diff --git a/src/fileFormats/ensight/file/ensightWriterCaching.C b/src/fileFormats/ensight/file/ensightWriterCaching.C
index 4d6ed044bc..7674415e81 100644
--- a/src/fileFormats/ensight/file/ensightWriterCaching.C
+++ b/src/fileFormats/ensight/file/ensightWriterCaching.C
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     \\  /    A nd           | www.openfoam.com
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Copyright (C) 2016-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2016-2024 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ bool Foam::ensightOutput::writerCaching::update
     const scalar timeValue,
     const bool geomChanged,
     const word& fieldName,
-    const word& fieldType,
+    const string& fieldType,  // May contain spaces (eg, "tensor symm")
     const word& varName
 )
 {
diff --git a/src/fileFormats/ensight/file/ensightWriterCaching.H b/src/fileFormats/ensight/file/ensightWriterCaching.H
index b9a1abfd88..40b56a20e8 100644
--- a/src/fileFormats/ensight/file/ensightWriterCaching.H
+++ b/src/fileFormats/ensight/file/ensightWriterCaching.H
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     \\  /    A nd           | www.openfoam.com
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Copyright (C) 2016-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2016-2024 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -139,6 +139,10 @@ public:
 
         //- Update time/geometry information and file cache.
         //- This routine should only be called from the master process
+        //
+        //  Note that the ensight field type may contain spaces
+        //  (eg, "tensor symm")
+        //
         //  \return True if there is a state change, which is either a
         //      geometry change or a new time interval
         bool update
@@ -147,7 +151,7 @@ public:
             const scalar timeValue,     //!< The current time value
             const bool geomChanged,     //!< Monitored geometry changed
             const word& fieldName,      //!< Name of field
-            const word& fieldType,      //!< Type of field
+            const string& fieldType,    //!< Ensight type of field
             const word& varName = word::null //!< Alternative field name
         );
 };
diff --git a/src/meshTools/coordSet/writers/ensight/ensightCoordSetWriterCollated.C b/src/meshTools/coordSet/writers/ensight/ensightCoordSetWriterCollated.C
index 3e378c2933..7e9303eced 100644
--- a/src/meshTools/coordSet/writers/ensight/ensightCoordSetWriterCollated.C
+++ b/src/meshTools/coordSet/writers/ensight/ensightCoordSetWriterCollated.C
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     \\  /    A nd           | www.openfoam.com
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Copyright (C) 2022-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2022-2024 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ Foam::fileName Foam::coordSetWriters::ensightWriter::writeCollated
             {
                 const dictionary& subDict = dEntry.dict();
 
-                const word varType(subDict.get<word>("type"));
+                const string varType(subDict.get<string>("type"));
                 const word varName
                 (
                     subDict.getOrDefault<word>
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ Foam::fileName Foam::coordSetWriters::ensightWriter::writeCollated
                 );
 
                 osCase
-                    << varType
+                    << varType.c_str()
                     <<
                     (
                         true  // this->isPointData()
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/writers/ensight/ensightSurfaceWriterCollated.C b/src/surfMesh/writers/ensight/ensightSurfaceWriterCollated.C
index 1d5595564e..6e27fe3bee 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/writers/ensight/ensightSurfaceWriterCollated.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/writers/ensight/ensightSurfaceWriterCollated.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2014 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2015-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2015-2024 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ Foam::fileName Foam::surfaceWriters::ensightWriter::writeCollated
             {
                 const dictionary& subDict = dEntry.dict();
 
-                const word varType(subDict.get<word>("type"));
+                const string varType(subDict.get<string>("type"));
                 const word varName
                 (
                     subDict.getOrDefault<word>
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ Foam::fileName Foam::surfaceWriters::ensightWriter::writeCollated
                 );
 
                 osCase
-                    << varType
+                    << varType.c_str()
                     <<
                     (
                         this->isPointData()