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

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

Why "she don't" doesn't work: a grammar breakdown

Why "she don't" doesn't work: a grammar breakdown

The error often occurs because "don't" is widely used as ... Learn more →

Why "back and fourth" is incorrect: common misstep in English

Why "back and fourth" is incorrect: common misstep in English

People often make this error because the word "fourth" is ... Learn more →

Seeing clearly: why "eye sight" is a spelling mistake

Seeing clearly: why "eye sight" is a spelling mistake

The error arises because "eyesight" is often thought of as ... Learn more →

A startling omission: why "suprise" needs its 'r'

A startling omission: why "suprise" needs its 'r'

People often make this error because the first "r" in ... Learn more →