inquire

USAGE SUMMARY

"inquire" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to ask for more information about a particular subject. For example: "I'd like to inquire about the opening hours of the store."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Within minutes someone would come up and inquire as to whether I had everything I needed.

The Guardian - Travel

Sinodinos earlier said he did not inquire as to why AWH's expenses had soared from about $200,000 a month to $600,000 a month after Sydney Water expressed concerns about its bills.

The Guardian

Governments that operate under constitutions protecting freedom of expression have to inquire, urgently, whether that freedom exists when everything is spied on, monitored, listened to.

The Guardian - Tech

He often sought her out at the office to inquire about a particular subject, clearly valuing her insight.

The Guardian - Arts

"The ship sent a boat to inquire how to help and offered to get us life jackets and move a few kids and women to the Italian ship.

The Guardian

Sources close to Clegg said Pryce did mention to his wife, Miriam González Durántez, as an aside at a business lunch that Huhne had behaved very badly, but González did not inquire further because she assumed Pryce was referring to events in their personal lives.

The Guardian

"For the rest of the conversation I had to resist the urge to roar with laughter and inquire whether the caller had got the wrong number," Robinson reports.

The Guardian

"The activity efforts about which you inquire, and Koch's involvement, if any, in them, are at the core of the fundamental liberties protected by the first amendment to the United States constitution," Holden wrote the senators in a letter dated 5 March and posted online by Koch Industries this week.

The Guardian

It involves making random calls to users of public services including the police, health services and administrative services such as registering property to inquire about the quality of service and whether they were asked to pay a bribe.

The Economist

But the Hamas culture minister issued a licence, offering moral but not financial support and apologising that his $10,000 budget for such projects could not cover the show.The interior ministry did summon an artist, but only to inquire menacingly how he had managed to exhibit a painting in Israel.

The Economist

Nominees endure an absurdly long nomination process, filling in 60 pages of forms and submitting themselves to extensive FBI vetting, during which plods from the bureau inquire about their taste for intoxicants and the legal status of their nannies.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "inquire" when you want to sound more formal than simply using "ask". It adds a touch of sophistication to your communication.

Common error

Don't confuse "inquire", which means to ask or investigate, with "require", which means to need or demand. Ensure you're using the correct term based on your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "inquire" is as a verb, indicating the act of asking a question or conducting an investigation. Ludwig showcases numerous examples of its use in various contexts, confirming its active role in sentences. The Ludwig AI identifies it as a correct and usable word.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "inquire" is a versatile verb used to ask questions, seek information, or investigate matters. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and suitable for various writing contexts. While often perceived as more formal than "ask", its neutrality allows for broad application across news, scientific writing, and general communication. Remember to use "inquire" when you aim for a slightly sophisticated tone, and avoid confusing it with "require". By understanding its function, purpose, and register, you can effectively incorporate "inquire" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enquire

A formal synonym of inquire.

make an inquiry

A more formal and structured way of saying "inquire".

ask

A more direct and common synonym, suitable for informal contexts.

ask about

Similar to ask but adds an additional specification of context.

query

A formal way to ask a question.

look into

Focuses more on the investigation aspect rather than a simple question.

investigate

Implies a more thorough and formal examination of a situation.

check into

Suitable for brief and exploratory investigations.

probe

Suggests a deeper and more thorough examination.

seek information

Emphasizes the act of searching for specific details.

FAQs

How to use "inquire" in a sentence?

"Inquire" is typically followed by "about", "into", or a direct object. For example, "I need to inquire about the status of my application" or "The police will inquire into the matter".

What can I say instead of "inquire"?

You can use alternatives like "ask", "investigate", "look into", or "enquire", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "inquire" or "enquire"?

"Inquire" and "enquire" are both correct and mean the same thing. "Inquire" is more common in American English, while "enquire" is more common in British English. Both words are accepted and widely used.

What's the difference between "inquire" and "ask"?

"Inquire" is generally more formal than "ask". Use "inquire" in professional or official contexts when a more sophisticated tone is desired. "Ask" is suitable for everyday conversations.