What's the Difference Between 'En Route' and 'In Route'?

In this blog post we look at when to use en route and when to use in route.

'En Route' or 'In Route'?

"En route" is a French phrase that means "on the way." It is used to describe something or someone that is traveling or moving towards a destination.

For example: "The ambulance is en route to the hospital." This phrase is commonly used in English and is considered standard usage.

"In route," on the other hand, is not a commonly used phrase. It is often used incorrectly in place of "en route."

It is not considered standard English, and it is best to avoid using it in formal or written communication.

There are a few reasons why "in route" is not a commonly used phrase. One reason is that "in" is a preposition that is used to describe location or position, while "route" is a noun that refers to a course or way of travel. When these two words are combined, the resulting phrase does not make sense in terms of its meaning.

In summary, "en route" is the correct phrase to use to describe someone or something that is on the way to a destination, while "in route" is not a commonly used phrase and should be avoided.

Here are some example sentences to illustrate the difference between "en route" and "in route":

  • "The ambulance is en route to the hospital." (Correct usage)

  • "The ambulance is in route to the hospital." (Incorrect usage)

  • "The delivery truck is en route to the warehouse." (Correct usage)

  • "The delivery truck is in route to the warehouse." (Incorrect usage)

  • "The airplane is en route to Paris." (Correct usage)

  • "The airplane is in route to Paris." (Incorrect usage)

  • "The train is en route to New York." (Correct usage)

  • "The train is in route to New York." (Incorrect usage)

Examples of En Route in a Sentence

Here are 10 sentences using the phrase "en route":

  1. "The cargo ship is en route to the port in Shanghai."

  2. "The delivery drone is en route to the customer's house."

  3. "The ambulance is en route to the hospital with the patient on board."

  4. "The train is en route to New York."

  5. "The president's motorcade is en route to the airport."

  6. "The tour bus is en route to the national park."

  7. "The delivery driver is en route to the customer's house."

  8. "The rescue team is en route to the stranded hikers."

  9. "The fire truck is en route to the burning building."

  10. "The school bus is en route to the field trip destination."


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En Route or In Route
En Route or In Route