When should you use 'insure' vs. 'ensure'? | | The words "ensure" and "insure" are easy to mix up. They're just one letter apart, sound alike, and have similar meanings. Here's how to tell them apart. | |  | Bennett Kleinman |
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| |  | | "E nsure" and "insure" have different spellings and meanings, but that wasn't always the case. For years, the terms were no more than spelling variations with the same meaning, and they only developed distinct definitions in the mid-19th century. However, it's still easy to mix up the words, given their similar spellings and pronunciations, so here's what you should know about how they differ.
"Ensure" came about in the late 14th century, derived from the Anglo-French enseurer, meaning "make sure." By the middle of the 15th century, "insure" developed as an alternate spelling. It wasn't until the mid-1800s that some writers suggested giving the terms distinguishable meanings. An entry in an 1871 writing guide suggested "that each of these words … shall become a distinct word, instead of being as now a various spelling." Thus, unique definitions for each word developed. |
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Emoji Decoded | |  | | Flute | | | Meaning: Depicts a simple flute, a woodwind instrument with a high-pitched tone.
Evolution: The Flute emoji 🪈 usually references the instrument, but it can also refer to melodic music or whistling.
Usage: [Text to a friend:] See you at band practice! 🪈 |
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| | Flute | | | Meaning: Depicts a simple flute, a woodwind instrument with a high-pitched tone.
Evolution: The Flute emoji 🪈 usually references the instrument, but it can also refer to melodic music or whistling.
Usage: [Text to a friend:] See you at band practice! 🪈 |
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Have you read? | |  | | Outer Space Is Closer Than Antarctica | | | | Artist Michelle Ott wanted to be an astronaut. Instead, she spent four summers at the McMurdo research station in Antarctica. This beautifully illustrated memoir blends art and science as Ott shares her candid stories. She sprinkles in scientific diagrams, explaining phenomena such as glaciovolcanism and katabatic winds, alongside the windswept love story of meeting her partner in Antarctica. | | | | Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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| | Outer Space Is Closer Than Antarctica | | | | Artist Michelle Ott wanted to be an astronaut. Instead, she spent four summers at the McMurdo research station in Antarctica. This beautifully illustrated memoir blends art and science as Ott shares her candid stories. She sprinkles in scientific diagrams, explaining phenomena such as glaciovolcanism and katabatic winds, alongside the windswept love story of meeting her partner in Antarctica. | | | | Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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You might also like | |  | | | | Why Do We Capitalize 'I' But Not 'Me'? | | The word "I" is the only English pronoun that gets the VIP capitalization treatment. This typographic quirk traces back to medieval manuscripts, leading to a unique rule of capitalization in English. |
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