verbal enquiry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "verbal enquiry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a question or investigation that is conducted through spoken communication rather than written means. Example: "During the meeting, I made a verbal enquiry about the project's progress to ensure everyone was on the same page."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

For studies which reported maternal mortality, in addition to categorising definitions of maternal mortality, we recorded information about special efforts to capture all maternal deaths and the method to confirm deaths as maternal (e.g. confidential enquiry, verbal autopsy) as indication of higher quality.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Furthermore, by undertaking standardised verbal autopsy (VA) enquiries to follow-up deaths, cause-specific mortality can be assessed within specific childhood age groups to see which cause groups account for substantial components of overall mortality (6).

Global Health Action

Three critical incident audits were conducted in two rural districts on Java, Indonesia: a confidential enquiry, a verbal autopsy survey, and a community-based review.

Global Health Action

These approaches are confidential enquiry into maternal deaths (CEMD), facility-based death reviews and community-based death reviews (also called verbal autopsy) [ 4- 8].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Maternal death audit covers three approaches: confidential enquiry into maternal deaths, facility-based maternal death review (MDR) and community-based data-gathering known as verbal autopsy.

BMJ Open

He said: "We now know from enquiries we've been doing overnight and from witnesses that the two men were involved in a verbal discussion, that discussion lasted three to four minutes.

BBC

Did the enquiry agree?

The Guardian

Verbal abuse.

The New Yorker

Verbal Behav.

Nature

Verbal acuity.

Harvard Business Review

A stewards' enquiry was called.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "verbal enquiry", ensure the context clearly indicates that the inquiry was conducted through spoken communication. This is especially important in settings where written records are expected.

Common error

Avoid using "verbal enquiry" when referring to a written request for information. "Verbal" specifically denotes spoken communication, so a written request should be described as a "written enquiry" or a "formal request".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "verbal enquiry" functions as a noun phrase, where "verbal" modifies "enquiry". It describes a type of inquiry or question that is communicated through spoken words. The Ludwig AI indicates this is a correct and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "verbal enquiry" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a request for information made through spoken communication. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, the phrase's register is generally neutral to professional. When using this phrase, ensure clarity that the enquiry was indeed communicated verbally to avoid confusion with written requests. Considering appropriate alternatives such as "oral inquiry" or "spoken question" can also enhance precision in different contexts. Due to the absence of examples, it's hard to determine which is the best specific contexts to use this in, nevertheless, this phrase can be perfectly used in business and formal environments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Spoken inquiry

Replaces "verbal" with "spoken", emphasizing the mode of communication.

Oral inquiry

Substitutes "verbal" with "oral", a more formal synonym.

Spoken question

Replaces "enquiry" with "question", focusing on the act of asking.

Oral question

Combines "oral" and "question", offering a formal alternative.

Spoken request for information

Expands "enquiry" to "request for information", clarifying the purpose.

Oral request for information

Merges "oral" with "request for information", providing a formal and detailed option.

In-person questioning

Highlights the presence of individuals during the inquiry.

Face-to-face inquiry

Emphasizes the direct, personal nature of the inquiry.

Direct questioning

Focuses on the immediacy and lack of intermediaries in the questioning process.

Personal interview

Implies a more structured and formal information-gathering process.

FAQs

What does "verbal enquiry" mean?

"Verbal enquiry" refers to a request for information or an investigation conducted through spoken communication, as opposed to written means.

What can I say instead of "verbal enquiry"?

You can use alternatives like "spoken inquiry", "oral inquiry", or "spoken question" depending on the context.

Is it better to make a "verbal enquiry" or a written one?

The choice between a "verbal enquiry" and a written one depends on the situation. A "verbal enquiry" might be quicker for simple questions, while a written enquiry provides a record and may be more suitable for complex or formal requests.

What's the difference between a "verbal enquiry" and a "verbal consultation"?

A "verbal enquiry" is a simple request for information. A "verbal consultation" implies a more in-depth discussion and exchange of ideas with an expert.