Enquiries

Enquiries, in British English, refer to requests for information or clarification, or the information arising from such requests. It is the plural form of enquiry. In American English the spelling inquiries is more common, and inquiries is used for both questions and investigations. The distinction between enquiry and inquiry is not rigid, but enquiry is often associated with questions or requests, while inquiry can indicate a formal investigation.

Enquiries have broad applications across sectors. In business, a customer may make an enquiry about products, services, pricing, or availability. Public bodies handle enquiries from citizens and researchers through help desks, information centres, or online portals. Journalists, researchers, and libraries field information enquiries about holdings, access, or policies. Legal and regulatory contexts may involve formal information requests or records enquiries.

The handling of an enquiry typically follows a defined process: submission via telephone, email, web form, or in person; acknowledgement and categorization; routing to the appropriate department; a response within defined service levels; and documentation or archiving for future reference. Privacy and data protection rules govern the collection and retention of personal information in enquiries. In many jurisdictions, the term inquiry is used for formal investigations or official reviews, including parliamentary or government inquiries.

Related concepts include freedom of information requests, public inquiries, and customer support inquiries. Enquiries are a routine part of information management in organizations, supporting transparency, service delivery, and informed decision-making.