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