respond to inquiry

USAGE SUMMARY

"respond to inquiry" is correct and usable in written English
You can use it when referring to answering a question or supplying information that someone has requested. For example, "Our customer service team is available 24/7 to respond to inquiries about product availability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The FBI failed to respond to inquiries.

Independent

Some did not respond to inquiries.

The New York Times

George Washington did not respond to inquiries.

The New York Times - Health

City officials did not respond to inquiries.

The New York Times

Asic did not respond to inquiries.

The Guardian - Money

The China Securities Regulatory Commission in Beijing did not respond to inquiries.

The New York Times

Mrs Obama's office did not immediately respond to inquiries.

Independent

The restaurant did not immediately respond to inquiries on Friday.

Independent

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to inquiries.

Independent

Mr. Casas did not respond to inquiries seeking comment.

The New York Times

Police in Wyandotte did not immediately respond to inquiries.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific instance or a singular question, ensure you use an article, such as "respond to the inquiry" or "respond to an inquiry" to maintain grammatical precision.

Common error

While often used interchangeably, "inquiry" is preferred in American English for all senses, whereas in British English, "enquiry" is often used for a simple request for information and "inquiry" for a formal investigation. Be consistent with your chosen regional spelling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "respond to inquiry" functions as a transitive verb phrase where "respond" is the head verb, "to" is the required preposition and "inquiry" is the noun complement. In professional contexts, it describes the communicative act of providing requested information. Ludwig AI confirms this structure is standard in modern English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "respond to inquiry" (and its plural counterpart "respond to inquiries") is a cornerstone of professional and journalistic English. According to Ludwig AI and numerous high-quality sources, it is the standard way to describe the act of replying to requests for information. While the plural form is more frequent when describing general responsiveness, the singular form remains correct when referring to a specific case, typically requiring an article like "an" or "the". It carries a professional tone, making it ideal for business correspondence, news reporting and official statements. Whether used to indicate a failure to comment or a commitment to customer service, this phrase remains a precise and essential tool for any writer's vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

answer a query

Uses query which often implies a more technical or database-related request for information

provide a response

Shifts the focus from the action of responding to the information provided itself

reply to a question

More conversational and generic than using the term inquiry

address an inquiry

Suggests dealing with the content of the request more thoroughly rather than just providing a simple reply

field an inquiry

Commonly used in public relations to describe managing incoming questions from the media

follow up on an inquiry

Implies a secondary or subsequent action after the initial request was received

acknowledge a request

Focuses on confirming receipt of the request rather than providing the final answer

handle a request

A broader term that encompasses the entire process of managing a task or information demand

fulfill a request for information

Formal phrasing emphasizing that the specific information requested was successfully delivered

react to an inquiry

Suggests a response that is more of a reflexive or immediate action

FAQs

How to use "respond to inquiry" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe professional follow-up, such as "The department failed to "respond to inquiries" regarding the new policy" or "Please "respond to the inquiry" by the end of the business day".

Is it 'respond to inquiry' or 'respond to an inquiry'?

When referring to a specific request, it is grammatically necessary to include an article, such as "respond to "an inquiry"". The bare phrase "respond to inquiry" is often used as a heading or in abstract descriptions of tasks.

What can I say instead of "respond to inquiry"?

Depending on the level of formality, you might use alternatives like "answer the query", "reply to the message" or "address the request".

What is the difference between "respond to inquiry" and "investigate an inquiry"?

To "respond to inquiry" means to provide an answer or reaction to a question, whereas to "investigate an inquiry" suggests a deeper look into a formal complaint or a complex matter before answering.