Results 1 to 23 of 23
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    5,065

    Do you spell it as "inquiry" or "enquiry"?

    I'm just curious how do most people spell that word? Because both are correct spellings. I noticed that by accident on my site I wrote in several places "If you have an inquiry contact yada yada" and then I also wrote "If you have an enquiry contact yada yada".

    It seems I can't make up my mind how I like to spell that word. How do most like to spell that word?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    5,065
    Ok, I see most sites spell it with an "i". I'm going to stick to spelling it with an "i". Man, life is filled with such tough decisions...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    324
    I think "Inquiry" is the appropriate way to spell it, thats what I usually use.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Victoria, Australia
    Posts
    36,941
    Although both are okay, I usually use enquiry.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    5,065
    I see that every large business website uses "inquiry". Both are completely correct. I used to use "enquiry" but lately switched to "inquiry". It seems more popular.

    Silly word, they should just have a single spelling.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    330
    I prefer enquiry over inquiry but I couldn't figure out why. So I looked it up and here's a quote that sums it up quite well (EDIT: Enquiry sounds more friendly and polite I think )
    According to the excellent Longman's Guide to English Usage by Sidney Greenbaum and Janet Whitcut, some British writers use the spelling 'enquire' and 'enquiry' for the 'asking' sense and 'inquire' and 'inquiry' for the 'investigation' sense.
    The two are not distinguished in American English, they say, which prefers 'inquire' and 'inquiry'.
    Quote from http://forums.philosophyforums.com/thread/8557

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    North of some border
    Posts
    5,613
    Quote Originally Posted by Frosty
    I'm just curious how do most people spell that word?
    It depends on where they are from and sometimes on how the word is being used.

    In the US, "inquiry" is the usual spelling. It's the more common spelling in Canada too. In the UK and Australia, the way the word is used is a factor. Here's a British viewpoint:

    ...in recent times British people have developed a difference of meaning between the two forms. Enquire tends to be used for general senses of “ask” (I might enquire after your health, or enquire about some fact or other), while inquire implies a formal investigation (as in the legal forum called a public inquiry). But this isn’t absolute by any means, and British English is being influenced by American English, in which inquire and inquiry have long been the standard forms (though the en- forms are not entirely unknown even there, albeit in rather formal situations; also enquiry is relatively more common than enquire).
    Quote Originally Posted by Frosty
    It seems I can't make up my mind how I like to spell that word.
    Whatever you go with, be consistent.

    An editorial style sheet can help you keep track of how you spell words for a publication such as a website.

    Lois
    "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have." – Theodore Roosevelt

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Victoria, Australia
    Posts
    36,941
    Quote Originally Posted by B33R
    According to the excellent Longman's Guide to English Usage by Sidney Greenbaum and Janet Whitcut, some British writers use the spelling 'enquire' and 'enquiry' for the 'asking' sense and 'inquire' and 'inquiry' for the 'investigation' sense.
    The two are not distinguished in American English, they say, which prefers 'inquire' and 'inquiry'.
    Right, there are times I will use inquiry, it depends on what I am writing (or saying). I couldn't think of any examples of the top of my head, which is why I said I usually use enquiry

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Posts
    11,052
    What B33R said.

    I would answer pre-sales questions with "Thank you for your enquiry", and I would say that CSI are conducting an inquiry.

    Vito
    DemoDemo.com - Flash tutorials since 2002
    DemoWolf.com - 5,300+ Flash tutorials for hosting companies, incl. Voice tutorials

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    330
    I don't think I've ever used the word "inquiry". In the end, it's just two different ways to say the same thing.
    As long as you're consistent I don't think it really matters. That is unless you're dealing with me - I'll have "enquiry" if you don't mind

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    941
    Most of the hosting sites which are into good business spell it was "inquiry"
    Primary email: advanced dot programmer at gmail dot com ..

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    North of some border
    Posts
    5,613
    Quote Originally Posted by superprogram
    Most of the hosting sites which are into good business spell it was "inquiry"
    Is that most US hosting sites, or most hosting sites if you take a sample that includes equal numbers of sites with, let's say, US, Canada, UK, and Australia hosting?

    Lois
    "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have." – Theodore Roosevelt

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Tas, Australia
    Posts
    2,487
    They are different to me. So I use what is appropriate

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    Kalamazoo
    Posts
    33,412
    Quote Originally Posted by Frosty
    Ok, I see most sites spell it with an "i" ...
    It's only used nearly a hundred million more times.

    Results 1 - 10 of about 31,500,000 for enquiry
    Results 1 - 10 of about 131,000,000 for inquiry
    I'm in the group that uses both spellings dependent upon what I'm doing. (Or, dare I say dependant?)
    There is no best host. There is only the host that's best for you.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    941
    How did you search it?
    Primary email: advanced dot programmer at gmail dot com ..

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    1,912
    I pretty much use enquire for asking something and inquire for a formal proceeding/investigation. Just always made better sense to me.

    Some people also use ensure/insure without any difference. I prefer to use insure when a financial issue is involved while ensure for everything else..

    Quote Originally Posted by superprogram
    Most of the hosting sites which are into good business spell it was "inquiry"
    That's new to me
    init.me - Build, Share & Embed

    JodoHost.com - Windows VPS Hosting, ASP.NET and SQL Server Hosting
    8th year in Business, 200+ Servers. Microsoft Gold Certified Partner

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    Kalamazoo
    Posts
    33,412
    Quote Originally Posted by superprogram
    How did you search it?
    Just the one word, on google.
    There is no best host. There is only the host that's best for you.

  18. #18
    Dictionary.com:

    Inquiry - "The act of inquiring.
    A question; a query.
    A close examination of a matter in a search for information or truth."

    Enquiry - "Variant of inquiry."

    I would go with "inquiry."
    |||| ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
    |||| Top 10 Web Hosts - www.TopHostScout.com
    |||| ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Kent, England
    Posts
    715
    I spell it with an 'E'. Dunno why, always have done always will do.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    6,623
    Here's a system: I'd write "...inquire about a check..." but "enquire about a cheque..."

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    North of some border
    Posts
    5,613
    Quote Originally Posted by JayC
    Here's a system: I'd write "...inquire about a check..." but "enquire about a cheque..."
    That system doesn't work in Canada, though.

    Lois
    "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have." – Theodore Roosevelt

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    6,623
    Quote Originally Posted by writespeak
    That system doesn't work in Canada, though.
    Yeah, Canada requires an exception to almost any logical system.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Matrix
    Posts
    2,469
    enquiry is what sounds proper. inquiry is more unformal.
    CPHosting - Web Hosting Experts Since 1998.
    United States | Europe | Singapore | Australia
    Visit Us! www.cphosting.com

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •