Assure vs Ensure
There is a very clear difference between assure and ensure when it comes to their usage and meaning; nevertheless, the two words, assure and ensure, are often confused due to the appearing similarity between their meanings as well as their spelling. The word assure is used as a verb, and it is used in the sense of ‘promise’ or ‘tell someone something positively to dispel any doubts’. On the other hand, the word ensure is also used as a verb, and it is used in the sense of ‘make sure’. This is the main difference between the two words.
What does Assure mean?
The word assure is used in the sense of promise. According to the Oxford English dictionary, assure is also used in the sense of tell someone something positively to dispel any doubts. Take a look at the following sentences.
He assured his friend that he would help in the matter.
Angela asks him whether she is assured of a place in the list.
Rebecca assured me that she knew a good baker.
In all the sentences, the word assure is used in the sense of ‘promise.’ Hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘he promised his friend that he would help in the matter’, and the meaning of the second sentence would be ‘Angela asks him whether she is promised of a place in the list’. The meaning of the third sentence would be ‘Rebecca promised me that she knew a good baker.’ You can see that here the word promise is used in the sense of telling something positively to dispel any doubts. That is what people do when they say promise.
It is interesting to note that the word assure has its noun form in the word ‘assurance’, and its adjectival form is the word ‘assured’ as in the expression ‘assured results’.
What does Ensure mean?
On the other hand, the word ensure is used in the sense of make sure. Bearing that in mind, observe the two sentences given below.
Ensure that you are given the ticket at the entrance.
Lucy wants to ensure that she will be received properly in her brother’s house.
In both the sentences, the word ensure is used in the sense of ‘make sure.’ Therefore, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘make sure that you are given the ticket at the entrance’, and the meaning of the second sentence would be ‘Lucy wants to make sure that she will be received properly in her brother’s house’.
What is the difference between Assure and Ensure?
• The word assure is used as a verb, and it is used in the sense of ‘promise’ or ‘tell someone something positively to dispel any doubts’.
• On the other hand, the word ensure is also used as a verb, and it is used in the sense of ‘make sure’.
• The noun of assure is assurance and the adjective of assure is assured.
These are the differences between the two words, namely, assure and ensure.