a previous enquiry

USAGE SUMMARY

"a previous enquiry" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could say: "We received a previous enquiry about the product but were unable to provide a satisfactory answer".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Manager Nigel Pearson made a previous enquiry about the player during the January transfer window.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The accumulated concerns make an overwhelming argument for these to be reopened by an independent police force unconnected with any previous enquiries, or by an independent commission of inquiry.

The Guardian

However, the experiences of counsellors have not been the focus of previous enquiry, and little is known about how the counsellors themselves perceive and experience their work in pMTCT programmes.

Human Resources for Health

Previous enquiry focusing on the motivation, retention and performance of cadres of CHWs has typically sought to determine the right incentives to elicit tangible improvements in these outcomes [ 10, 11, 16- 19].

Human Resources for Health

As in previous enquiries, the majority of women (87%%) died violently from hanging, jumping from height or self-immolation (Oates and Cantwell 2011).

Archives of Women's Mental Health

However, houses were not randomly sampled, but biased by the tendency of targeting and spraying repeatedly those houses where previous enquiries were positive.

BMC Infectious Diseases

On further enquiry, he had experienced a previous reaction to intravenous contrast.

British Journal of Cancer

In Tehri, we used information collected by a previous study in 2004 and supplemented this with fresh enquiries from key informants.

Health Policy and Planning

Following the theft, a government enquiry, led by Lord Bridges, examined how the thief, having apparently left a window unlatched in the Gents on a previous day, was able in the early hours of the morning to exploit building works at the rear of the gallery, remove the painting and scale the wall on St Martin's Street.

The Guardian - Arts

These cases concerned non-serious requests, merely informative enquiries, those without a surrogate mother, single intended mothers without a partner and infertile couples with a previous history of unsuccessful IVF treatments.

Human Reproduction

A previous Q.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a formal investigation, consider using "a previous enquiry" to emphasize that the matter was officially looked into before. This is particularly useful in legal or official contexts.

Common error

While both "enquiry" and "inquiry" can be used, "enquiry" is more common in British English, and "inquiry" in American English. Ensure you use the term consistent with your target audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a previous enquiry" functions as a noun phrase, where "previous" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "enquiry". It typically serves to identify a specific enquiry that occurred at an earlier time, as showcased in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a previous enquiry" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote an earlier instance of seeking information or investigation. While Ludwig identifies its usage as rare, it appears across varied contexts like news, science, and, potentially, formal settings. Remember to consider context and audience to pick the right synonym or adjust formality. According to Ludwig, "a previous enquiry" is correct and can be used in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A prior investigation

Replaces 'enquiry' with 'investigation' implying a more formal examination.

A past inquiry

Substitutes 'previous' with 'past' and 'enquiry' with 'inquiry', maintaining the original meaning.

An earlier question

Uses 'question' instead of 'enquiry', suggesting a simpler form of seeking information.

A preliminary investigation

Emphasizes the initial nature of the investigation compared to a general enquiry.

A preceding request

Focuses on the aspect of making a request, which might be part of an enquiry.

A former check

Replaces 'enquiry' with 'check', indicating a less formal investigation.

An initial probe

Suggests the enquiry was an initial attempt to gather information.

A pre-existing claim

Shifts the focus towards a pre-existing statement that required an enquiry.

A historic request

Implies the request happened in the past.

An old issue

Referring to issue or matter of concern.

FAQs

How can I use "a previous enquiry" in a sentence?

You can use "a previous enquiry" to refer to a question or investigation that happened before. For example, "The police reopened the case due to information from "a previous investigation"".

What's the difference between "a previous enquiry" and "a previous investigation"?

While similar, "a previous enquiry" suggests a formal request for information or clarification, while ""a previous investigation"" implies a more thorough and systematic examination of facts.

Are "enquiry" and "inquiry" interchangeable in "a previous enquiry"?

Yes, "enquiry" and "inquiry" are largely interchangeable, but "enquiry" is more common in British English, while "inquiry" is favored in American English. Therefore, "a previous inquiry" is perfectly valid.

What are some alternatives to using "a previous enquiry"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a prior investigation", "an earlier question", or "a preliminary investigation".