Enclose vs. Inclose: Is There a Difference?
Enclose vs. Inclose
"Enclose" and "inclose" mean the same thing: to surround, shut in, or include something within a container or boundary. The difference is purely historical. "Enclose" is the standard modern spelling, while "inclose" is an older variant that has fallen out of common use.
"Enclose" Is the Modern Standard
Every major style guide and dictionary lists "enclose" as the primary spelling. This is the form you should use in all contemporary writing.
- Please enclose a copy of your ID with the application.
- A tall stone wall encloses the garden on three sides.
- The letter enclosed a check for the full amount.
- The enclosure at the zoo was recently expanded.
"Enclose" works in both physical and abstract contexts. You can enclose a yard with a fence or enclose a document in an envelope.
"Inclose" Is Archaic
"Inclose" was a common spelling variant from the 16th through 19th centuries. You'll encounter it in older legal documents, historical land records, and classic literature. The related noun "inclosure" also appears in these texts.
- The landlord agreed to inclose the common fields. (historical usage)
- The Inclosure Acts of the 18th and 19th centuries privatized common land in England.
Note that "Inclosure Acts" is still the official historical name for those British laws. In this specific case, the older spelling is preserved as a proper noun.
Why Two Spellings Exist
English borrowed both the "en-" and "in-" prefixes from Latin and French. Many words had parallel forms for centuries before one spelling became dominant:
- enclose / inclose
- ensure / insure
- endorse / indorse
- enquire / inquire
In most of these pairs, the "en-" form won out in general usage, while the "in-" form either disappeared or took on a specialized meaning (as with "ensure" vs. "insure").
Which One to Use
Use enclose in every situation unless you're quoting a historical source that uses "inclose." Modern readers will recognize "enclose" instantly, while "inclose" may cause momentary confusion or look like a typo.
- Writing an email? Use "enclosed."
- Describing a fenced area? Use "enclosed."
- Quoting a 19th-century land deed? Keep "inclosed" if that's what the original says.
Related Forms
All the related words follow the same pattern:
| Modern (use this) | Archaic | |---|---| | enclose | inclose | | enclosed | inclosed | | enclosing | inclosing | | enclosure | inclosure |
The Takeaway
"Enclose" and "inclose" are the same word with different historical spellings. Stick with "enclose" for all modern writing. The only time "inclose" belongs in your text is inside a direct quotation from an older source.
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