in an envelope

USAGE SUMMARY

"in an envelope" is a perfectly correct phrase that can be used in written English.
For example: "She tucked the love letter in an envelope and taped it shut."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cash in an envelope.

The New York Times

"In an envelope," Mr. Halloran suggested.

The New York Times

It was viewed before being sealed in an envelope.

The Washington Post

It was in an envelope with some papers in Yiddish".

The New Yorker

It was in an envelope marked "To: #44, From: #43".

The Guardian

Put the application forms and the entries in an envelope.

The Guardian

"Five hundred puppets in an envelope," she said.

The New Yorker

Put the application forms and the prints in an envelope.

The Guardian

"In an envelope of frozen formality," Leonard Woolf remembered him.

The New Yorker

Well, panties — sexy, lacy — fit in an envelope.

The New Yorker

Put the instructions for the activity in an envelope.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical items, using "in an envelope" is precise for indicating containment and delivery methods. For example, "The documents were sent "in an envelope" for confidentiality."

Common error

Avoid using prepositions like "on" or "at" instead of "in" when referring to the contents of an envelope. "The photo was "in an envelope", not on or at it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in an envelope" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate the location or manner of containment. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it describes how something is physically placed inside an envelope.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the prepositional phrase "in an envelope" is a very common and grammatically correct way to describe something being contained within an envelope. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, from News & Media to Academia, and serves the purpose of specifying the method of packaging or delivery. When writing, be mindful of selecting the correct preposition and consider more formal alternatives like "enclosed in an envelope" for business correspondence. Utilizing this guidance will enhance the clarity and precision of your writing, ensuring your message is both effectively conveyed and well-received.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

within an envelope

Replaces "in" with "within", emphasizing containment inside the envelope.

inside an envelope

Substitutes "in" with "inside", directly indicating the contents' location.

contained in an envelope

Uses a passive construction to highlight the act of being contained.

enclosed in an envelope

Replaces "in" with "enclosed", emphasizing the act of securing something within.

packaged in an envelope

Focuses on the packaging aspect of placing something inside an envelope.

sealed in an envelope

Highlights the act of sealing the envelope for security or privacy.

placed in an envelope

Emphasizes the action of putting something inside an envelope.

submitted in an envelope

Focuses on the act of submitting something that is contained inside an envelope.

mailed in an envelope

Highlights the action of sending something by mail inside an envelope.

delivered in an envelope

Emphasizes the delivery method of something contained in an envelope.

FAQs

How can I use "in an envelope" in a sentence?

You can use "in an envelope" to describe how something is contained or delivered. For instance, "I sent the contract "in an envelope" to ensure its privacy".

What are some alternatives to saying "in an envelope"?

Alternatives include "within an envelope", "inside an envelope", or "contained in an envelope", each providing a slightly different emphasis.

Is it more formal to say "enclosed in an envelope" or "in an envelope"?

"Enclosed in an envelope" is slightly more formal than simply "in an envelope". The former is often used in business or official correspondence to indicate that something is included with the letter or document.

When should I use "sealed in an envelope" instead of "in an envelope"?

Use "sealed in an envelope" when you want to emphasize that the envelope has been closed securely and hasn't been opened. This is especially relevant when privacy or security is a concern. Otherwise, "in an envelope" is generally sufficient.