merits inquiry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "merits inquiry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting that a particular subject or issue deserves further investigation or examination. Example: "The recent findings in the study are intriguing and certainly merit inquiry from the scientific community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But the notion that cursing is, if not more widespread than in the past, then more publicly acceptable, hardly seems to merit inquiry, even if, as the study's lead researcher, Dr. Jean Twenge, remarked, the rate of increase might be higher than expected.

The New Yorker

Nor do Steinbeck's stories of police abuse don't seem out of place in a country where local law enforcement sometimes merits federal inquiry.

The Guardian - Opinion

The committee said the delay "merits further inquiry" to determine if it was merely part of the "chaotic environment" at the time or "was it part of a plot to keep American help from reaching the Americans under siege in Benghazi".

Huffington Post

As three more people came forward detailing their stories of being "held hostage" and "strapped" inside Homan Square without access to an attorney or an official public record of their detention by Chicago police, officials and activists said the allegations merited further inquiry and risked aggravating wounds over community policing and race that have reached as high as the White House.

The Guardian

These characteristics merit further inquiry to ascertain whether they are replicated regionally and globally.

BMC Psychiatry

Whether or not rats with long rearing episodes are less conditionable on other fear metrics, such as conditioned suppression, and the mechanisms underlying this association are questions meriting further inquiry.

Animal Cognition

The government appointed a Canadian judge, Peter Cory, to examine whether the Wright murder and several other contentious cases merited public inquiries.

The Guardian

Police spying certainly merits its own inquiry, but the issue of "institutional racism" identified in 1999 hasn't gone away just because we have a shiny new report to pore over.

Independent

In light of this review's evidence of an association between BCd and higher BP, an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and recent evidence of a prospective association between long-term cadmium exposure and cardiovascular mortality (Menke et al. 2009), cadmium merits further epidemiologic inquiry.

Environmental Health Perspectives

But officials say that nothing in Dr. Baden's inquiry merited resuming the inquiry.

The New York Times

"We will take our evidence before the court and let them decide if we have enough to merit a public inquiry.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "merits inquiry", ensure the context clearly establishes what requires investigation. Avoid vague references.

Common error

Avoid using "merits inquiry" in casual conversation or informal writing. It's a relatively formal phrase that can sound stilted in everyday situations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "worth looking into" or "should be checked out".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "merits inquiry" functions as a predicate expressing that a subject is worthy of further investigation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English, indicating its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "merits inquiry" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that suggests a topic or situation warrants further investigation. While Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability, its formal tone makes it best suited for professional, academic, or news-related contexts. Although the phrase appears relatively infrequently, predominantly in News & Media and Scientific domains, understanding its appropriate usage and available alternatives, like "warrants investigation", is crucial for effective and nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

warrants investigation

Replaces "merits" with "warrants", emphasizing the justification for an investigation.

deserves scrutiny

Focuses on the need for close and critical examination.

justifies examination

Highlights the reasons why something should be examined.

calls for investigation

Emphasizes the demand or need for an investigation.

is worth exploring

Suggests that a topic would be beneficial to investigate further.

requires further study

Specifies that additional academic research is needed.

invites analysis

Suggests the topic is interesting or important enough to analyze.

demands further attention

Emphasizes that additional focus and consideration are required.

is ripe for investigation

Implies the situation is optimally suited for investigation

is deserving of further research

Similar to "requires further study" but slightly more emphatic.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "merits inquiry"?

When something "merits inquiry", it means that it's important or questionable enough to justify further investigation or examination. It suggests there's a valid reason to look into the matter more closely.

How can I use "merits inquiry" in a sentence?

You can use "merits inquiry" to suggest that something warrants further investigation. For example, "The discrepancy in the financial reports "merits inquiry" by an independent auditor."

What are some alternatives to "merits inquiry"?

Alternatives to "merits inquiry" include "warrants investigation", "deserves scrutiny", or "calls for investigation". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is "merits inquiry" a formal or informal phrase?

"Merits inquiry" is a relatively formal phrase, best suited for professional, academic, or journalistic contexts. In more casual settings, simpler alternatives may be more appropriate.