TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
re: I think we've had enough of which to use--insure/ensure--how about a
new direction?
This "legal" direction is good stuff and will make me stop and think in the
future--I've been probably overusing ensure. In fact, I've been bummed that
there is no word "ensurance," and consequently worried by what I thought was
overuse of assure where I work where we're so into quality assurance. (Given
that common phrase, use of the phrase "ensure quality" must be by definition
inappropriate.) While of course we have to use assurance, I used to think
it less macho or something to promise (assure) rather than just say we'll
make it happen (ensure), but now I'm not so sure. Another source where
these distinctions are nicely described is http://www.webgrammar.com/grammar.html
Of course, then, there appears to be "surety," which must be the name for
the business of assuring or ensuring but likely not insuring. Regarding
this, see http://www.sandia.gov/Surety/SureDef.htm
