All Ears English Podcast — Episode Summary

Episode: Pesky Prefixes Part 1: Insecurity or Lack of Security?
Date: October 25, 2025
Hosts: Michelle Kaplan & Aubrey Carter

Overview

This episode kicks off a three-part series exploring confusing English prefixes, with a particular focus on the words "secure," "security," "insecure," and "insecurity." Michelle and Aubrey aim to help English learners avoid common mistakes, especially with the prefix "in-" and when it doesn't simply mean "not," sharing real-life examples of correct and incorrect use. The conversation centers on the dual meaning of "secure," nuances of nouns and adjectives in different contexts, and practical advice for learners aiming for clarity and connection in conversation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Prefix “in-”: A Source of Confusion

• The episode examines why adding "in-" as a prefix doesn't always create a simple opposite (e.g., "insecure" ≠ "not safe" in all contexts).
• Quote:

  "We don't say insecure or unsecure with this kind of definition, the safety one… Instead we say unsafe."
  — Michelle Kaplan (08:34)

2. "Secure" Has Two Main Meanings

• Confident: "I’m secure in my sense of style.” (05:36)
• Safe: “The children felt secure playing in the fenced backyard.” (08:02)
• Both uses are correct but don't always take the same prefix for their opposites.

3. How (and When) to Use "Insecure"

• "Insecure" usually means lacking in confidence, NOT lacking in safety.
• Memorable Moment: When a student said, “Many cities have insecurity,” meaning “lack of safety”—a common ESL error.

  "It would make sense for insecure to mean both not confident and not safe. But it doesn’t. English is too tricky."
  — Aubrey Carter (03:21)

4. Proper Use of "Unsafe"

• When describing physical danger/lack of safety, say "unsafe" (not "insecure").

  "It's unsafe to walk alone in that part of town at night."
  — Aubrey Carter (08:47)

5. From Noun Forms: "Security" vs. "Insecurity"

• Security: Refers to safety, systems, or structures (e.g. “The airport has tight security.”) (09:10)
• Insecurity: Usually internal, psychological (e.g. “I have a lot of insecurity about my singing voice.”) (11:00)
• But "insecurity" can refer to broader social concepts, like job insecurity or food insecurity, not typically to physical locations.

6. Collocations & Real-Life Usage

• “Sense of security” is a common expression, often about feelings of safety or comfort.

  "Having a buddy while jogging gives me a sense of security."
  — Aubrey Carter (09:31)

• “Security guard,” “security cameras,” and “security personnel”: Collocations for safety.

7. Avoid Direct Translations in All Contexts

• You can’t always transfer prefix patterns. For places, say "the building has a lack of security," never "the building has insecurity."

  “You wouldn’t say created insecurity.”
  — Michelle Kaplan (10:37)

8. When “Security” Doesn’t Work for Confidence

• Don’t use “security” to mean personal confidence (“I feel security about my singing voice” is wrong). Use “confidence” instead.

  “We don’t say security as the opposite of that (insecurity about skills)…I would say I feel confident.”
  — Aubrey Carter (11:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Being Insecure as Teenagers

  “I’m always impressed and kind of shocked when like a teenager isn’t (insecure). When they seem extremely confident and sure of themselves. That was not me.”
  — Aubrey Carter (02:15)

• The Everyday Struggle

  “We just have to embrace the frizz, you guys.”
  — Aubrey Carter (07:14)

• On Common Prefix Mistakes

  “Just yesterday at volleyball, I heard someone say ‘undefensible’ when they meant ‘indefensible’. There are so many of these little prefix mistakes.”
  — Aubrey Carter (17:37)

Role Play Segment: Bringing It All Together

[Starts at 14:07]

Michelle and Aubrey act out a conversation before a party, demonstrating the right usage of all relevant terms:

• “I'm feeling a bit of insecurity about tonight. What if I don’t know anyone?” (Aubrey, 14:17)
• “Don’t worry, you'll be fine. I…feel secure in my ability to introduce people…” (Michelle, 14:23)
• “Hopefully it's more secure than the place we went to downtown.” (Aubrey, 14:32)
• “The venue has good security…” (Michelle, 14:39)
• “That definitely gives me a sense of security.” (Aubrey, 14:45)

Insights:

• "Insecure/insecurity" = about feelings/self-confidence
• "Secure/security" = about safety/external circumstances
• “Security” used for people/places/systems, not for self-confidence

Segment Timestamps

• [02:10] – Discussion: Insecurity as a personal feeling
• [03:21] – Why “insecure” isn’t used to describe places
• [05:36] – Dual meaning of “secure”
• [08:34] – “Unsafe” vs. “insecure”
• [09:10] – “Security” and “insecurity” as nouns
• [14:07] – Role play example
• [17:37] – Other common prefix mix-ups and encouragement for the upcoming series

Takeaways & Advice

• Always be skeptical of English prefixes: they don’t always follow logical patterns.
• Use “insecure” for self-confidence, “unsafe” for physical safety, and “security/security guard/security cameras” for protection measures.
• Avoid translating directly from another language or assuming prefix rules always apply.
• Even native speakers make Prefix Mix-Ups! Exposure and practice are key.

Memorable closing tip:

“This is not something that a textbook is just going to start outlining for you. That’s why we’re here to really point it out…”
— Michelle Kaplan (17:04)

Next Episodes:
This is PART 1 of the “Pesky Prefixes” series — subscribe to catch parts 2 and 3 for more!
[Don’t miss out: hit follow to learn about ‘indefensible’ and more tricky prefixes!]