Look-alike words

Perspective vs. Prospective

Perspective is a noun for a point of view or a way of seeing things, including depth in a drawing. Prospective is an adjective meaning likely or expected to become something in the future: a prospective student.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning
perspective	noun	a particular way of thinking about or seeing something; a point of view
perspective	noun	the art of drawing things so they seem to have depth and distance
prospective	adjective	likely or expected to become something, or to happen in the future

Perspective

noun: a particular way of thinking about or seeing something; a point of view

Talking to my grandmother gave me a new perspective on the problem.
Try to see the argument from your sister's perspective.

noun: the art of drawing things so they seem to have depth and distance

The art teacher showed us how to draw a road in perspective.
The painting's perspective makes the hallway look endless.

Prospective

adjective: likely or expected to become something, or to happen in the future

We gave the prospective buyers a tour of the house.
Prospective students can visit the campus on Saturdays.

How to remember the difference

Pro- in prospective points forward, to a future buyer or student. Per- in perspective means through: the view you see through your own eyes.

Good to know

To keep things in perspective means to judge them at their real importance. Prospective is common in hiring and sales: prospective employees, prospective clients.

Spot the mistake

We met with several ~~perspective~~ prospective clients this week.
Correct: We met with several prospective clients this week.
Traveling abroad gave Maya a whole new ~~prospective~~ perspective on life.
Correct: Traveling abroad gave Maya a whole new perspective on life.

Check yourself

Pick the word that fits each sentence.

1. The college sends brochures to students every fall.

2. Living on a farm for a year changed Omar's on food.