an interest | Developing or continuing an activity one cares about |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “persuing” a correct spelling?
No. Persuing is a misspelling. The correct spelling is pursuing.
Question 2: Why do people spell pursuing as persuing?
The error usually comes from pronunciation. The second “r” in pursuing may be easy to overlook because it is not strongly emphasized in speech. The spelling should be connected to the base word pursue.
Question 3: What does pursuing mean?
Pursuing means actively seeking, following, continuing, or working toward something. For example, “He is pursuing a master’s degree” means he is working toward earning that degree.
Question 4: Is pursuing formal or informal?
Pursuing is suitable in both formal and informal contexts. It is especially common in applications, résumés, academic writing, business communication, and descriptions of personal goals.
Conclusion
Pursuing is the only correct spelling in standard English; persuing is a misspelling. Remember the base word pursue and retain the second “r” when adding -ing. Pro tip: Correct spelling in applications, résumés, and professional messages strengthens your credibility and protects your professional reputation.
