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Why "en mass" is a common phrase mishap

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 02/10/2024, 15:22

English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

En mass or en masse. What's correct?

Spelling/Usage Error

Why do people make this mistake?

The error occurs because "en mass" is a phonetic misspelling of the correct French phrase "en masse", which means "in a group" or "all together". English speakers unfamiliar with French spelling and pronunciation may drop the final "e" because it is silent, leading to the misspelling.

What is correct?

The correct phrase is "en masse", which is the French term used in English to indicate a collective action or gathering.

Examples of correct usage

The protesters marched en masse to the city hall.
The products were shipped en masse to the distribution center.
Fans left the stadium en masse after the game ended.

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