Assure vs. Ensure vs. Insure
The three words, assure, ensure, and insure, are often confused so here are the definitions along with some examples to help clarify the distinctions for you.
Assure: to promise or say with confidence
Example: Let me assure you that I will be at the meeting at noon.
Ensure: to make sure something will/won’t happen
Example: To ensure my family’s safety, I have installed an alarm system.
Insure: to issue an insurance policy
Example: I will insure my home with additional fire and flood policies.
**Donation of Blue Books to New Orleans Public Schools
I have donated 150 copies of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation to James Weldon Johnson Elementary School. Assistant Principal Kim Nance was very grateful and wanted everyone to know that the New Orleans schools need more textbooks as well as mental health professionals to work with the kids and families there. You may contact Kim directly at 5-40-861-7718 if you can be of service.
To read more about my work with Katrina survivors, visit my latest blog at StopEnduring.com.
** I am offering my subscription area quizzes free to One Laptop Per Child, a nonprofit organization that makes and donates laptops to children in developing countries worldwide. This will provide hundreds of thousands of children the English skills they so desperately want and need. I encourage you to check out OPLC at Laptop.org to learn how you can participate in their buy one/give one program.
Remember, you already have the opportunity to buy a subscription and give one FREE to your favorite teacher/school.
________________________________________
Jane’s video explaining Subject and Verb Agreement
I’ll be making more videos soon so keep checking Grammarbook.com.
________________________________________
Valuable Link
Click here to read excerpts from Jane’s other wonderful book, Enough Is Enough! Stop Enduring and Start Living Your Extraordinary Life and listen to her podcasts. Learn more about Jane’s personal coaching work, speaking engagements, and articles that will inspire you to thrive. 10 Keys to an Extraordinary Life on Yahoo! Video or by joining mypathtv.com where you will also find Jane’s weekly advice column, “Ask Jane.”
Look for more Hot Tips next week.
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
This is a godsend. Bad grammar really stands out to me and anyone who helps abolish it is great in my eyes
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Thanks for the support, Art.
September 21st, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Someone needs to forward these definitions to the NRA. Their brochure says, “Insure Your Gun Rights - Join NRA.” The website listed at the bottom of the brochure even lists a website called “www.InsureYourGunRights.com.” OOPS!
September 21st, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Good point!
September 25th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility…”
I’ve been wondering if the Founders should have written “ensure” there. Of course, it could well be that the distinction between “insure” and “ensure” has changed since the late 18th century.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
You’re correct. Today we would use “ensure” in this case. I imagine that you are also correct that the distinction between “insure” and “ensure” came later. Thanks for writing.