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Commonly Confused Words
Enquire/Inquire
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North/Northern
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Enquire vs. Inquire
Enquire
/ɪnˈkwaɪə/
Learn more about synonyms and antonyms
To ask for information or investigate
Examples:
I
enquired
, looking round the room at everyone.
'What can I do for you?' he
enquired
coldly.
"What old lady?"
enquired
the King.
Synonyms:
ask
investigate
question
query
probe
Antonyms:
answer
reply
respond
Learn more about synonyms and antonyms
Inquire
/ɪnˈkwaɪə/
To ask for information
Examples:
The detective will
inquire
further into the case.
Parents often
inquire
about the school's curriculum.
He decided to
inquire
about the strange noises.
Synonyms:
ask
question
query
interrogate
investigate
Antonyms:
answer
reply
respond
Ways to tell them apart:
Both
inquire
and
enquire
mean to ask or to seek information.
Inquire
is more commonly used in American English.
Enquire
is more often found in British English.
They are used interchangeably in informal settings, but have slightly different usages in formal contexts.
It
s helpful to remember that
inquire
and
investigation
both start with
in', aligning with its formal usage.
When to use enquire:
When to use inquire:
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