assure

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "assure" is correct and can be used in both written and spoken English.
It is used for when you want to tell somebody that something is certain to happen. For example, "I assure you that I will be there on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Let us assure you that the Government will do all we can to defeat the voices of division, but ultimately the challenges of integration and radicalisation cannot be solved from Whitehall alone.

The Guardian

"Let me assure you that my government is committed to working closely with you and your government during your tenure and most importantly, in pursuit of our bilateral relations.

The Guardian

"Let me assure you the situation is under control.

The Economist

And, I assure you, these reports did not surface on April Fools' Day.

The Guardian - Business

I can assure you that twerking does what it says on the label: there is a lot of squatting, popping, and jiggling.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many of the IG's recommendations to assure such actions do not occur in the future have already been acted upon," he said in the statement.

The Guardian

Asked to describe the position of Charlie Hebdo in France today, as well as its heritage in French satire, Biard joked: "I must assure you that we don't eat children, and we don't eat believers either".

The Guardian

First, the GIB must be allowed to borrow from the capital markets the only way to make it a bank rather than a token fund, and to assure investors it's the real deal.

The Guardian

Mr. Cantor took to the House floor last week to assure Democratic leaders that he cares "very deeply about women in the abuse situation, that we need to get them the relief that this bill offers," and that he is even enlisting Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in the talks.

The New York Times

The involvement of the regional Sunni powerhouses is designed to counter that narrative and assure Sunnis of alternative means of support, despite the near collapse of governance across the Levant states of Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

The Guardian

Jonathan said on Tuesday night: "I thank all Nigerians once again for the great opportunity I was given to lead this country and assure you that I will continue to do my best at the helm of national affairs until the end of my tenure.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone: "assure" can sound formal, so choose it when appropriate for your audience and context.

Common error

Avoid using "assure" when you only intend to express hope or desire. "Assure" implies a guarantee or high level of certainty, not just wishful thinking.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "assure" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object (the person being assured) and often a clause or phrase explaining what they are being assured of. As Ludwig AI explains, it conveys a sense of certainty or promise.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "assure" is a versatile tool for conveying certainty and instilling confidence. Ludwig AI confirms that "assure" is grammatically correct and frequently used in both spoken and written English. As demonstrated by Ludwig's numerous examples, the word most commonly appears in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When using "assure", ensure you are clearly communicating what you are guaranteeing or reassuring to avoid ambiguity. While synonyms like "guarantee" and "promise" offer alternatives, it’s important to select the word that best fits the specific nuance you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

guarantee

Replaces "assure" with a direct promise or certainty.

promise

Substitutes "assure" with a straightforward declaration of intent.

reassure

Similar to "assure", but specifically aims to restore confidence.

give confidence to

Replaces the single word with a phrase indicating the act of instilling trust.

ensure

Focuses on making certain something happens, similar to guaranteeing.

affirm

Uses a more formal tone to declare something to be true.

attest to

Indicates providing evidence or confirmation of something.

certify

Formally confirms the accuracy or validity of something.

vouch for

Implies personal guarantee or support for something.

warrant

Offers a formal guarantee or assurance, often in legal contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "assure" in a sentence?

You can use "assure" to convey a sense of certainty or to promise something. For example, "I "assure" you that the project will be completed on time."

What's the difference between "assure", "ensure", and "insure"?

"Assure" is to promise or convince someone, "ensure" is to make certain something will happen, and "insure" is to protect against financial loss.

What can I say instead of "I "assure" you"?

You can use alternatives like "I "guarantee" you", "I "promise" you", or "I "reassure" you" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "assure to"?

While you can "assure" someone of something, it's generally more common and natural to "assure" someone that something is the case. For example, "I "assure" you that we're doing everything we can."