envelop and envelope - the difference

  Biscuit Trail: Home  Easily Confused Words  Envelop and Envelope

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ENVELOP / ENVELOPE

 
To envelop means 'to surround' or 'to enclose'.
This is an envelope:
 

The verb 'envelop' (without an e on the end) means 'to surround' or 'to enclose'.  It is sometimes confused with the noun 'envelope', which most commonly refers to 'a flat rectangular paper container for a letter'.

Envelop

The verb 'envelop' can mean 'to surround', 'to enclose', 'to cover up', 'to conceal' or - in military circles - 'to conduct a flanking manoeuvre'. The verb used to be spelt with an e on the end, and this likely contributes to people confusing it with 'envelope'. In the past tense, the e reappears (e.g., The German division enveloped the town.)

Examples:


"the bridge was enveloped by fog"

Every year, an eerie mist envelops the hotel on the anniversary of his gruesome murder.

Envelope

An 'envelope' denotes a flat package (usually made of paper) that is designed to hold papers (e.g., letters, cards).  'Envelope' is also used to describe the limits of a system's operating capability (e.g., An altitude of 10,000 feet is the top of the aircraft's envelope.)

Examples:


a selection of envelopes

In June's test flights, the speed and altitude envelope was progressively expanded from the previously flown 170 knots and 12,000 feet.

Select the correct version:



 
CHILDREN'S JOKE TO HELP REMIND YOU

Q: What word starts with 'e', ends in 'e', but only has one letter in it?
A: Envelope.
Associated lessons:
 
What are nouns?
What are verbs? List of easily confused words
 
 

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