inquiring upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inquiring upon" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used when asking for information or clarification about a specific topic, although "inquire about" is more standard. Example: "I am inquiring upon the status of my application to ensure everything is in order."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I've begun noticing myself inquiring upon introductions if the person in front of me belongs to my tribe.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Medications history inquired upon current use of oral antidiabetic drugs, insulin, blood pressure (BP -lowering drugs, aspirin, and any LLD(s)).

Cardiovascular Diabetology

Interviewers also followed the rule of right hand after finishing an interview and choosing another house to inquire or upon reaching the end of a street.

European Transport Research Review

Upon inquiring, he learned that the firm had never held a fire drill.

Cornell University

Seeming to sense a momentarily lapse in his otherwise undivided field of sexual gravity, Bryan gracefully halted the conversation to affix his attentions upon me, inquiring benignly if anything was the matter.

Vice

Nature has bestowed upon us an inquiring disposition, and being well aware of her own skill and beauty, has produced us to be spectators of her vast works, because she would lose all the fruits of her labour if she were to exhibit such vast and noble works of such complex construction, so bright and beautiful in so many ways, to solitude alone.

Princeton University

Is this power, which has been exercised by Parliament and by all legislative bodies down to the present day without dispute-the power to inquire into subjects upon which they are disposed to legislate-lost to us? Are we not in the possession of it?

Cornell University

The structural data can be provided by authors upon inquire.

Plosone

She says she receives lots of calls from prospective students inquiring what their likely salaries will be upon graduation.

Forbes

Teachers are reporting that as they go around the room scanning student assessments, students are excited by the process and upon seeing their errors, immediately inquiring as to what they misunderstood.

TechCrunch

The subjective test precludes the court from inquiring into the facts and grounds that are relied upon by the executive body in exercising its discretion.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "inquiring upon" isn't incorrect, consider more common alternatives like "inquiring about" or "asking about" for clearer and more natural communication. This is especially crucial in professional or academic writing where clarity is paramount.

Common error

Avoid using "inquiring upon" in informal contexts where simpler alternatives like "asking about" would be more appropriate. Overly formal phrasing can make your writing sound stilted or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inquiring upon" functions as a verb phrase acting as a present participle modifying a noun, indicating an act of seeking information about something. While grammatically sound, Ludwig AI highlights that it is not the most common phrasing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically acceptable, "inquiring upon" is a less common and somewhat formal way to express the act of seeking information. Ludwig AI indicates that using alternatives like "inquiring about" or "asking about" is often preferable for clarity and naturalness. Consider the context and audience when choosing your phrasing, and opt for simpler alternatives in most situations. The phrase appears in various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Academia, suggesting a broad but infrequent usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inquiring about

More common and idiomatic alternative; replaces 'upon' with 'about' for a smoother flow.

asking about

A simpler and more direct alternative, suitable for informal contexts.

questioning about

Emphasizes the act of asking questions; slightly more formal than "asking about".

investigating

Focuses on a more in-depth examination; implies a formal inquiry.

seeking information on

A more formal way of expressing the act of asking for information.

looking into

Suggests a careful examination or exploration of a topic.

requesting information about

A polite and formal way to ask for information.

examining

A formal term for a detailed inspection.

probing

Implies a thorough and often sensitive investigation.

exploring

Suggests an open-ended inquiry or discovery process.

FAQs

What's a more common alternative to "inquiring upon"?

A more common and natural-sounding alternative is "inquiring about". It is generally preferred in most contexts.

Is "inquiring upon" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "inquiring upon" is less common and can sound awkward to some English speakers. It's better to use more standard phrases like "asking about" or "inquiring about".

When is it appropriate to use "inquiring upon"?

You might use "inquiring upon" in formal writing where you want to sound particularly polite or precise, but even in those contexts, "inquiring about" is often a better choice.

What's the difference between "inquiring upon" and "asking about"?

"Inquiring upon" is a more formal, and less common, way of saying "asking about". The latter is more direct and suitable for most situations.