Which do you use and why? And if you use both, in which situations do you use each one?
This only came up with me today when I realized I was using the two interchangeably and wanted to figure out which was right. From what I gathered, there is no "right" one. Though 'inquire' seems to be used in a more formal usage than 'enquire'.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I don't think Enquire is a word. Ditto for Inquiry. I'll go look it up. Later. I'm procrastinating what I was doing. Now I'll procrastinate this.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:Main Entry: in·qui·ry Pronunciation: in-'kwIr-E, 'in-"; 'in-kw&-rE, 'i[ng]-; 'in-"kwir-E Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ries 1 : examination into facts or principles : RESEARCH 2 : a request for information 3 : a systematic investigation often of a matter of public interest
quote: Enquiry and inquiry have long existed together as alternative spellings of the same word. In America inquiry is dislodging enquiry for all purposes. In England a useful distinction is developing: enquiry is used for asking a question and inquiry for making an investigation. Thus you might enquire what time the inquiry begins.
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