Is it okay to use ingrained vs engrained, or should it be the other way around? Actually, both spellings are correct; it’s not a spelling mistake! But, ingrained is a lot more common. You can learn more about these words and the current usage of the word by reading the rest of this article.
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What Is Ingrained?
Ingrained describes something as being firmly in place or hard to change or remove. It’s the past tense or adjective form of the verb ingrain. To ingrain is to make a deep impression upon or to instill a belief or habit in someone.
The root word is grain, but it goes back to an old meaning of kermes/cochineal. Ingrain appeared in Middle English and was referred to as dyeing with cochineal or fast colors. In late Middle English, it became ingrain.
Ingrained sounds the way it looks: in-grayn.
Examples:
- The Army ingrained in me the habit of rising early and keeping my area tidy.
- His stubbornness is so ingrained that there’s no point in arguing with him about that.
- Her ingrained beliefs made it hard for her to see other points of view.
- My ingrained distrust of authority has gotten me into trouble several times.
- The stains are ingrained into the fiber of the carpets!
- Don’t be an ingrained fool!
- Believing in superstition is ingrained in their culture.
- The yarn’s texture changed because of the ingrained dirt.
- After so many years, my ingrained habits are so hard to change.
Synonyms Of Ingrained
There are many synonyms for ingrained that you can use for variety or a particular effect. Following are just five of them.
- Entrenched
- Deep-seated
- Rooted
- Embedded
- Ineradicable
What Is Engrained?
Engrained means the same thing ingrained does, with a slightly different spelling and pronunciation. It’s just an older spelling that doesn’t get much usage today.
When and How to Use Ingrained?
Ingrained as an adjective works best when describing someone’s beliefs, habits, or character traits. It’s a way of saying they’re so firmly established that they’re virtually impossible to change. These ingrained beliefs, etc. can be the result of natural personality, life experiences, or the influence of others.
Sometimes ingrained has a negative connotation. For example, it can do so when talking about beliefs instilled through misinformation or manipulation. However, the word itself is neutral and carries a positive connotation. An example would be saying someone’s integrity and kindness are ingrained.
Ingrained vs Engrained: Which One Should You Use?
Since both spellings and pronunciations are technically correct, you can use either one of them. However, it’s preferable to use ingrained since it’s more common and widely understood in both American English and British English,
Trick to Remembering Which Spelling To Use
Here are two tips to help you remember ingrained is preferable when it comes to ingrained vs engrained:
- Since ingrained is the preferred and more common spelling, we can say it’s the “in” word to use.
- Ingrained beliefs and habits are deep inside you.
Final Thoughts
A lot of English words have misspelled versions that people commonly use, but that’s not a concern with ingrained vs engrained. That’s because both spellings are technically correct (and you can find both words in a dictionary, like Merriam-Webster), so you don’t have to worry about being wrong. However, ingrained is more common, so it’s better to use it over engrained.
