private inquiries

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "private inquiries" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to questions or investigations that are conducted discreetly or confidentially. Example: "The detective was known for his private inquiries into the city's most notorious cases."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Although private inquiries are generally deemed insufficiently transparent, they can be extremely useful.

The Economist

Since January 2011, 15 private inquiries have been set up by the authorities to investigate allegations surrounding the work of the undercover officers.

The Guardian

Mr. Bowman says he has gotten about 20 private inquiries to purchase ObamaHillary.com, including several from anonymous buyers and one from a prominent women's advocacy group that is pushing for Mr. Obama to select Mrs. Clinton as his running mate.

The New York Times

Briefly kidnapping a UK delegate and interrogating her about an international oil deal that went bad, only releasing her after Britain and the U.S. made private inquiries.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"This is a private inquiry," he said.

The New York Times

In Victorian England, a "private inquiry agent" helps a teacher rescue her pupils from thugs.

The New York Times

The church now pursued a familiar strategy: hiring a former judge to conduct a private inquiry into an embarrassing scandal.

The Guardian

A massive report about the alleged corruption of former president Daniel Arap Moi had been commissioned from the private inquiry firm Kroll.

The Guardian

American Airlines began a private inquiry Friday into what Mr. Wagner described as the pilot's "poor judgment" and "inappropriate" comments.

The New York Times

Mr. Comey's office made a private inquiry to The Times about Mr. Blair; Mr. Comey did not talk publicly about filing charges.

The New York Times - Arts

A private inquiry by the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) to investigate allegations of torture and abuse of Iraqi prisoners is currently in progress.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "private inquiries" when emphasizing that the investigations or questions are conducted discreetly and not publicly disclosed.

Common error

Avoid using "private inquiries" when referring to general questions or public investigations. Ensure the context involves confidentiality or a non-public process.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "private inquiries" is as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it referring to investigations or questions that are not public.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "private inquiries" denotes investigations or questions conducted with a focus on confidentiality and discretion. Ludwig's analysis indicates it's grammatically sound and usable in written English, primarily in the contexts of news and science. While synonyms like "confidential enquiries" or "discreet investigations" can be used, it's important to ensure the context aligns with the intended meaning of a non-public, often sensitive, inquiry. Remember to avoid misusing the term for public investigations or general questions. While "private inquiries" is a correct and usable English phrase, it's key to use it where confidentiality is a core element.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

private enquiries

Slightly different spelling, maintaining the same meaning.

private investigations

Uses the plural "investigations" to refer to the action of performing private inquiries.

discreet inquiries

Emphasizes the confidentiality aspect of the inquiries.

confidential investigations

Uses "investigations" instead of "inquiries", highlighting the investigative nature while maintaining privacy.

special inquiries

Replaces "private" with "special", implying a focused or dedicated investigation.

secret investigations

Uses "investigations" instead of "inquiries", and "secret" instead of "private", highlighting the investigative nature and secrecy.

personal inquiries

Replaces "private" with "personal", suggesting inquiries related to individual matters.

undercover investigations

Uses "investigations" instead of "inquiries", and "undercover" instead of "private", highlighting the investigative nature and confidentiality.

corporate inquiries

Replaces "private" with "corporate", indicating inquiries within a business context.

particular inquiries

Replaces "private" with "particular", emphasizing the specific nature of the inquiries.

FAQs

How to use "private inquiries" in a sentence?

You can use "private inquiries" to describe investigations or questions conducted discreetly. For example, "The company initiated "private inquiries" to address the internal issues."

What can I say instead of "private inquiries"?

You can use alternatives like "discreet investigations", "confidential enquiries", or "non-public investigations" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "private inquiries" or "public inquiries"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have opposite meanings. "Private inquiries" refer to discreet or confidential investigations, while "public inquiries" are open to the public.

What's the difference between "private inquiries" and "internal investigations"?

"Private inquiries" emphasize the confidentiality of the process, while "internal investigations" highlight that the investigation is conducted within an organization. While they can overlap, the focus differs.