For the English experts...

berylblue 22 years ago

...no, not experts on the beloved Brits here...., just the languge.

Please help me out. Can't find a good usage site, and I would like to know the prefered usage for :

ASSURE

INSURE

ENSURE

Thanks.

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riz 22 years ago

Assure: 1 : to make safe (as from risks or against overthrow) : INSURE
2 : to give confidence to <and hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts -- 1 John 3:19 (Authorized Version)>
3 : to make sure or certain : CONVINCE <glancing back to assure himself no one was following>
4 : to inform positively <I assure you that we will do better next time>
5 : to make certain the coming or attainment of : GUARANTEE <worked hard to assure accuracy>

Insure: 1 : to provide or obtain insurance on or for
2 : to make certain especially by taking necessary measures and precautions
intransitive senses : to contract to give or take insurance
synonym see ENSURE

Ensure: : to make sure, certain, or safe : GUARANTEE
synonyms ENSURE, INSURE, ASSURE, SECURE mean to make a thing or person sure. ENSURE, INSURE, and ASSURE are interchangeable in many contexts where they indicate the making certain or inevitable of an outcome, but INSURE sometimes stresses the taking of necessary measures beforehand, and ASSURE distinctively implies the removal of doubt and suspense from a person's mind. SECURE implies action taken to guard against attack or loss.

Hope that helps, beryl

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drwtsn32 22 years ago

Basically never use "insure" unless you are talking about insurance. Use "assure" if you want to build confidence in something. Use "ensure" if you want to show absolute certainty.

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