Have you ever wondered if the correct spelling is persue or pursue? If so, you are not alone. These words look very similar, but only one is the standard English spelling. Pursue is correct, while persue is a common spelling mistake. The word pursue means to follow, chase, continue trying to achieve something, or work toward a goal.
The spelling can be confusing because pursue does not sound exactly as it looks, and the letters u and e can easily be placed incorrectly. Once you learn the correct spelling and meaning, however, the difference becomes much easier to remember. if you are writing about pursuing a career, pursuing a dream, pursuing an opportunity, or pursuing someone, the correct form is always pursue.
Quick Answer: Persue or Pursue?
Pursue is the correct spelling. Persue is incorrect and should not be used in standard English. Pursue means to follow or chase someone or something, or to continue working toward a goal. Remember the spelling as P-U-R-S-U-E. There is no e after the p.
Why Do People Confuse Persue and Pursue?
People often confuse these spellings because persue looks natural when written from memory.
The beginning of the word can also create uncertainty. Many English words use per-, while pursue begins with pur-.
For example:
- ❌ persue
- ✅ pursue
Another reason is pronunciation. The sound of the word does not always make the spelling obvious, especially for English learners.
The best way to avoid the mistake is to remember the exact spelling:
P-U-R-S-U-E
What Does Persue Mean?
Persue is not the standard spelling of an English word.
If you write:
I want to persue my dreams.
the correct version is:
I want to pursue my dreams.
Therefore, persue should generally be treated as a spelling error when the intended word is pursue.
What Does Pursue Mean?
Pursue is a verb with several related meanings.
It can mean:
- To follow or chase someone or something.
- To continue trying to achieve something.
- To work toward a goal.
- To engage in or continue an activity.
For example:
- The police pursued the suspect.
- She decided to pursue a career in medicine.
- He wants to pursue his dream.
- They are pursuing a new opportunity.
The meaning depends on the context, but the central idea is usually following something or continuing toward something.
Persue vs. Pursue: Comparison Table
| Feature | Persue | Pursue |
| Correct spelling | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Standard English word | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Part of speech | — | Verb |
| Meaning | — | Follow, chase, or work toward |
| Correct for formal writing | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Example | I want to persue my goal. | I want to pursue my goal. |
| Spelling | P-E-R-S-U-E | P-U-R-S-U-E |
When Should You Use Pursue?
Use pursue when you want to describe following, chasing, or working toward something.
Pursue a Goal
She worked hard to pursue her goal.
Pursue a Career
He decided to pursue a career in engineering.
Pursue a Dream
Never stop trying to pursue your dreams.
Pursue an Opportunity
The company plans to pursue new opportunities.
Pursue Someone
The officers began to pursue the suspect.
The word can therefore be used for both physical actions and more abstract goals.
10+ Examples of Pursue in Sentences
Here are some simple examples:
- She wants to pursue a career in teaching.
- He decided to pursue his dream of becoming a writer.
- The police pursued the suspect.
- They are pursuing a new business opportunity.
- She continued to pursue her goals despite the difficulties.
- He plans to pursue higher education.
- The company is pursuing a new strategy.
- You should pursue your interests with confidence.
- The athlete is pursuing a place on the national team.
- The dog pursued the ball across the field.
- She chose to pursue her passion for music.
- They decided to pursue legal action.
Notice that pursue can describe both physical movement and the effort to achieve something.
Common Mistakes With Persue and Pursue
Mistake 1: Writing Persue
❌ I want to persue my career.
✅ I want to pursue my career.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the Second U
The correct spelling contains two u letters:
P-U-R-S-U-E
Not:
P-E-R-S-U-E
Mistake 3: Using Persue in Formal Writing
Avoid persue in essays, applications, emails, reports, and other formal writing.
Use:
✅ pursue
Mistake 4: Confusing Pursue With Peruse
Pursue and peruse are different words.
- Pursue = follow, chase, or work toward something.
- Peruse = read or examine something carefully.
For example:
She wants to pursue a career in law.
But:
He perused the document before signing it.
Memory Trick: Pursue Has “PUR”
A simple way to remember the spelling is:
Pursue starts with PUR, not PER.
Think of:
PUR + SUE = PURSUE
So when you are unsure, remember:
❌ PER-SUE
✅ PUR-SUE
Another useful memory trick is:
Pursue your purpose.
Both pursue and purpose begin with pur.
American vs. British English
There is no standard spelling difference between American and British English for this word.
American English:
✅ pursue
British English:
✅ pursue
The spelling remains the same in both varieties.
Examples:
- American: She wants to pursue her career.
- British: She wants to pursue her career.
So you do not need to change the spelling depending on your audience.
Similar Words You Should Know
Pursuit
Pursuit is the noun form related to pursue.
The police were in pursuit of the suspect.
It can also refer to an activity or interest:
Reading is one of her favorite pursuits.
Pursuing
Pursuing is the -ing form of pursue.
He is pursuing a degree in business.
Pursued
Pursued is the past tense and past participle.
The police pursued the vehicle.
Peruse
Peruse is a different word and should not be confused with pursue.
She perused the report before the meeting.
Follow
Follow can sometimes have a similar meaning to pursue, especially when physically going after someone or something.
The dog followed the boy.
However, pursue can also describe actively working toward a goal.
Final Verdict: Persue vs. Pursue
The correct spelling is pursue.
Persue is an incorrect spelling when you mean to say pursue. The correct word begins with pur, not per, and it is spelled:
P-U-R-S-U-E
Use pursue when talking about following, chasing, or working toward something.
For example:
I want to pursue my dreams.
Remember: pursue = follow or work toward something.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Persue a correct word?
No. Persue is not the standard spelling. If you mean to say follow, chase, or work toward something, the correct spelling is pursue.
Is Pursue the correct spelling?
Yes. Pursue is the correct standard English spelling.
What does pursue mean?
Pursue means to follow or chase someone or something, or to continue working toward a goal, ambition, or activity.
How do you spell pursue?
It is spelled:
P-U-R-S-U-E
A useful reminder is PUR + SUE.
What is the difference between pursue and peruse?
Pursue means to follow, chase, or work toward something. Peruse means to read or examine something carefully.
What is the noun form of pursue?
The noun form is pursuit.
Example:
Her pursuit of knowledge continued throughout her life.
Is pursue the same in American and British English?
Yes. Pursue has the same standard spelling in both American and British English.
Remember This
When choosing between persue and pursue, always choose:
✅ Pursue
Remember:
PUR + SUE = PURSUE
It means to follow, chase, or work toward something.
❌ Persue
✅ Pursue
Conclusion
The difference between persue and pursue is simple: pursue is the correct spelling, while persue is a spelling mistake. Pursue is a useful verb that can describe chasing someone, following something, or working toward a goal, career, dream, or opportunity.
The easiest way to remember it is to focus on the beginning: pursue starts with “pur,” not “per.” if you want to write about following a goal or chasing an opportunity, use pursue.
