Perscribe vs. Prescribe — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 21, 2024
"Perscribe" is a common misspelling. The correct spelling is "Prescribe," meaning to recommend or authorize a course of action or medication.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Perscribe or Prescribe
How to spell Prescribe?
Perscribe
Incorrect Spelling
Prescribe
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Associate "Pre-" with "Prior" or "Previous" to remember the starting sound.
"Prescription" starts with "Pres-"; keep it consistent.
Think of "pre-" as a prefix meaning "before," as in prescribing something beforehand.
Doctors PREscribe; there's no "Per-scription."
Visualize a doctor's PRE-scription pad.
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How Do You Spell Prescribe Correctly?
Incorrect: Can a nurse practitioner perscribe antibiotics?
Correct: Can a nurse practitioner prescribe antibiotics?
Incorrect: The doctor decided to perscribe medication for my condition.
Correct: The doctor decided to prescribe medication for my condition.
Incorrect: How do doctors decide what to perscribe?
Correct: How do doctors decide what to prescribe?
Incorrect: The therapist will not perscribe any medicines.
Correct: The therapist will not prescribe any medicines.
Prescribe Definitions
Prescribe means to officially recommend or authorize a treatment or drug.
The doctor will prescribe antibiotics.
To establish a method or procedure.
The manual prescribes steps for assembly.
To advise as beneficial or necessary.
The therapist might prescribe rest.
To set down in writing.
Ancient texts prescribe rituals.
To set down as a rule or guideline.
Laws prescribe acceptable behavior.
(of a medical practitioner) advise and authorize the use of (a medicine or treatment) for someone, especially in writing
He was prescribed a course of antibiotics
Her doctor prescribed sleeping tablets
State authoritatively or as a rule that (an action or procedure) should be carried out
Rules prescribing five acts for a play are purely arbitrary
To set down as a rule, law, or direction
Prescribed the terms of the surrender.
To order the use of (a medicine or other treatment).
To establish rules, laws, or directions.
To order a medicine or other treatment.
(medicine) To order (a drug or medical device) for use by a particular patient (under licensed authority).
The doctor prescribed aspirin.
To specify by writing as a required procedure or ritual; to lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action.
The property meets the criteria prescribed by the regulations.
(law) To develop or assert a right; to make a claim (by prescription).
To lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action; to impose as a peremptory order; to dictate; to appoint; to direct.
Prescribe not us our duties.
Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run.
To direct, as a remedy to be used by a patient; as, the doctor prescribed quinine.
To give directions; to dictate.
A forwardness to prescribe to their opinions.
To influence by long use
To write or to give medical directions; to indicate remedies; as, to prescribe for a patient in a fever.
To claim by prescription; to claim a title to a thing on the ground of immemorial use and enjoyment, that is, by a custom having the force of law.
Issue commands or orders for
Prescribe Meaning in a Sentence
Prescribe a diet low in sugar to help with diabetes.
Can you prescribe a treatment for my allergies?
How often do doctors prescribe exercise for stress relief?
The doctor might prescribe physical therapy for the injury.
The health clinic can prescribe vaccinations before you travel.
Pharmacists dispense the drugs that doctors prescribe.
Veterinarians prescribe medicine for animals, too.
Can doctors prescribe medicine over the phone?
It's illegal for someone who is not a doctor to prescribe drugs.
Can a dietitian prescribe a meal plan for weight loss?
Some doctors prescribe meditation for anxiety.
Sometimes, a doctor may prescribe more than one drug.
The doctor will prescribe antibiotics if it's a bacterial infection.
Doctors also prescribe lifestyle changes for better health.
Specialists prescribe specific treatments for rare conditions.
Prescribe Idioms & Phrases
Prescribe a remedy for
To suggest a solution to fix a problem.
The financial advisor prescribed a remedy for the company's debt issue.
Prescribe to the letter
To follow instructions or guidelines exactly.
It's important to take the medicine as prescribed to the letter to ensure its effectiveness.
Prescribe a dose of reality
To recommend or suggest a realization of the truth.
Sometimes, friends need to prescribe a dose of reality to help us see clearly.
Prescribe a course of action
To recommend a specific procedure or process.
The consultant prescribed a course of action to improve the company's efficiency.
Prescribe the right medicine
To offer the correct solution to a problem.
Effective leadership is like prescribing the right medicine for organizational challenges.
Over-prescribe
To prescribe medication in greater amounts than is necessary.
There's a concern that doctors may over-prescribe antibiotics, leading to resistance.
Prescribe limits
To set boundaries or limits on something.
The new law prescribes limits on the amount of certain chemicals that factories can emit.
Self-prescribe
To decide on one's own treatment without professional advice.
It's dangerous to self-prescribe medication without a doctor's approval.
Prescribe a plan
To outline a strategy or plan.
The dietitian prescribed a plan that included balanced meals and exercise.
Prescribe a path forward
To recommend a direction or plan to proceed.
After the setback, the coach prescribed a path forward to regain the team's confidence.
Prescribe for success
To recommend methods or steps that will likely lead to success.
The mentor prescribed for success habits like discipline and continuous learning.
Broadly prescribe
To give general recommendations.
The guidelines broadly prescribe the steps to improve cybersecurity.
Under-prescribe
To prescribe less medication or treatment than is needed.
Under-prescribing pain relief can leave patients in unnecessary discomfort.
Legally prescribe
To authorize or recommend according to legal standards.
Only legally prescribe and dispense medication to ensure safety.
Ethically prescribe
To make recommendations based on ethical standards.
It's important to ethically prescribe treatments, considering all potential impacts on the patient.
Prescribe responsibilities
To assign duties or tasks.
The project manager prescribed responsibilities to each team member to ensure the project's success.
Prescribe by necessity
To recommend something as a necessity.
In extreme cases, doctors may prescribe by necessity treatments that are usually last resorts.
Prescribe guidelines
To establish rules or guidelines.
The organization prescribed guidelines for ethical behavior in the workplace.
Prescribe a solution
To recommend a specific solution to a problem.
The expert prescribed a solution to the water scarcity issue in the region.
Tightly prescribe
To specify very strict recommendations or rules.
The regulations tightly prescribe how the hazardous waste must be handled.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called Prescribe?
It originates from Latin "praescribere," meaning "to write before."
What is the root word of Prescribe?
The root is from Latin "praescribere."
What is the singular form of Prescribe?
Prescribe is a verb and doesn't have singular or plural forms.
Which preposition is used with Prescribe?
Often "for," as in "prescribed for a condition."
Which conjunction is used with Prescribe?
Standard conjunctions can be used, depending on the sentence.
Which vowel is used before Prescribe?
The indefinite article "a" is used before "prescribe."
Is Prescribe an abstract noun?
No.
What is the plural form of Prescribe?
Verbs like "prescribe" do not have plural forms.
What is the verb form of Prescribe?
Prescribe is already in its verb form.
What is the pronunciation of Prescribe?
/prɪˈskraɪb/.
Is Prescribe a noun or adjective?
Verb.
Is Prescribe a negative or positive word?
Neutral.
What is the first form of Prescribe?
Prescribe.
What is the second form of Prescribe?
Prescribed.
What is the third form of Prescribe?
Prescribed.
Is Prescribe an adverb?
No.
Is Prescribe a countable noun?
Prescribe is not a noun.
Is the Prescribe term a metaphor?
No, but it can be used metaphorically.
How many syllables are in Prescribe?
Two.
What is the opposite of Prescribe?
Proscribe.
Which determiner is used with Prescribe?
Determiners like "the," "this," or "that" can be used.
Is Prescribe a vowel or consonant?
Prescribe is a word, containing both vowels and consonants.
Is Prescribe a collective noun?
No.
What part of speech is Prescribe?
Verb.
How is Prescribe used in a sentence?
The doctor decided to prescribe pain relievers for her condition.
Which article is used with Prescribe?
"A" as in "a prescribed method."
Is the word Prescribe imperative?
It can be, as in "Prescribe the medication!"
How do we divide Prescribe into syllables?
Pre-scribe.
What is a stressed syllable in Prescribe?
The second syllable, "scribe."
What is another term for Prescribe?
Recommend.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
