to inquire that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'to inquire that' is not correct in written English.
Instead, you can use 'to inquire about' or 'to inquire into'. For example, "I will go to the library to inquire into the author's background."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Other brethren, conservatively-dressed with shortish hair, moustaches, or beards, go quietly about their business in banks, garages, shops, factories, offices, or surgeries, indistinguishable from the straight fraternity - except that in San Francisco they are much more likely to proclaim to anyone who bothers to inquire that they are gay.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Jo James of Bakersfield says to inquire at a place that sells mobile home or trailer supplies; evidently the appliances available in such places are smaller in size than regular home appliances.

Los Angeles Times

We did not go back and look at the last two years, five years, ten years, to inquire". All that Breeden's "fairly narrowly focused" probing proves is that nothing fishy was going on while he was looking.

Forbes

Plato famously argues in the Meno that all knowledge is recollection, for it is impossible to inquire about that of which one is ignorant.

SEP

No one ever came calling to inquire about that out or the middling career of a second-string catcher.

The New York Times

It requires instead that the applicant be in fact attached to those principles when he seeks naturalization, and § 15 makes provision for the Government to institute an independent suit, subsequent to naturalization, to inquire whether that condition was then in fact fulfilled.

Cornell University

The recent Federal Circuit opinion in Therasense may have eliminated the judicial "duty to inquire" doctrine that kept these obligations in balance.

Duke University

Some gyms offer guest passes to local facilities; be sure to inquire about that too.

Huffington Post

That artistic endeavor not only serves as my unofficial portrait, it proudly hangs in my home waiting for visitors to inquire how that came to be.

Huffington Post

After we inquired, that deal is now said to be off.

Forbes

Governments that operate under constitutions protecting freedom of expression have to inquire, urgently, whether that freedom exists when everything is spied on, monitored, listened to.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for grammatical precision, always use "to inquire about" or "to inquire into" instead of "to inquire that". The latter is generally considered incorrect in standard English.

Common error

Avoid using "that" directly after "inquire". It's more appropriate to use "about" or "into" to maintain grammatical correctness. For example, say "inquire about the details" instead of "inquire that details".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to inquire that" functions as an infinitive phrase used to express the intention to seek information. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English and it should be replaced with something like "to inquire about that" or "to inquire into that".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to inquire that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests using "to inquire about" or "to inquire into" as alternatives. The phrase aims to express the intention to seek information, appearing in contexts ranging from news to academia. While "inquire" itself lends a slightly formal tone, the incorrect grammar undermines this. It's best practice to use "about" or "into" for grammatical accuracy and clarity. Although examples exist, the frequency of this construction is rare, therefore you should prefer alternative phrasings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to inquire about that

Replaces "that" with "about that" making the phrase grammatically correct and more commonly used.

to inquire into that

Substitutes "that" with "into that" creating a grammatically correct and more formal phrasing.

to ask about that

Replaces "inquire" with the simpler and more direct "ask", maintaining the same meaning.

to investigate that

Uses "investigate" instead of "inquire", suggesting a more thorough and formal examination.

to look into that

Offers a more informal alternative to "inquire", implying a casual investigation.

to check that

Substitutes "inquire" with "check", indicating a verification process.

to examine that

Replaces "inquire" with "examine", suggesting a closer and more analytical look.

to explore that

Uses "explore" instead of "inquire", implying a broader and more open-ended investigation.

to determine that

Replaces "inquire" with "determine", focusing on the goal of reaching a conclusion.

to ascertain that

Substitutes "inquire" with "ascertain", suggesting a formal and careful effort to find something out.

FAQs

What's the correct way to use "inquire" when seeking information?

Use "inquire about" or "inquire into" followed by the subject of your question. For instance, "inquire about the price" or "inquire into the matter". Avoid "inquire that", as it's grammatically incorrect.

What can I say instead of "to inquire that"?

You can use alternatives like "to inquire about", "to inquire into", or "to ask about" depending on the context.

Is "to inquire that" grammatically correct?

No, "to inquire that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct phrasing is "to inquire about" or "to inquire into".

How does the formality of "to inquire about" differ from "to ask about"?

"To inquire about" is more formal than "to ask about". Use "to inquire about" in professional or academic settings, while "to ask about" is suitable for casual conversations.