Inquiry vs. enquiry: What’s the difference? The difference between inquiry and enquiry is minor and deals with a nuance in meaning: While the words are sometimes interchangeable, their usage tends to be different in American and British English., While inquire means “to seek information in a formal way,” enquire means “to ask in a general way.”, Inquire is more formal and implies asking about something specific: to inquire about a rumor. To question implies repetition and persistence in asking; it often applies to legal examinationor investigation: to question the survivor of an accident., If you inquire about something, you ask for information about it. 'Is something wrong?' he enquired. [VERB with quote] 'Who are you?' he enquired of the first man. [VERB + of] I rang up to inquire about train times. [VERB + about] He inquired whether there had been any messages for him. [VERB wh], Definition of inquire verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. to ask somebody for some information. inquire about somebody/something I called the school to inquire about the application process. inquire as to somebody/something She inquired as to your whereabouts. inquire why, where, etc… He inquired why you were so late., inquire (third-person singular simple present inquires, present participle inquiring, simple past and past participle inquired) (ambitransitive) (intransitive, US, Canada, Australia) To ask (about something)..