這兩個動詞的意思不同、字根亦有別，但拼字和發音卻頗為相近，在使用上必須留意以免錯把馮京當馬涼。
Persecute 意為「(因種族、宗教、政治理念、性別或性傾向) 迫害；煩擾，糾纏」，如 The cult persecutes those who do not conform to their religious belief. (那個邪教迫害那些不信奉其宗教信仰的人)；His latest novel is about the experience of being persecuted for being gay. (他最新的小說是以同性戀者受迫害的經歷為題材)；The actress has been persecuted by the tabloid newspapers ever since the news broke about her divorce. (自從她離婚的消息傳出後，這位女星一直被八卦小報緊咬不放)。
Persecute 的名詞為 persecution，而 persecutor 意為「迫害者」，如 The dissidents had to go abroad to escape political persecution. (異議人士不得不前往海外以逃避政治迫害)；The country’s underprivileged people rose up against their persecutors. (該國的弱勢群體揭竿起義，反抗迫害他們的人)。
Prosecute 意為「起訴；告發」，如 The official was prosecuted for corruption. (那位官員因貪污而被起訴)；Robbers will be prosecuted. (搶劫犯會被起訴)；The UN body was set up to prosecute serious crimes committed during the wars in the former Yugoslavia. [BBC News] (這個聯合國機構係成立來舉發在前南斯拉夫戰爭期間所犯的嚴重罪刑)。
Prosecute 的名詞為 prosecution，而 prosecutor 意為「檢察官，公訴人」，如 Soldiers guilty of neglect are liable to prosecution. (怠忽職守的軍人很可能會被起訴)；Only a small number of cases of sexual harassment have resulted in successful prosecution. (僅少數性騷擾案件最後成功地被起訴)；Her father is the special prosecutor for the government. (她父親是政府的特別檢察官)。