Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Ensure, insure or assure?

Ensure, insure or assure? Ensure: verb - tomake sure, safe, or certain; guaranteeInsure: verb - to obtainor provide insurance on or for; to make certain by taking necessary measuresand precautions; to contract to give or take insurance, ensureAssure: verb - tomake safe from risks or against overthrow; insure; to give confidence to; tomake sure or certain; convince; to inform positively; to make certain thecoming or attainment of; guarantee; ensureIt is probably pedantic to be too concerned about thesometimes subtle difference between these three words that are often interchangeable.As is so often the case, it comes down to context. It would be unusual to use 'assure'in a financial context (though the industry often does this). And 'ensure' isn'tused in the financial context at all. Probably, the best way to think of the general use of theseterms is to think of 'ensure' in terms of a guarantee, 'insure' in the sense of'indemnify', and 'assure' as a synonym of 'comfort' or 'convince'.So, we all 'ensure' the safety of our children, 'insure' ourhouses and cars against disasters and accidents, and 'assure' our friends andloved ones of our loyalty and love. Hope this helps.
Picture: Oxlands Dale, near Huggate, East Yorkshire.