Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
While inquire means “to seek information in a formal way,” enquire means “to ask in a general way.”. They can be used interchangeably. Inquire and enquire both originate from the same Latin word, meaning to seek. Both words mean to request information or examine facts.
The difference between inquiry and enquiry is minor and deals with a nuance in meaning: inquiry is preferred for formal requests and official investigations. enquiry is much broader, referring to any requests, formal or informal.
Inquire and enquire come from the same Latin word, quaere, which means “to ask or seek.” But even though they have similar pronunciations, meanings, and origins, inquire and enquire aren’t always interchangeable. It all depends on where you live — and what information you’re looking for.
However, in day-to-day use, the word “enquire” (or “enquiry”) means to ask a general question, both formally and informally, while “inquire” (or ‘inquiry”) is much more formal and used to request information in legal or official investigations.
The verb enquire traditionally means ‘to ask,’ while inquire means ‘to formally investigate.’.
The traditional distinction between the verbs enquire and inquire is that enquire is to be used for general senses of ‘ask’, while inquire is reserved for uses meaning ‘make a formal investigation’.
What is the difference between “inquire” and “enquire”? Inquire typically refers to a more formal request for information or an official investigation. Enquire is often used for less formal requests or questions about a subject.