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That M-W entry literally says they're different words with different meanings: > They are in fact different words, but with sufficient overlap in meaning and f
by pch00 5mo ago
That M-W entry literally says they're different words with different meanings:
> They are in fact different words, but with sufficient overlap in meaning and form as to create uncertainty as to which should be used when.
> We define ensure as “to make sure, certain, or safe” and one sense of insure, “to make certain especially by taking necessary measures and precautions,” is quite similar. But insure has the additional meaning “to provide or obtain insurance on or for,” which is not shared by ensure.
- mplanchard 5mo agoDefinition 2: "to make certain especially by taking necessary measures and precautions" From the article: > He sent the final memos to the other board members as disappearing messages, to insure that no one else would ever see them. > Others were uncomfortable sharing concerns about Altman because they felt there was not a sufficient effort to insure anonymity. > [...] to insure that the technology was deployed safely All of these work just fine with that definition of "insure." Your comment that it's "incorrect use of English" is wrong. The bit you quoted says there’s substantial overlap between the two. The New Yorker style is to prefer “insure” in cases where either could work.
- pch00 5mo agoI'm unconvinced but I'll ensure I do my homework before grammar-policing again :)
- mplanchard 5mo agoTo be fair, I use “ensure” myself, but it’s just one of several quirky elements of the New Yorker’s style, along with the diaeresis on repeated vowels with different sounds (like in reëmerge or coöperate), several uncommon spellings, and unusual conjoinings like “teen-ager” and “per cent.” It’s part of the charm, I suppose