inquired from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inquired from" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used when specifying the source from whom information is being sought, although "inquired of" is more standard. Example: "She inquired from the manager about the status of her application."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"We inquired from every police station.

The New York Times

"What number are we?" a sleepy voice inquired from the back seat.

The New York Times - Travel

inquired from War Office: "What about sharing new dirigible with us?

The New Yorker

I inquired from Dr David, who said fever was sometimes the last thing to go.

The Guardian

Finally, I inquired from some Ghanaian civil engineers about the cost of constructing a 1-meter-by-1-meter sea defense wall.

Yale University

I inquired from Accra real estate agencies the market value of land I worked on, and I collected data on the official 10-year GDP projection from Ghana's Ministry of Finance.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"May I inquire from the gentleman how many more speakers he has?" McGovern inquired.

The Washington Post

We all searched our raisin buns for a raisin but Nellie said they must have forgotten to put them in and she'd inquire from the man who delivered.

The New Yorker

I think this is an important task for this committee and I hope that Marie Stopes organisation will respond positively to any invitation so then we can inquire from them what their position is within the law".

The Guardian

"What you want them to do is what we call 'issue-spotting,' which is to know that this is an issue and know that they need to go and inquire from somebody who is an expert on it".

The New York Times

You might inquire from Turismo de Barcelona, (34) 93-368-9730, about Barcelona cards, which can be bought for one day ($16.25) or up to five days ($26) and provide unlimited local transportation and some museum and shop discounts.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While acceptable, consider using more common and concise alternatives like "asked of" or "sought information from" for clearer and more impactful writing.

Common error

Avoid using "from" unnecessarily after verbs of inquiry. While grammatically sound, it can sound stilted. Instead of "inquired from", opt for the simpler and more direct "asked of" or "queried".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inquired from" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of seeking information, specifically specifying the source from which the inquiry is made. Ludwig indicates it is grammatically acceptable, but less common than alternatives.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

33%

Academia

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While grammatically acceptable, the phrase "inquired from" is considered less common and potentially awkward by Ludwig. It functions to describe the act of seeking information from a specific source, though alternatives like "asked of" or "sought information from" are generally preferred for their conciseness and clarity. The phrase is most frequently found in news media, scientific, and academic contexts. When writing, consider whether a more direct or common alternative would improve the flow and impact of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

asked of

More standard and concise alternative using a common verb.

sought information from

Formal and emphasizes the act of actively seeking information.

queried

Direct and succinct, suitable for formal contexts.

made inquiries of

More formal and emphasizes the process of making a formal request for information.

obtained information from

Focuses on the result of getting information.

gathered data from

Specific to collecting data, implying a systematic approach.

consulted with

Implies a discussion or consultation to gain information.

found out from

Informal and focuses on discovering information.

learned from

Emphasizes the acquisition of knowledge from a source.

got details from

Focuses on obtaining specific details.

FAQs

What's a more common alternative to "inquired from"?

A more standard alternative is "asked of". It's simpler and more widely used in contemporary English.

How can I make the phrase "inquired from" sound more formal?

To increase formality, consider "sought information from" or "made inquiries of", which convey a more deliberate and formal tone.

Is "inquired from" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "inquired from" is less common. Standard usage favors alternatives like "asked of" or simply using "inquired" without the preposition, depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "inquired from"?

"Inquired from" can be used when you want to explicitly specify the source from which information was sought, though even in these cases, "asked of" or "sought information from" are often preferred for clarity and conciseness.