ongoing enquiry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ongoing enquiry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a process of investigation or examination that is currently taking place. Example: "The ongoing enquiry into the financial discrepancies has revealed several important findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A cross-party statement from parliamentarians urged the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee to recommend a "rebalancing" of libel laws, which are the subject on an ongoing enquiry.

The Guardian

Cliff Richard has given his first interview to the BBC since the corporation filmed a police raid on his home, and described his new music as a tribute to the fans who have supported him during the ongoing enquiry into sex abuse claims.

Independent

A UK parliamentary committee also has a wider ongoing enquiry into fake news — and its chair has been highly critical of Facebook and Twitter for failing to co-operate.

TechCrunch

A UK parliamentary committee also has a wider ongoing enquiry into fake news — and its chair has been highly critical of Facebook and Twitter for failing to co-operate.

TechCrunch

Indeed, the impact of social media spread online disinformation is also the topic of an ongoing enquiry by the UK parliament's DCMS committee which spent some five hours grilling Facebook's CTO last month.

TechCrunch

The spokesperson also confirmed that Google and Twitter have both also provided information in response to its request they do so, to feed its ongoing enquiry into whether the use of digital ads and bots on social media might break existing political campaigning rules.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

We will assist fully the FA and other relevant authorities with their ongoing enquiries". The game's authorities were similarly swift to condemn the violence.

The Guardian - Sport

The team's ongoing enquiries lead them to visit a homeless shelter, where another horrific crime comes to light.

BBC

He said: "There are 16 cases on the commission's books and several of them are ongoing enquiries.

BBC

In this final episode, as detectives and family prepare for the trial in the murder of young homeless man Daniel Smith, the team's ongoing enquiries lead them to visit a homeless shelter in town.

BBC

Det Con Mark Silk said: "We believe that this man may be able to help with our ongoing enquiries, so we are keen to hear from anyone who may know who he is.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ongoing enquiry", ensure the context clearly indicates the subject and scope of the investigation. For instance, specify "ongoing enquiry into financial irregularities" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "ongoing enquiry" when referring to investigations that have already concluded. Use phrases like "completed investigation" or "past enquiry" instead to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ongoing enquiry" is that of a noun phrase, where "ongoing" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "enquiry". This phrase typically functions as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. Ludwig identifies it as a valid and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ongoing enquiry" is a grammatically correct and usable English noun phrase that describes an investigation or inquiry currently in progress. Ludwig confirms its validity and provides examples of its usage across various contexts. While the phrase is not extremely common, appearing mostly in news and media sources, it effectively communicates that a matter is under active investigation. For alternatives, consider phrases like "current investigation" or "active inquiry".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

current investigation

Replaces "enquiry" with "investigation" and "ongoing" with "current", focusing on the active investigative nature.

active inquiry

Substitutes "ongoing" with "active" and "enquiry" with "inquiry", emphasizing the present and dynamic state of the investigation.

pending investigation

Uses "pending" instead of "ongoing", highlighting that the investigation is not yet concluded.

unresolved inquiry

Emphasizes the unfinished nature of the "enquiry" by using "unresolved".

continuing probe

Replaces "enquiry" with "probe", suggesting a deeper, more thorough investigation.

live investigation

Uses "live" to convey the immediacy and currency of the investigation.

existing enquiry

A more formal variation, replacing "ongoing" with "existing" to denote the "enquiry" is already in place.

in progress investigation

A longer, more descriptive alternative highlighting that the investigation is actively "in progress".

current examination

Uses "examination" instead of "enquiry", which softens the official nature of the process.

developing investigation

Suggests that the investigation is unfolding and evolving over time.

FAQs

What does "ongoing enquiry" mean?

An "ongoing enquiry" refers to an investigation or inquiry that is currently in progress and has not yet reached a conclusion.

What can I say instead of "ongoing enquiry"?

You can use alternatives like "current investigation", "active inquiry", or "pending investigation" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the enquiry is ongoing" or "ongoing enquiry"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they function differently in a sentence. "The enquiry is ongoing" uses 'ongoing' as an adjective describing the state of the enquiry. "Ongoing enquiry" uses 'ongoing' as part of a noun phrase.

How does an "ongoing enquiry" differ from a "preliminary investigation"?

A preliminary investigation is usually the initial stage of an investigation, whereas an "ongoing enquiry" suggests a more established and developed process that is already underway. "Preliminary investigation" focuses on initial assessment, while an ongoing one implies active pursuit of information.