# Ensure vs. Insure

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ensure-vs-insure/144602>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 23, 2002, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ensure-vs-insure/144602 "2002-12-23T21:32:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ensure-vs-insure/144602/1 "2002-12-23T21:32:29Z")

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Which of the following is correct, and how do I remember which to use in the future?

The parameter name was kept the same to **insure** backwards compatibility.

The parameter name was kept the same to **insure** backwards compatibility.

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ensure-vs-insure/144602/2 "2002-12-23T21:33:51Z")

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Doh! Of course, the second **insure** should be \*_ensure_.

:smack:

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**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ensure-vs-insure/144602/3 "2002-12-23T21:36:56Z")

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**Ensure**.

Ensure means to be certain of something. _Insure_ refers to guaranteeing monetary payment if certain conditions are met.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ensure-vs-insure/144602/4 "2002-12-23T21:38:12Z")

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Though the rule if often ignored these days, to _insure_ means to write a policy at an Insurance agency. Ensure means to make certain.

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**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ensure-vs-insure/144602/5 "2002-12-23T21:39:23Z")

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You **ensure** something will happen. You **insure** against it happening.

Zev Steinhardt

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ensure-vs-insure/144602/6 "2002-12-23T21:43:11Z")

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Groovy.

Thanks.