Inquire or Enquire? Only One Ocean Cares
To inquire is to ask for information. British writers sometimes split inquire and enquire by meaning; American writers use one spelling for both.
To inquire is to ask. British usage has a traditional split: *enquire* for a general question, *inquire* for a formal investigation, which is why you make an enquiry at a desk and a public inquiry into a disaster. American English uses *inquire* throughout and few readers notice either way.
- To ask for information. *He inquired about the price.*
- To investigate formally. *The committee inquired into the failure.*
- Inquire after — ask about someone's health. *She inquired after your mother.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | inquire | Inquire within. |
| Variant | enquire | Enquire at reception. |
| Noun | inquiry | A public inquiry. |
| Noun | enquiry | A general enquiry. |
| Person | inquirer | A persistent inquirer. |
How it is used in a sentence
- She inquired about opening hours.A simple question.
- The board will inquire into the accident.Formal investigation.
- He inquired after her father.Politely asking about someone's wellbeing.
Asking words
- Ask — the plain everyday word
- Inquire — slightly formal, or investigative
- Query — question a specific point, often to check it
- Interrogate — question closely, often under pressure
- Probe — investigate persistently
From Old French *enquerre*, from Latin *inquirere*, to seek into, from *in* and *quaerere*, to seek — the same root as *question*, *quest* and *require*. The Latin *i* was restored later, which is why two spellings survive.
Inquiry or enquiry?
In Britain, an enquiry is a question and an inquiry is an investigation. In America inquiry covers both.
Where is the stress in *inquiry*?
British speakers usually say in-QUIRE-y; Americans often say IN-quer-y. Both are standard.