inquiries
HighFormal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
Questions or requests for information.
Formal investigations, especially official ones carried out by authorities or organizations; the act of asking or seeking to know something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Predominantly used in its plural form. The singular 'inquiry' is less common in everyday usage. The word implies a structured or purposeful seeking of information.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'inquiry' is standard in American English. In British English, both 'inquiry' and 'enquiry' are used, with a common (though not absolute) distinction: 'enquiry' for a simple question and 'inquiry' for a formal investigation. The plural 'inquiries' is used for both senses in the US.
Connotations
In British usage, 'inquiries' (or 'enquiries') can sound slightly more formal than 'questions'. In American English, it is the standard formal term.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in official/business contexts. In British English, the informal 'questions' is often preferred for everyday use.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to make inquiries about sthinquiries into sthinquiries from sbinquiries concerning sthVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a court of inquiry”
- “the great unknown (conceptual)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for customer questions, RFPs (Requests for Proposal), and internal fact-finding.
Academic
Refers to research questions or lines of investigation in a study.
Everyday
Less common; often replaced by 'questions'. Used for formal situations like asking at a public desk.
Technical
Used in computing for database queries or in law for formal investigative processes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She inquires after your health.
- He inquired about the train times.
American English
- She inquires about the return policy.
- The committee will inquire into the matter.
adjective
British English
- The inquiry report was published yesterday.
- They set up an inquiry panel.
American English
- The inquiry process is lengthy.
- He has an inquiring mind.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please send your inquiries to this email address.
- I have an inquiry about the homework.
- The hotel desk handles all guest inquiries.
- We made several inquiries but found no information.
- The minister promised a full public inquiry into the disaster.
- All media inquiries must be directed to our communications team.
- The committee's inquiries revealed systemic failures in the protocol.
- Philosophical inquiries into the nature of consciousness are inherently complex.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a QUIRE of paper (a set of sheets) – you need a 'quire' of information, so you make in-QUIRE-ies.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A TERRITORY / SEEKING IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'pursuing inquiries', 'following a line of inquiry').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'испытания' (tests/trials).
- Do not confuse with 'расследование' (investigation) for simple questions.
- The plural form is essential; a single 'inquiry' is rare in many contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'inquiries' as a singular verb (e.g., 'He inquiries' – incorrect; correct: 'He inquires' or 'He makes inquiries').
- Misspelling as 'enquiries' in American English.
- Overusing in casual speech where 'questions' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'inquiries' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the standard plural form of the noun 'inquiry' (or 'enquiry'). The verb form is 'inquires'/'inquired'.
In American English, 'inquiry' is used for all senses. In British English, 'enquiry' is often used for a simple question, and 'inquiry' for a formal investigation, but this distinction is not always strictly observed.
It is grammatically correct but often sounds formal. In casual speech, native speakers typically use 'questions'.
In British English: /ɪnˈkwaɪəriz/. In American English: /ˈɪnkwəriz/ or /ɪnˈkwaɪriz/. The stress differs.