If you are a movie lover, you probably have encountered the words sequel and prequel at one point. However, to what extent do you know these words? Our sequel vs prequel article comes in handy to educate you about these words.
A sequel is “something that follows another, like a succeeding part or continuation.” This word also means “a narrative written after another or set in the same universe chronologically after its predecessor.” In contrast, a prequel is a series of works set chronologically before its predecessor.
You are right! Sequel and prequel are words you often hear in the movie or entertainment sector, but unfortunately, some people use these words without understanding their meanings. Read on to gain detailed insights into these words so you can use them correctly.
Definitions Of Sequel And Prequel
You can tell that the words sequel and prequel are related just from how they look. However, just because words have almost the same spelling doesn’t mean that their definitions are also related. Many English words look and sound the same but have different definitions.
It would help if you did not conclude that words are related without considering their definitions. For this reason, we begin this article by discussing the meanings of sequel and prequel.
Definitions Of Sequel
A sequel is a narrative written after another, set in the same universe, and chronologically set after its predecessor.” Therefore, a sequel is any narrative that has a preceding narrative of its own.
What we mean by that is “anything that follows another, a succeeding part, or a continuation of something.” For example, talk of an adventure or movie sequel.
Another source defines a sequel as “a consequence, event, effect, or result.” A more straightforward definition is “An occurrence that follows another occurrence.” Like a sequel product release or movie.
A sequel also means “a part added to a book, a play, or a movie that continues and extends it.” That is, “something that takes place after or as a result of an earlier event.”
In media, sequel means “a published, broadcasted, or recorded work that continues a story or develops the theme of an earlier one.”
An extensive definition of a sequel is “a literary, film, theater, music, video game, or television work that expounds the narration of another or expands on previous happenings.” A sequel showcases actions set in the similar imaginary situation as an earlier work and usually follows a chronological nature of events. It continues the elements or plot of an original story with the same characters and settings.
Definitions Of Prequel
A prequel is “a cinematic, dramatic, or literary work whose story comes first before another work.” Here, the focus is on happenings that take place prior to the original narrative. A prequel usually tells a backstory to a preceding work.
However, a prequel is not usually resealed before its preceding work, even if it tells a back story. Instead, a prequel only explains a narrative that takes place before that of a preexisting work in the same series.
Another source defines a prequel as “a story, film, or movie containing events that come before or precede other existing works.”
In narratology, a prequel is “a series of works set chronologically before its predecessor or any narrative work with at least one sequel.”
How To Properly Use Sequel And Prequel In A Sentence
The difference between a sequel and a prequel is that the former expounds or builds more on a preceding narrative’s storyline, while the latter refers to a narrative that gives the background of a preceding work’s narrative.
Many people use these words, especially when referring to movies or films. However, most users do not use them correctly. This section will offer some tips for using these words in sentences correctly:
How To Use The Word Sequel
This word is a noun. Apply it in your sentences to refer to:
- A recorded work that continues a storyline or develops the theme of an earlier one
- Something that occurs as a result of an earlier event
- A section of subsidiary matter at the end of a document, like a book
- An account of events told for entertainment (real or imagined)
- A set of related television or radio programs or films
- Something that comes after another thing
Sequel is a countable noun. That means the word also takes the plural form in sentences. The plural form of sequel is “sequels.”
How To Use The Word Prequel
Prequel is also a noun. Therefore, you can use it in sentences to refer to:
- A story containing events that precede those of an existing work
- A narrative that gives the background for the preceding work
Like sequel, prequel is a countable noun. So, you can use its plural form (prequels) in sentences. However, this word does not have a past or present tense as it is not a verb.
Sequel Vs Prequel: Three More Facts On These Words Usage
Prequel and sequel are simple words with straightforward definitions. One of the best things about these words is their related meanings. Therefore, you need not worry about cramming different meanings. Other than their definitions, below are some other facts you should know about these words and their usage:
Prequel And Sequel Are Antonyms
One of the leading facts you should know about these words is that they are antonyms. Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. A sequel is a narrative chronologically set after its predecessor, while a prequel is chronologically set before its predecessor.
So, according to their definitions, prequel and sequel have opposite meanings. This is a good thing because you can easily deduce the definition of either word from the other.
Synonyms Of Prequel And Sequel
It’s natural to get excited about using these words, especially after learning about them for the first time. However, using a word too many times can make your writing monotonous and distract from its quality.
Therefore, learning synonyms and antonyms of words come in handy. The synonyms for prequel are prelude, prolog, or spin-off. On the other hand, the synonyms for sequel are progression, continuation, epilog, addendum, or consecution.
The Antonyms Of Prequel And Sequel
The antonyms for prequel are sequel, consequence, outcome, effect, or aftermath. On the other hand, the antonyms for sequel are antecedent, causation, commencement, prelude, or prequel.
List Of Examples Of Sequel And Prequel Use In Sentences
Prequel and sequel are simple words with straightforward definitions. So, you don’t need a lot of basic understanding to use them in sentences. A few sentence examples should get you right off the bat. Here are examples of sentences with sequel and prequel usage:
Example sentences of the word sequel
- The sequel of the events that took place last night is not certain.
- Marvel just released the sequel of their highly acclaimed movie.
- That sequel was more startling than we expected.
- The author published a sequel to his best-selling novel last month.
- The new Marvel movie is a sequel to the company’s 2000 film with the same title.
Example sentences of the word prequel
- The prequel series explained the source of the tension between the two main characters.
- The publishing house released a prequel to The Game of Thrones in 1995.
- Star Wars has endured years of spawning sequels and a prequel.
- The prequel was not as exciting as advertised.
- The writers will use the latest movie to write a prequel to the story.
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Conclusion
The link between the words prequel and sequel goes beyond their spellings. These words have opposite definitions, making them antonyms. Feel free to construct sentences using these words but ensure the context fits.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.