(Definition of enquiry from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) The words ‘enquiry’ and ‘inquiry’ often confuse many. Though similar, they have different uses. ‘Enquiry’ refers to asking for information. For example, when you ask about a train schedule, that’s an enquiry. On the other hand, ‘inquiry’ is more formal. It usually means a detailed investigation. Think of a police investigation into a crime; that’s an inquiry. In simple terms, use ‘enquiry’ for general questions and ‘inquiry’ for deeper investigations. Learn the difference between inquiry and enquiry, two words that mean investigation but are used in different contexts. Inquiry is formal, enquiry is less formal, and the same rule applies for the verbs inquire and enquire. The English language is full of commonly confused words. Inquiry and enquiry are two of these, and it’s clear why—they are similar in sound and spelling. Additionally, the two words are used differently in different countries. In this article, we’ll look at the meanings of enquiry and inquiry, and how they’re used in American English vs British English.
