Inquire vs. Enquire: Which is Correct?

Both inquire and enquire mean "to question or seek information about". Inquire is dominant in American English. In British English, however, both words are used.

Inquire and enquire are pronounced exactly the same way and are almost identical in meaning, which makes them confusing for English language learners and native speakers alike. Since the words have such similar meanings, the good news is that you'll rarely be in trouble for using the wrong one. By the end of this post, however, you'll be equipped to make the most precise choice.

Regional Differences

The first step to figuring out whether you should use inquire or enquire is determining your primary audience. Inquire is dominant in American English, so if you have a mostly North American audience, it is usually the right choice. In British English, however, both words are used. If your target audience is mostly British, European, or made of Commonwealth countries such as Australia, read on to learn about the subtle difference between the two words.

Inquire vs. Enquire

While inquire and enquire are often used interchangeably even in British English, there is a minor difference in terms of the contexts they are appropriate for.

Both words mean "to question or seek information about". However, inquire is preferred for formal requests and official investigations, while enquire is used more broadly, referring to any type of question or request—formal or informal.

Noun versions of the word, inquiry and enquiry, are distinguished through similar means. For instance, a police investigation or business request might be called an inquiry, while a general request such as asking whether a hotel room is available might be called an enquiry.

Example Sentences:

Inquire (American/British English):

I will inquire about the catering options for our conference.
The customer wanted to inquire about the shipping status of their order.
Feel free to inquire if you have any questions about the event.
I will inquire about the availability of hotel rooms for our trip.
Please feel free to inquire if you have any questions or concerns.
The detective will inquire into the circumstances of the crime.
She decided to inquire with the real estate agent about available properties.
Customers often inquire about our return policy before making a purchase.
I'll inquire about the status of your application with the admissions office.
He called to inquire about the progress of his order.

Enquire (British English):

She decided to enquire about the job opening at the local company.
The librarian encouraged visitors to enquire about their extensive book collection.
The committee chose not to start an enquiry into the matter.
He decided to enquire about the train schedule at the information desk.
Please don't hesitate to enquire if you need any assistance.
I need to enquire about the availability of tickets for the concert.
The journalist will enquire into the allegations of corruption within the government.
She called to enquire about the cost of the tour package.
You can enquire about your account balance at the bank.
The curious child always likes to enquire about how things work.

In summary, when choosing between "inquire" and "enquire," consider your audience as well as the context of your usage. Inquire and enquire share the same core meaning, and the difference primarily lies in regional preferences. While "inquire" is favored in American English, both are prevalent in British English, and you should choose depending on the formality of the context.

If you still are unsure about which to use, try out Engram where you can submit your English sentences to get immediate feedback and suggestions based on how native English speakers write.