This was another curiosity on my part. I ran across ensue in a story and wondered how it differed from ensure in this word confusion.
They’re both verbs.
Ensue follows. It’s something that happens as a consequence of something.
Ensure is a promise or guarantee to someone of something. An assurance.
You may want to explore “Assure vs Ensure vs Insure“.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| Ensue | Ensure |
|---|---|
Russian Bombing of a School, Kramatorsk, 21 July 2022 by State Emergency Service of Ukraine under the CC BY 4.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. — The ensuing damage when bombs are slung about. |
Warning: Bear Frequenting Area by CGP Gray is under the CC BY 2.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. — The sign ensures that people have some warning. |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Verb, intransitive & transitive
Third person present verb: ensues |
Verb, intransitive & transitive
Third person present verb: ensures |
| Verb, intransitive: Happen or occur afterward or as a result To follow in order
To follow as a consequence
Verb, transitive: |
Verb, intransitive: [ensure against] Make sure a problem will not occur Verb, transitive:
Make sure of obtaining or providing something To make safe or secure
|
| Examples: | |
| Verb, intransitive: These were the difficulties that ensued from their commitment to Cuba. As the days ensued, he recovered his strength. When those two friends meet, a battle of wits ensues. A brief but violent scuffle ensued. Verb, transitive: A party ensued that night, and a tradition was born” (Heaton). “The ensuing street fighting has caused hundreds of civilian deaths” (McKernan). |
Verb, intransitive: Only by researching stocks thoroughly can a client ensure against being misled. You should ensure against that dog biting people. Verb, transitive: This letter will ensure you a hearing. Steps must be taken to ensure this never happens again. The plan is aimed at ensuring the future of freshwater fish species. |
| Derivatives: | |
| Adjective: ensuing Noun: ensuing |
Adjective: unensured Noun: ensurer, ensuring |
| History of the Word: | |
| Late Middle English (formerly also as insue), from the Old French ensivre, from the Latin insequi, which is based on sequi meaning follow. | Late Middle English , an alteration of ensure. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Resources for Ensue versus Ensure
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Apple Dictionary.com
Cambridge Dictionary: ensue
Dictionary.com: ensue
The Free Dictionary: ensue
Heaton, Michael. “Pride of Erin in Cleveland Counts on Tradition on St. Patrick’s Day.” Cleveland.com. 14 Mar 2011. Web. 30 Dec 2022. <https://www.cleveland.com/goingout/2011/03/pride_of_erin_in_cleveland_cou.html>.
McKernan, Bethan. “Hodeidah Residents Dare to Hope as First Day of Ceasefire Holds.” The Guardian. 18 Dec 2018. Web. 30 Dec 2022. <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/18/hodeidah-residents-dare-to-hope-as-first-day-of-ceasefire-holds?CMP=gu_com>. Article.
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Floral Tribute, London, by ChiralJon is under the CC BY 2.0 license, via Flickr.
