ongoing inquiry

USAGE SUMMARY

'ongoing inquiry' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a continuing investigation, generally one that is still in progress. For example, "The police are conducting an ongoing inquiry into the incident involving the mayor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She reminded Annan that in the Netherlands there was still an ongoing inquiry into the massacre.

The New Yorker

Mr. Holder said early Tuesday that the ongoing inquiry is "multifaceted" and "aggressive".

The New York Times

The allegations of sexual abuse could be taken up by a separate ongoing inquiry.

The Economist

But that must not stop the ongoing inquiry finding out who was responsible.

The Guardian

"Officers are carrying out a number of searches in Edinburgh today as part of the ongoing inquiry.

Independent

The ministry decided to hold off on any further action in case it prejudiced the ongoing inquiry.

The New Yorker

An incident report is an official piece of evidence in the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation's ongoing inquiry.

The Guardian

"Pilgrim has for months been the subject of an ongoing inquiry by my office," Mr. Spitzer said.

The New York Times

This decision was made purely on cricketing grounds and was not influenced in any way by the ongoing inquiry.

The Guardian - Sport

We have always believed that Ben's abduction was gypsy-related and have a long ongoing inquiry in Larissa.

The Guardian

"Our navy captured the boat and the people are being investigated," a Defense Ministry official said Monday in Seoul, speaking anonymously because of the ongoing inquiry.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ongoing inquiry", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being investigated. Providing specifics adds clarity and relevance.

Common error

Avoid using "ongoing inquiry" without specifying the subject or purpose of the investigation. General references can be vague and confusing. Always clarify what the inquiry pertains to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ongoing inquiry" functions as a noun phrase where "ongoing" modifies "inquiry". According to Ludwig, this phrase refers to a continuing investigation or examination.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ongoing inquiry" is a commonly used term referring to an investigation that is currently in progress. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. It functions as a noun phrase, typically used to inform or indicate that an investigation is active. Its usage is most frequent in news and media, with a neutral to professional register. For alternative phrasing, consider "current investigation" or "active probe". When using "ongoing inquiry", ensure clarity by specifying the subject of the investigation to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

current investigation

Emphasizes the present state of the investigation.

active probe

Highlights the active and exploratory nature of the inquiry.

continuing examination

Focuses on the uninterrupted nature of the examination.

pending investigation

Indicates that the investigation is still awaiting completion.

unresolved inquiry

Highlights the lack of resolution in the inquiry.

present inquiry

Stresses that the inquiry is happening now.

in-progress investigation

Uses a more descriptive phrasing to indicate the state of the investigation.

uncompleted review

Highlights that the review process is not yet finished.

existing probe

Indicates that the probe is already in place and running.

open investigation

Suggests that the investigation is still open and active.

FAQs

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

You can use "ongoing inquiry" to describe an investigation that is currently in progress. For example, "The company is cooperating with the "ongoing inquiry" into its accounting practices."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "ongoing inquiry"?

You can use alternatives such as "current investigation", "active probe", or "continuing examination" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a ongoing inquiry" or "an ongoing inquiry"?

The correct usage is "an ongoing inquiry" because "ongoing" begins with a vowel sound.

What's the difference between "ongoing inquiry" and "preliminary investigation"?

"Preliminary investigation" refers to the initial stages of an investigation, while ""ongoing inquiry"" describes an investigation that is already in progress and continuing.