we were inquiring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were inquiring" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express that you were seeking information or asking questions about something in the past. Example: "We were inquiring about the status of our application and any further steps we need to take."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We're inquiring into the incident.

The New York Times

"We are inquiring as to whether we are going to be included," said Barbra Minch, president of the William F. Ryan Community Health Center in Manhattan.

The New York Times

The inverse of a system is a system, which when we cascade it with the one that we're inquiring about, the overall cascade is the identity system.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"We are inquiring with the train guard and the police personnel if they heard any unusual noises on the roof," police superintendent P Vijayakumar said.

The Guardian

Given that we have been inquiring into the issue of whether or not the Committee has been misled, in theory the scope for overlap with either the police investigation or Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry should be limited.

The New York Times

(Again, a second shrine; has no one pointed out that Blair might have avoided all this by being a little more original in his gift-giving?) Perhaps we should be inquiring about a Roosevelt bust at 10 Downing Street — or, more radically, whether the average British person actually cares about the Churchill bust.

The New Yorker

As Pollock sees it, we shouldn't even be inquiring whether parental love existed in the old days; we should just be asking "what love meant" in any given time and place.

The New Yorker

Team leaders were inquired for organizational factors while team members were inquired for leader's entrepreneurial orientation.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Children were inquired about.

Los Angeles Times

Gender, age, and highest completed educational level were inquired after.

BMC Public Health

Other covariates were inquired and updated during follow-up.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were inquiring" when you want to convey a polite and somewhat formal tone, especially when referring to past actions of seeking information or clarification. This can be useful in professional correspondence or reports.

Common error

Avoid using "we were inquiring" in very casual contexts. Simpler alternatives like "we asked" or "we were asking" are often more appropriate for informal conversations and communications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were inquiring" functions as a past continuous tense construction. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to describe an action of seeking information or making a request that was in progress at a particular time in the past. It implies a polite and often formal approach.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were inquiring" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to convey that information was being sought in the past. Ludwig AI indicates that its usage is correct and fairly common. While slightly more formal than simply "we asked", it suits professional and polite communications, as well as news or general discussions. Though versatile, it should be used judiciously in very informal settings. Alternative options include "we asked", "we investigated", and "we sought information".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we asked

This is a direct and simple substitute, replacing "inquiring" with a more common verb.

we were asking

Emphasizes the continuous nature of asking, similar to "we were inquiring".

we investigated

Suggests a more thorough examination or formal inquiry.

we were investigating

Implies an ongoing investigation, similar to the continuous aspect of "inquiring".

we sought information

More formal, highlighting the search for knowledge.

we were seeking information

Similar to the above, with a focus on the continuous seeking of information.

we looked into

More casual way of saying that we investigated something.

we were looking into

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of examining something.

we made inquiries

Formal alternative, emphasizing the act of making official requests.

we were making inquiries

Highlights the continuous action of making official requests.

FAQs

What's a simpler way to say "we were inquiring"?

You can use simpler alternatives like "we asked" or "we were asking", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "we were inquiring"?

This phrase is suitable for formal settings, such as business correspondence or official reports, where a polite and professional tone is desired.

What's the difference between "we were inquiring" and "we inquired"?

"We were inquiring" suggests an ongoing or repeated action in the past, while "we inquired" implies a single, completed action. For example, "We were inquiring about the status of the project" suggests we asked multiple times, whereas "We inquired about the status" indicates a single instance of asking.

Are there synonyms for "we were inquiring" that imply a more thorough investigation?

Yes, phrases like "we were investigating" or "we looked into" suggest a more detailed and formal examination.