Ambivalent and Indifferent

There is a lovely scene in Girl, Interrupted (one of my favorite movies) where Susanna tells her therapist that she is "ambivalent" about something. The therapist says that's interesting, because it's clear that Susanna means that she is indifferent, so the therapist corrects her (eliciting what appears to be an actually indifferent response).

Ambivalent means being pulled strongly in two different directions by an issue.

Indifferent means having no strong opinion about the issue one way or the other.

 

I'm ambivalent to the sheep invasion I'm witnessing (it is simultaneously adorable and terrifying) but I am indifferent to the reasons for it; I just don't care why it's happening.

Insure and Ensure

I overpronounce these when saying them, as if to say, "I know which one I'm using. Really, I do."

To insure something is to guarantee that no loss or harm will come to it, usually by way of purchasing an insurance policy.

To ensure something is to make something certain or sure; to guarantee it.

As you can see, they're very similar. Really, to insure something is to ensure that it will be safe (or you will be provided with appropriate compensation in the unfortunate event that it meets some terrible end).

Ensure that you turn off the stove when you're finished cooking; our home isn't insured against fire damage.