# US English: Insure vs Ensure **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 14, 2002, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753 "2002-11-14T18:18:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2002, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/1 "2002-11-14T18:18:47Z")
I’m writing a document aimed at the US market, and am unsure whether I should use “insure” or “ensure” to mean “guarantee”. In UK and Irish English, we use “ensure” (and we use “insure” only when it comes to monetary guarantee). Webster’s tells me it’s interchangeable, but most US-based documentation I’ve read uses “insure” for this purpose. Any US dopers care to enlighten me? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2002, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/2 "2002-11-14T18:32:17Z")
Those who care about strict usage follow the UK practice you’ve described. While they are interchangeable in the U.S., it’s useful to make a distinction between the two words. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2002, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/3 "2002-11-14T18:34:27Z")
I use “insure” only when speaking of monetary guarantees as well, and I believe that’s the proper usage: “The pipeline will ensure a steady supply of oil for years to come.” “The company will insure the pipeline against losses causes by breaks.” “The company will assure the public of the continued safety of the pipeline.” ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2002, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/4 "2002-11-14T18:36:01Z")
I would also add that in my profession (insurance and law), the two are **not** interchangeable, ever, because “insure” has a specific meaning in that context (“to purchase an insurance policy for”). ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/5 "2002-11-14T18:38:58Z")
That’s 100% of this very small sample, so I’ll go with the “more precise” version. Thanks for your help. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/6 "2002-11-15T01:55:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nametag \* > \*\*Those who care about strict usage follow the UK practice you’ve described. While they are interchangeable in the U.S., it’s useful to make a distinction between the two words. \*\* I would definitely not say that they are interchangeable in the U.S. To _insure_ means only to indemnify someone against loss, i.e., to promise payment in the event of a loss, in consideration of premium. To _ensure_ is to guarantee that something gets done or that something happens, whether the guarantor does it himself or gets someone else to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/7 "2002-11-15T12:39:06Z")
Roughly speaking: “Ensure” - to make certain something happens. “Insure” - to protect against something **bad** happening. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/8 "2002-11-15T14:27:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by javaman \* > \*\*I would definitely not say that they are interchangeable in the U.S. To _insure_ means only to indemnify someone against loss, i.e., to promise payment in the event of a loss, in consideration of premium. To _ensure_ is to guarantee that something gets done or that something happens, whether the guarantor does it himself or gets someone else to do it. \*\* Yeah but… almost all the publications I read that emanate from that great country use the “insure” spelling. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/9 "2002-11-15T14:29:22Z")
ensure. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/10 "2002-11-17T00:51:54Z")
Ditto – ensure. I think Webster’s calls them interchangeable because we yanks screwed up the language. Language is defined by its usage, after all. I detest seeing “insure” in lieu of “ensure” because there _is_ a difference, but not everyone knows that and we conform ourselves with what is used, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/11 "2002-11-17T02:13:29Z")
AP style insists on the “insure refers only to insurance” definition, not interchangeability. ---
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/12 "2002-11-17T03:29:35Z")
Editor checking in. Insure refers only to insurance here in the U.S. Or should, anyway. Assure/insure/ensure usage was a pet peeve of an old boss. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/13 "2002-11-17T11:13:42Z")
Thanks, everyone. It’s nice to get this cleared up, anyway, because though I can (just about) write in the American style, that particular word usage sets my teeth on edge. And it will no longer. ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/14 "2002-11-17T11:18:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balthisar \* > **Language is defined by its usage, after all.** Don’t get me started on using _myriad_ as a noun. I recently looked it up on [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) and discovered that it now _is_ a noun as well as an adjective. I have no idea how long this has been the case. The last time I looked up _myriad_ was circa 1983… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/15 "2002-11-17T11:23:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lazlo \* > **Don’t get me started on using _myriad_ as a noun.** I might just have to action that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/16 "2002-11-17T11:50:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lazlo \* > \*\*Don’t get me started on using _myriad_ as a noun. I recently looked it up on [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) and discovered that it now _is_ a noun as well as an adjective. > > I have no idea how long this has been the case. The last time I looked up _myriad_ was circa 1983… \*\* I can sympathize. The Usage Panel now allows “aren’t I?” We’re going to hell in a handbasket, isn’t we? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/17 "2002-11-17T12:03:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*I can sympathize. The Usage Panel now allows “aren’t I?” We’re going to hell in a handbasket, isn’t we? \*\* What would you use instead? “Ain’t I?” or “Am I not?” (in Ireland, some people say “Am’nt I”, which is more logically correct, though it sounds weird to me)? ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/18 "2002-11-17T13:36:15Z")
I’m not sure whether it is comforting or not to see all these replies saying that “insure” is a monetary guarantee in the US, because I never hear people say “ensure”. I’m a Brit who has lived in the US for six years and I doubt I’ve ever heard an American say “ensure”. Mind you, here in Georgia it’s probably hard to tell which word they are saying: the “en” (or “in”) would be two syllables on its own. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/19 "2002-11-18T18:23:28Z")
I may regret asking, but how do you use “myriad” as a noun? The Great Myriads of Giza? What? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753/20 "2002-11-18T18:39:53Z")
Instead of saying “myriad widgets” it would be “a myriad of widgets.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-english-insure-vs-ensure/136753.md?page=2)