Should You Inquire or Enquire?

This one is very easy if you are an American. In American English, inquire is the preferred form.

If you are in Great Britain, however, things get a bit more tricky. Enquire is used of informal questions, but inquire is used of official investigations. Examples: I am going into that pub to enquire whether they have Killian’s or Guinness. The local council asked a committee to inquire into the alleged embezzlement of community funds.

Here again, the author must consider his audience. If you are an American or are writing for a predominantly American audience, use inquire and inquiry. If you are British or are writing for a British audience, you must choose whether you need the informal or the formal form of the word.

Tags: Britishisms, Spelling