enquiring

Enquiring is the present participle of the British English verb en enquire, meaning to seek information by asking questions or to investigate. The noun form enquirer refers to a person who asks questions. In American English, the corresponding verb is inquire, with the present participle inquiring and the noun inquirer.

Etymology: Enquire derives from Middle English enqueren, from Old French enquerre, from Latin inquirere (to seek, search). The verbs share the same root, with regional spelling variants reflecting differences between British and American usage.

Usage: Enquiring is used in phrases such as an enquiring mind, to enquire about something (to request information), and to enquire into a matter (to investigate). The noun enquirer denotes the person who asks questions or who conducts the inquiry. In American English, the corresponding forms are inquire, inquiring, and inquirer, and the preferred noun tends to be inquiry.

Notes: While enquirer/enquiring and inquirer/inquiring are largely interchangeable in everyday writing, they carry regional connotations. Enquiry and inquiry are also distinct noun spellings used for a request for information or a formal investigation, respectively. The choice of spelling and the corresponding -ing form depend on regional conventions and formality.