Enquiry vs inquiry: | Definition

Enquiry vs Inquiry | Definition, Difference & Examples Published on May 10, 2024 by Gina Rancaño, BA Revised on September 4, 2024 Enquiry and inquiry both refer to the request for information about something. “ Inquiry ” is the preferred spelling in American English, while both spelling variants are used in British English, with “ inquiry ” being more common, especially in formal contexts. Conclusion " Inquiry " and " enquiry " are both correct spellings of the same noun, referring to the same thing. All you have to remember is that they are spelled differently according to the English vocabulary you are using: " inquiry " is preferred in US English, whereas " enquiry " is the British version. Differences between Enquiry vs. Inquiry To summarize, the main differences between enquiry and inquiry are: Enquiry is more commonly used in British English, while inquiry is more commonly used in American English. Enquiry is often used in formal or professional settings, while inquiry can be used in both formal and informal settings. As nouns, these words become inquiry and enquiry , and mean the act of asking for information. Generally, both inquire and enquire are pretty formal words compared to other words meaning to ask. In conversation, most people just use ask. However, there’s sometimes a slight difference in how these words are used formally and informally.