Peruse & Pursue

Combined usage for the words: To pursue a career in library management allows you the chance to peruse through books.
When you peruse through something, you examine is closely. The word comes from the Latin root ‘per-’, meaning through, across, over; beyond, by means of. Common words/phrases based on the same root are:
1. per: by means of; through (a number of words combine with per to form a complete word)
2. persuade: to determine a course of action as the result of reasoning or pleading
3. per annum: by the year
4. per capita: A reference to each person (by the head)

Pursue, on the other hand, means to chase someone or something. In a way, we all are pursuing something in life, we are constantly chasing something, that is what is life all about.

Tool tip to remember the difference:

Just Remember: When you peruse (examine) something in detail, you are generally pursuing something (trying to achieve something/gain something).

Examples of incorrect uses of Peruse and Pursue:

1. You can pursue the organization’s website to gather more information.
2. He was still confused as to peruse which profession.

Examples of correct uses of Peruse and Pursue:

1. They wanted us to take some time and peruse the various related areas.
2. He failed to realize that this was the perfect way to pursue the goals.

A Quick Recap:

Peruse has the following meanings:-
1. To study or to consider with close attention to details: “The file has been sent to the officer to peruse the case.”
2. To look at or to read something in an informal, casual, leisurely, or relaxed way: “I have bought a detective novel to peruse it while travelling.”

Pursue, on the other hand, has the following meanings:-
1. To find ways to achieve or to accomplish something: “She may pursue career in medicine as she is very brilliant in science subjects.”
2. To proceed or to follow: ” In the dark, we could not decide which road we should pursue to reach the station.”
3. To haunt or to afflict: ” The trauma of the accident continues to pursue me in my vacant time.”
4. To be involved in: “In my spare time, I pursue my hobby of painting.”
5. To chase or to follow something in order to overtake, capture, or to kill it: “The police succeeded in hits effort to pursue the conflict in Delhi.”