Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. Today, we'll be talking about the difference between Inquire and Enquire. Do you find yourself getting tripped up on these?
If you do, you're not alone. And why? Because they're both technically correct – depending on where you live and your audience! The purpose of today's blog post is to explain the difference so that you can be a grammar pro moving forward.
Inquire and Enquire mean "to ask" or "to investigate," and both are correct spellings. However, inquire (starting with an i) is the more accepted spelling in American English.
Your inquiry into the murder is pointless.
* I'd like to inquire about the bike for sale.
* I'll inquire about getting a raise.
Meanwhile, enquire (starting with an e) and inquire are used in British English. But which one you use in a sentence depends on the context. Traditionally, enquire means "general asking or investigating," while inquiring means to seek information formally or mount an official investigation. Even still, you can still find instances of enquire or enquiry for all contexts.
* Your inquiry into the murder is pointless.
* I'd like to enquire about the bike for sale.
* The police have started an official inquiry into the situation.
So you have to pay attention to where you live, your audience, and your context.
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It's fun to tease friends on Facebook for grammar mistakes or point out errors in other written copy. But any spelling or grammar error in business writing – brochures, website copy, blog posts, press releases, newsletters, etc. – can hurt your business image. Studies show that when choosing between two companies, customers prefer the one with clear and error-free written communication.
We hope you enjoyed today's blog post. If you're interested in having Edit This handle your company's content writing and editing needs, give us a call today! We can write copy from scratch or spruce up what you've already written. When it comes to grammar, everyone could use an extra set of eyes.
STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This®, a writing and editing services company in Denton, TX. He is also the author of Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.
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