Major Difference Between Enquiry and Inquiry You Should Know

Filed in Articles by on April 21, 2021

Difference between Enquiry and Inquiry: In regular conversations, inquiry and inquiry are used interchangeably but the words are quite different.  The major difference is that ‘inquiry’ means to ask a question while ‘inquiry’ is a formal investigation.

Enquiry and Inquiry

Basically, enquiry and request have a similar application and meaning – Both words intend to request information about something or to carry out a formal investigation. The primary distinction lies between their common usage in British English and American English.

There more occurrence of the word ‘enquiry’ in British journals and publications and in those cases the word is used to request information. Most American English speakers are more comfortable using ‘inquire’ to ‘enquire’.  As a result, American English uses ‘inquiry’ for both requests for information and formal investigations.

The distinction between enquiry and inquiry developed in the UK. The word inquiry is being used in relation to a formal inquest while enquiry is being used to denote the act of questioning. However, there is still considerable leniency in this distinction.

Another way of distinguishing between the two terms is to know the differences between the Enquiry Based System of Education (ECB) and the Inquiry-Based System of Education (ICB). At the ECB, the students are encouraged to be naturally inquisitive and curious and base their queries on their innate desire to learn.

In the latter case, the focus is on conforming to the syllabus and asking questions that assist with that task, while not paying too much attention to attaining pure knowledge.

If you wanted to find a place where you could order your visiting cards, you would make enquiries with your friends or business associates. On the other hand, if a former employer of yours were to withhold your dues, you would get an inquiry instituted against him by the relevant authorities.

In spite of there being a clear distinction in the meanings of the two terms, people, more often than not, use them interchangeably. You could say that enquiry is a request for truth, knowledge, or information, whereas an inquiry is an investigation into something.

Examples:

1. Joy asked her friend to enquire about the college fees.

2. We were to enquire if there would be seat reservations. 

3. A commission of inquiry reported in favor of private management.

4. I immediately instituted an inquiry to ascertain the facts in the case.

5. I was inquiring if you would like to get a cup of tea.

6. His gaze followed hers and he lifted a brow in inquiry.

7. In this way two lines of inquiry originated.

8. The dark lady is enquiring about where to place her order.

9. Enquire into any amendment that your company makes to its return.

10. When you get home, enquire about the availability of palm nut in that area.

10 Major Differences Between Have Been and Had Been

1. American English uses ‘inquiry’ for both requests for information and formal investigations.

2.  ‘Inquire’ is the preferred spelling in the United States

3. ‘Enquiry’ means asking a question, and inquiry is a formal investigation.

4. The prefix ‘en’ comes from French, and ‘in’ from Latin.

5. ‘Enquiry’ is a request for truth, knowledge or information, whereas an inquiry is an investigation into something.

6. In spite of there being a clear distinction in the meanings of the two terms, people often use them interchangeably.

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CSN Team.

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