enquire about his availability

USAGE SUMMARY

"enquire about his availability" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you might write in a business email: "Could you please enquire about his availability for a meeting next week?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Nigeria left-back Juwon Oshaniwa claims Celtic have contacted his Israeli club Ashdod to enquire about his availability.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

When, in June, his hometown club came enquiring about his availability, he needed no second invitation to come home.

Independent

"It should not be long before the England selectors begin enquiring about his availability as he would add a great deal to their one-day and T20 team".

BBC

Before the final selection meeting on Monday afternoon - the seventh discussion the coaching team had sat through - Gatland had phoned Wilkinson and enquired about his availability.

BBC

"I was hurt," he says when I enquire about his feelings toward his team's quarterback.

The Guardian - Sport

So he phoned Tower Hamlets Council, the building's owner, and persuaded an employee to call Newbould and enquire about his eviction.

The Guardian

"I'm a service sub," he explains when I enquire about his get-up.

Vice

The Prime Minister, Gladstone, called several times to enquire about his rival's condition, and wrote in his diary, "May the Almighty be near his pillow".

Wikipedia

Later, when Geetha and Ramaiah go to Balu to enquire about his health, Balu, exiting from the bathroom, fails to see that Geetha is there.

Wikipedia

Having described the skeleton of the story to a friend during its development, the friend called him back a few days later to enquire about his film.

Wikipedia

After conducting a futile search for Laura and the sisters in which he again sees the childlike figure in the red coat John contacts his son's school to enquire about his condition, only to discover Laura is already there.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "enquire about his availability" in formal communications, ensure the context is professional and respectful. For instance, in a business email, you might write, "We would like to formally enquire about his availability for a consultancy role."

Common error

Avoid using "enquire about his availability" in very informal contexts. While grammatically correct, the word "enquire" can sound overly formal in casual conversations. Use more relaxed alternatives like "see if he's free".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enquire about his availability" functions as a verb phrase used to request information regarding someone's accessibility or suitability for a particular task or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct and appropriate in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "enquire about his availability" is a grammatically correct and functional expression used to formally request information regarding someone's accessibility. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its formality suggests its best use in professional or neutral contexts. While the word "enquire" may not come up in everyday conversations, contexts such as News & Media or formal correspondence can benefit from using it. The phrase's meaning can be closely replicated by using alternatives such as "ask about his availability" or the more informal "check if he's free", depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ask about his availability

Replaces "enquire" with the more common "ask", making it slightly less formal.

check his availability

Uses "check" instead of "enquire", implying a simpler and quicker process.

inquire into his availability

Substitutes "enquire" with the more formal "inquire into", increasing the formality of the phrase.

determine his availability

Focuses on the act of establishing or finding out his availability.

find out if he is available

Breaks down the enquiry into a more explicit and direct question.

see if he is free

Uses "free" as a synonym for "available", making it more informal.

investigate his availability

Implies a more thorough or formal examination of his availability.

ascertain his availability

Replaces "enquire" with "ascertain", indicating a more formal and precise determination.

query his availability

Uses "query" as a verb, directly asking about his availability.

contact to check his availability

Specifies the action of contacting someone to verify availability.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "enquire about his availability" to sound less formal?

You can use phrases like "ask about his availability", "check if he's free", or simply "see if he's available" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "enquire" and "inquire" in the context of availability?

"Enquire" and "inquire" are largely interchangeable; however, "inquire" is often perceived as more formal than "enquire", particularly in American English. Both mean to ask for information.

Is it correct to say "enquire of his availability" instead of "enquire about his availability"?

While grammatically possible, "enquire of his availability" is less common and may sound archaic. "Enquire about his availability" is the more standard and widely accepted phrasing.

When is it appropriate to use "enquire about his availability"?

Use "enquire about his availability" in formal or professional settings, such as when contacting a potential consultant, scheduling a meeting with an executive, or making official requests. It conveys respect and seriousness.