While ensure and insure are often used interchangeably, the current trend is that insure is used in regard to finances and ensure is used in a more abstract sense. Assure should be used only when referring to people.

Let’s take a look at some examples:

The doctor assured us that the test results were accurate.

I was assured that the students on the bus would arrive home safely.

My parents wanted to ensure that I would be studying without interruption.

The dog’s owners ensured that it never left the front yard.

I insured my vehicle for $15,000.

We were grateful that our house was insured for damage caused by the storm.

Along with our website, we recommend the following site: The University of Minnesota’s Style Manual at http://www1.umn.edu/urelate/style/language-usage.html. This style manual features a section on misused words and expressions with clarification on over 60 words that are frequently misused in the English language.

Test your ability to use assure, ensure and insure by choosing the correct term in the parenthesis below.

1. My parents (assured, insured) me that the divorce was not my fault.

2. I wanted to (ensure, insure) that Joey could nap without interruption.

3. The home was (ensured, insured) for $150,000.

Answers

1. My parents assured me that the divorce was not my fault.

2. I wanted to ensure that Joey could nap without interruption.

3. The home was insured for $150,000.

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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