enquiry

Enquiry is a noun in English that denotes the act of asking for information or the process of investigating something. It can refer to a request for information from a person or organization, or to a formal process of examining a matter to uncover facts. The related verb forms are enquire (to ask) and inquire (to seek information; more common in modern usage in some regions) and the noun forms are enquiry and inquiry. In practice, British English tends to distinguish enquiry as a request for information or a general investigation, while inquiry is used for a formal investigation; American English typically favours inquiry for both the act of asking and for formal investigations, with inquire as the common verb. Spelling variants persist in many contexts, and usage can vary by institution.

Etymology: the word derives from Middle English enquier(e), from Old French enquierre or enquere, ultimately from Latin inquirere “to seek.” The sense has expanded from a simple act of asking to include systematic investigations in legal, administrative, or academic contexts. In modern usage, common collocations include “public inquiry” (a formal government investigation) and “customer enquiry” (a request for information from a business). The term can also appear in journalism, education, and research settings as part of an information-seeking or fact-finding process.

Enquiries and inquiries appear across legal documents, policy reports, and news media. The concept is also used in educational settings, where an inquiry or enquiry project asks students to investigate a topic and develop evidence-based conclusions.