Many words in English are based on the same root words, and knowing what these mean can help us with spelling.

The suffixes -cede and -ceed both come from a Latin word meaning 'to go' or 'to give way'.

To 'precede' means to come before.

I read chapter 3 but I didn't understand it because I hadn't read the preceding chapters.

To 'succeed' means 'to follow on from something or someone else'.

Queen Elizabeth II succeeded her father as monarch of the United Kingdom.

These days it is more often used with the meaning of 'to go well'.

The rescue mission succeeded.