Inquery vs. Inquiry: Which is Correct?

"Inquery" is the incorrect spelling of "inquiry."
An "inquiry" refers to a systematic process of seeking information, knowledge, or understanding about a particular subject or matter.

For example...

❌ Could you please provide more details or context for the inquery you have in mind?

✅ Could you please provide more details or context for the inquiry you have in mind?

In this sentence, the word "inquiry" refers to a specific question or request for information that the speaker is asking the listener to elaborate on or provide more details about.

Inquiry

Part of speech: noun

Other forms: inquiring (adjective), inquire (verb)

1. A formal question or request for information.

Example: I made an inquiry about the store's return policy.

2. A systematic investigation to establish facts or solve a problem.

Example: The committee conducted a thorough inquiry into the financial scandal.

3. A general search for knowledge or understanding.

Example: The scientist's inquiry led to a breakthrough in cancer treatment.

4. (formal) A formal hearing or examination into a matter of public interest.

Example: The coroner's inquiry into the death of the politician.

Origin

Late Middle English: from Old French enquere ‘inquire,’ from Latin inquirere, from in- ‘in’ + quaerere ‘seek’.

As shown in the graph below, "inquiry" is used in greater frequency than "inquery." Since the 1840s, the use of "inquiry" has decreased.

How do we pronounce inquiry?

In American English, "inquiry" is pronounced in·kwr·ee.

In British English, "inquiry" is pronounced uhng·kwai·uh·ree.

Additional notes:
These are just the standard pronunciations, and there may be slight variations depending on regional accents and individual speech patterns.

Check out our other related blogposts:

🖊️ Negative Questions and Agreeing With Negatives
🖊️ Inquires Meaning and Examples

Why does the misspelling of inquiry as inquery occur?

There are two main reasons why "inquiry" might be misspelled as "inquery":

1. Confusion with "enquiry":

People familiar with "enquiry" might accidentally carry over the "e" when writing "inquiry" in American English. This is especially likely if they are unfamiliar with the spelling conventions of American English or are not typing in a controlled environment.

Enlist the help of an AI proofreader to help prevent your written work from having any grammatical errors.

Other misspellings of inquiry

Some common misspellings of "inquiry" include:

Enquiry
Inqury
Enqury

It's important to note that "inquiry" and "enquiry" are both accepted spellings in British English, but "inquiry" is more commonly used in American English.

Example sentences of the misspelling of inquiry as inquery

Below are example sentences highlighting that “inquery” is an incorrect spelling.

The correct spelling is "inquiry," not "inquery."
I noticed a small error in your message; it should be spelled as "inquiry," not "inquery."
Please be aware that the proper spelling is "inquiry," and not "inquery" as mentioned.
There seems to be a typo in your text; the word should be spelled "inquiry," not "inquery."
Just a quick correction: the right way to spell it is "inquiry," not with an additional 'u' as in "inquery."

Example sentences of inquiry

The detective conducted a thorough inquiry to gather information about the crime scene.
The professor encouraged students to submit their inquiries about the upcoming exam for clarification.
The customer made an inquiry about the availability of the product and its shipping options.
The journalist's inquiry into the government's policies uncovered hidden details that sparked public interest.
The research team launched an inquiry into the effects of climate change on the local ecosystem.
During the press conference, reporters raised numerous inquiries regarding the company's recent financial decisions.
The committee initiated an inquiry to investigate allegations of misconduct within the organization.
The curious child's constant inquiries about the universe led to engaging conversations with the science teacher.
Citizens submitted inquiries to their local government seeking information on community development projects.
The lawyer framed his questions carefully during the inquiry to gather evidence for the upcoming trial.

Synonyms of inquiry

Investigation
Examination
Probe
Interrogation
Scrutiny

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