conducted an inquiry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conducted an inquiry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of investigating or examining a particular issue or situation, often in a formal context. Example: "The committee conducted an inquiry into the allegations of misconduct within the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The stewards conducted an inquiry but took no action.

The New York Times - Sports

A board of general officers conducted an inquiry into the spying case of Maj.

The New York Times

Responding to a complaint from an anti-Regnerus blogger, the University of Texas conducted an inquiry.

The New York Times

The state attorney-general conducted an inquiry into allegations against Mr Schramm, but found nothing.

The Economist

The United States Army conducted an inquiry in October 1944, including testimony from survivors and from an SS deserter.

The New York Times

Index on Censorship and English PEN have jointly conducted an inquiry into libel and curbs on free expression.

The Guardian

Last year, the House of Lords conducted an inquiry looking at the cost of food waste across the EU.

The Guardian

In response to the calls, Times editors conducted an inquiry, interviewing the Times photographer and several witnesses.

The New York Times

Henriques is a former high court judge who conducted an inquiry into how Lord Janner escaped justice over abuse claims.

The Guardian

A professor of oceanography at Florida State University, he conducted an inquiry and found what might be a natural explanation: ice.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

After the commission conducted an inquiry, the German government agreed in July 2001 to eliminate the guarantees to the banks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, always specify the subject or scope of the inquiry immediately after the phrase, such as "conducted an inquiry into the company's financial practices".

Common error

Avoid substituting "conducted an inquiry" with overly casual phrases like "looked into" in formal reports or official communications. The former carries a weight of authority and seriousness that informal alternatives lack.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conducted an inquiry" functions as a verb phrase indicating the performance of a formal investigation. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it's a common way to describe the act of examining a situation, incident, or set of facts to establish the truth.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "conducted an inquiry" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe the act of carrying out a formal investigation. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it's most commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, signifying its broad applicability across diverse domains. The phrase implies a structured, official examination of a matter aimed at discovering the truth or relevant facts. When using this phrase, consider the level of formality required for your audience and context, as suggested by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

carried out an investigation

Replaces "inquiry" with "investigation", implying a more formal or thorough examination.

launched an investigation

Focuses on the initiation of the investigative process.

performed an investigation

Uses "performed" instead of "conducted", indicating the execution of the investigation.

undertook an inquiry

Employs "undertook", suggesting a more deliberate and committed approach to the inquiry.

initiated an inquiry

Similar to 'launched', but places more emphasis on the formal beginning of the process.

held an investigation

Emphasizes the holding or managing of an investigation.

opened an inquiry

Focuses on the beginning or start of an inquiry.

examined the matter

More general, suggesting any type of review, not necessarily a formal inquiry.

looked into the matter

An informal substitute, implying a review of something.

assessed the situation

Focuses on evaluating a situation, rather than a formal inquiry.

FAQs

What does "conducted an inquiry" mean?

The phrase "conducted an inquiry" means to have carried out a formal investigation or examination to discover and examine the facts of an incident, allegation, etc. It's often used in legal, official, or formal contexts.

How to use "conducted an inquiry" in a sentence?

You can use "conducted an inquiry" to describe the action of investigating something. For example: "The committee "conducted an inquiry" into the allegations of fraud."

What are some alternatives to "conducted an inquiry"?

Alternatives include phrases like "carried out an investigation", "launched an investigation", or "performed an investigation". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "conducted an inquiry" or "made an inquiry"?

"Conducted an inquiry" implies a more thorough and formal investigation than "made an inquiry". While both are acceptable, "conducted an inquiry" often suggests a structured and official process.