I previously inquired

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I previously inquired" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a past question or request you made earlier in a conversation or correspondence. Example: "I previously inquired about the status of my application and would like to follow up on it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then she turned to the young man who had previously inquired about bringing up the indelicate topic of money with someone who had just lost her job, her house or her husband.

The New York Times - Magazine

What no one had previously inquired about, though, was the nature of the remaining 10%.To find out, the two researchers gave 208 undergraduates a battery of trolleyological tests and measured, on a four-point scale, how utilitarian their responses were.

The Economist

The invites were only sent to developers who have previously inquired about how to purchase a Google Glass on Google's website, as you can see in the image below.

TechCrunch

We encourage any members of the media who have previously inquired elsewhere, to contact us there now.

HuffPost

"Can I give you a lift?" I inquired.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Can I help you?" I inquire.

Harvard Business Review

I recently inquired about it.

The New York Times - Books

I know this because I've inquired.

The Guardian - Film

I politely inquired.

Huffington Post

"I never inquired again," Dee later wrote.

Los Angeles Times

"Is first class full?" I meekly inquired.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I previously inquired" to politely remind someone of a question or request you've already made, especially in formal communications.

Common error

Avoid using "I previously inquired before," as "previously" already implies a prior action. Stick to either "I previously inquired" or "I inquired before" to maintain conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I previously inquired" functions as a polite and formal way to refer to a past inquiry. It serves to remind the recipient of a prior question or request, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis, indicating that it's a grammatically sound and acceptable expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I previously inquired" is a grammatically correct and formally polite way to refer to a prior question or request. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is best used in professional or neutral contexts where politeness and clarity are valued. While "I asked before" is a simpler alternative, "I previously inquired" maintains a level of formality suitable for business communications. Remember to avoid redundancy by not adding "before" to the phrase. Although examples are limited, Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I inquired earlier

This alternative uses a synonym for "asked" and maintains a similar level of formality.

I formerly inquired

This alternative utilizes a more formal synonym for previously, maintaining a similar tone.

I had inquired about this

This alternative uses the past perfect tense to emphasize the completed action of inquiring.

I asked before

This alternative is a simpler and more direct way of saying that a question was asked earlier.

I initially inquired

This alternative emphasizes that the inquiry was made at the beginning of a discussion or process.

I have already asked

This alternative emphasizes that the question has been posed at some point in the past.

As I asked before

This alternative is more emphatic and directly refers to a previous question.

I put the question forward earlier

This alternative implies you have asked the question and are awaiting an answer or for action to be taken.

I brought this up earlier

This alternative indicates that the topic was introduced or mentioned previously.

I mentioned this before

This alternative is less formal and implies a casual reference to the topic earlier.

FAQs

How can I use "I previously inquired" in a sentence?

You can use "I previously inquired" to refer to a question or request you have already made. For instance, "I previously inquired about the status of my application and am following up."

What's a more formal alternative to "I previously inquired"?

A more formal alternative could be "I formerly inquired". Both phrases are appropriate for professional settings.

What can I say instead of "I previously inquired" in a less formal context?

In a less formal context, you can use alternatives such as "I asked before" or "I mentioned this before depending on the specific situation.

Is it redundant to say "I previously inquired before"?

Yes, it is redundant. The word "previously" already indicates that the inquiry was made at an earlier time, so adding "before" is unnecessary.