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02-06-2006, 01:12 AM #1Web Hosting Master
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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?
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02-06-2006, 01:19 AM #2Web Hosting Master
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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...
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02-06-2006, 01:27 AM #3Web Hosting Guru
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I think "Inquiry" is the appropriate way to spell it, thats what I usually use.
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02-06-2006, 01:29 AM #4
Although both are okay, I usually use enquiry.
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02-06-2006, 01:37 AM #5Web Hosting Master
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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.
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02-06-2006, 01:56 AM #6Web Hosting Guru
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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'.
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02-06-2006, 02:00 AM #7Originally Posted by Frosty
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).Originally Posted by Frosty
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 █
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02-06-2006, 02:35 AM #8Originally Posted by B33R
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02-06-2006, 02:54 AM #9Eternal Member
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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.
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02-06-2006, 03:02 AM #10Web Hosting Guru
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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
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02-06-2006, 03:30 AM #11Web Hosting Master
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Most of the hosting sites which are into good business spell it was "inquiry"
Primary email: advanced dot programmer at gmail dot com ..
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02-06-2006, 03:34 AM #12Originally Posted by superprogram
Lois█ "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have." – Theodore Roosevelt █
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02-06-2006, 07:02 AM #13Web Hosting Master
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They are different to me. So I use what is appropriate
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02-06-2006, 09:48 AM #14Dennis Johnson
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Originally Posted by Frosty
Results 1 - 10 of about 31,500,000 for enquiryResults 1 - 10 of about 131,000,000 for inquiryThere is no best host. There is only the host that's best for you.
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02-06-2006, 11:38 AM #15Web Hosting Master
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How did you search it?
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02-06-2006, 11:49 AM #16Web Hosting Master
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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..
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02-06-2006, 12:12 PM #17Dennis Johnson
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Originally Posted by superprogramThere is no best host. There is only the host that's best for you.
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02-06-2006, 01:21 PM #18Web Hosting Master
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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."█ |||| ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
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02-06-2006, 01:33 PM #19Standard Nerd
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I spell it with an 'E'. Dunno why, always have done always will do.
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02-06-2006, 04:09 PM #20Web Hosting Master
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Here's a system: I'd write "...inquire about a check..." but "enquire about a cheque..."
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02-06-2006, 04:12 PM #21Originally Posted by JayC
Lois█ "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have." – Theodore Roosevelt █
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02-06-2006, 04:23 PM #22Web Hosting Master
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Originally Posted by writespeak
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02-06-2006, 06:25 PM #23Web Hosting Master
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enquiry is what sounds proper. inquiry is more unformal.
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