Correct spelling, explanation: the words inquire and enquire have a shared etymology, and they both ultimately derive from the Latin word inquirere, which means to search into or to investigate. Enquire comes from the Middle English word enquere, which was borrowed from the Old French word enquerre, itself derived from the Latin inquirere. Over time, enquerre in Middle English evolved into inquire. Enquire also comes from the same Latin source, inquirere. Both words have the same Latin root and share a common etymology.
Definition of inquire:
verb, to seek for information by questioning
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She called to inquire about the status of her application.
Collocations with inquire:
Some most commonly used collocations include:
1. Inquire into: this phrase is used when you want to investigate or examine something further.
The committee will inquire into the matter and report their findings.
2. Inquire with: this collocation means to ask or seek information from a specific person or source
I’ll inquire with the manager to see if we can get a discount.
3. Inquire after: this means to ask about someone’s well-being or to check on their health or situation.
I wanted to inquire after your grandmother to see how she’s feeling.
Correct spelling, explanation: enquire and inquire essentially mean the same thing. Both words are used to convey the act of asking a question or seeking information. The primary difference lies in their regional and, to some extent, stylistic usage. Enquire is more commonly used in British English and inquire is more commonly used in American English. However, both words can be used interchangeably in most contexts without changing the meaning of the sentence.
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