Difference between Prescribe and Proscribe

The English verbs "prescribe" and "proscribe" are often confused due to their similar spelling and pronunciation, but they have very different meanings and uses. In this explanation, I will clarify the differences between these terms, using examples from British English to illustrate their correct application.

Prescribe means to officially recommend or authorise the use of something, most commonly in a medical or legal context. When someone prescribes, they are giving an order or direction, often with the intention of promoting health, safety, or proper procedure.

For example:

• "The doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat your infection."

• "The school has prescribed a uniform for all students."

In these sentences, "prescribe" refers to the act of setting down a rule or giving a recommendation, usually by someone in authority. In the first example, a doctor is authorising and strongly recommending the use of a specific medicine. In the second, a school is officially requiring students to wear a uniform.

You might also encounter the noun form, prescription, which refers to the written order for medicine or the act of prescribing.

For example:

• "You must take this prescription to the pharmacy to get the medicine."

Proscribe, on the other hand, means to officially forbid or prohibit something, often by law or authority. When something is proscribed, it is not allowed, and there may be penalties for disobeying the prohibition.

For example:

• "The government has proscribed the use of certain pesticides."

• "During the regime, many books were proscribed and could not be published."

In these sentences, "proscribe" means that the use of pesticides and the publication of certain books have been officially banned. The word carries a sense of strong disapproval and legal prohibition.

It is important to note that prescribe and proscribe are almost opposites in meaning: to prescribe is to order or recommend something to be done, while to proscribe is to forbid it from being done.

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