Prefixes: "En" and
"In"
It's embarrassing: an education
website from a state department of education, produced in cooperation with the
state university, positioning itself as "the" authority on what's best for
children's educations from preschool through college, has a bonehead spelling
error right on its homepage:
"Invisioning the
Future" . . . instead of "Envisioning" it.
Take a look: http://p16.nebraska.edu -- though they may have corrected it by now.
Here's the rule on these two
confusing prefixes:
The prefix "en-" means "to cause
someone or something to be in" the place, condition or state to which the stem
word relates.
The prefix "in-" basically means
"inclusion within space," or "part of the whole." Think of "inborn," "include"
or "indoor."
Now, the prefer "in-" can also mean
a negative force or the absence of something, as in "inaccurate" or "indirect."
But it's easy to keep those "in-" words straight from "en-" words.
Going back to our example, when you
"envision" something, there's movement - you're taking the image of something
from outside of yourself, and moving it within. There's usually the sense of
"putting" something somewhere with the prefix "en-." Think of an "envelope" and
"enabling" someone.
You wouldn't "invision" anything,
because it's not already within you.
See? Can you . . . envision the
difference?
By Susan Darst Williams • www.GoBigEd.com • Grammar Granny
019 • © 2006