Premier vs. Premiere

When you’re a proofreader, you see the same mistakes frequently. In my anti-grammar ebook, Revision Fairy Tales: 21 Writing Mistakes You’ll Never Make Again, I outline common mistakes that can be easily avoided with a little clarification.

Each week, I’ll share a “tale” from my book to eliminate your confusion about each pair of similar words. Choose the proper word when you write your first draft, and you’ll have fewer errors to fix later.

Premier vs. Premiere

Who would have thought that a little “e” could make such a big difference? Well, it does.

The adjective “premier” means “first-rate, best, number one in its class.”

The noun “premiere” means “the first public showing of an event.”

"Premier” may be used as an adjective or a noun, while “premiere” may be used as a noun, a verb used with an object, a verb used without an object, and an adjective.

Wait for it, wait for it … Huh? Let me break it down for you.

Premier

“Premier,” as an adjective, is the most common usage of the word that gets confused with “premiere.”

The adjective “premier” is used to describe “the best ____”:

How would you describe your company?

“Bamboo Emporium” is the premier outlet for premium bamboo stalks from around the globe.

Tip: Premier = premium. Both words do not end with the letter “e”.

“Premier,” as a noun, is less common. The term describes a person who is first in rank.

For example, a “premier” may be a chief executive officer or a president of a company.

Premiere

“Premiere,” as a noun, is “the first showing of an event.” “Premiere,” as other parts of speech, conveys a similar meaning.

“Premiere” as a verb with an object:

• “When will you debut your new paintings?”
• “You can see them on Saturday when I premiere my new exhibit at the Corner Gallery.”

“Premiere” as a verb without an object:

• “What is the occasion for the event on Friday?”
• “Oh, *Insert Awesome Movie Title Here* will premiere.”

“Premiere” as an adjective is similar to its noun-form:

• I’m excited for the premiere showing of *Insert Awesome Movie Title Here* on Friday.

Tip: Premiere = movie premiere. The words “premiere” and “movie” both end with the letter “e”.

Do you see how each word has distinct circumstances for its use?

To download the complete set of Revision Fairy Tales, click here. If you’re the patient-type, check back weekly for proofreading service secrets.

About the Author: Stefanie Flaxman corrects business, marketing, and educational documents in 24 hours to eliminate reputation-crushing mistakes from your writing. She's a professional proofreader and the founder of Revision Fairy® Small Business Proofreading Services. Connect with Stefanie on Twitter.