Play GamesMy progressVocabulary testSettings
en English es español fr française it italiano de deutsche ja 日本語 pl polski cs česky sv svenska tr Türkçe nl Nederlands

Please, sign up or log in to not lose your learning progress!

Why "an envelop" doesn’t work: a grammar breakdown

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 25/02/2025, 19:29
English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

An envelop or an envelope. What's correct?

Spelling and grammatical error

Why do people make this mistake?

People often confuse "envelop" (a verb meaning to wrap or surround something) with "envelope" (a noun referring to a flat paper container for letters). This mistake can come from the similar pronunciation and the fact that the words are spelled nearly the same.

What is correct?

The correct form is "envelope" for the noun (a container for letters) and "envelop" for the verb (which means to surround or enclose).

Examples of correct usage

  • a letter in an envelope
  • Please envelop the package.
  • I need an envelope for the card.
  • The fog began to envelop the city.

Recommended posts in Grammar

Aim for precision: why "principle aim" misses the mark

Aim for precision: why "principle aim" misses the mark

People often make this error because the words "principle" and ... Learn more →

Why "all though" is not a thoughtful choice

Why "all though" is not a thoughtful choice

People often mistakenly break the conjunction "although" into two separate ... Learn more →

Why "the one of the" is a common grammar slip

Why "the one of the" is a common grammar slip

People may make this error due to confusion or a ... Learn more →

Debunking "comprised of": why it doesn't add up

Debunking "comprised of": why it doesn't add up

People often use "comprised of" mistakenly because it sounds similar ... Learn more →