These two words mean the same thing even though they have different spellings. It means to ask somebody for information or conduct an investigation on someone or something. It could also mean the act of asking questions while enquiries is a place where you can get information.

Generally speaking, either of the spelling can be used, but it has been observed that a lot of people prefer to use ‘enquire’ and ‘enquiry’ for the general sense of ‘asking questions’ while they use ‘inquire’ and ‘inquiry’ for a formal investigation.

Below are some examples
- Sandra enquired her registration number from the officer
- The last enquiry in my MD’s inbox yesterday was about vacant offices
- The policemen will inquire into the bank’s fraud
- John’s family asked when the inquiry will be concluded

It is common place to for speakers of British English to use enquire and enquiry while inquiry is used more among US English speakers. This is applicable for both formal and informal investigations. The Advanced Oxford Learner’s Dictionary seems to recognise inquire as the more dominant form.

In conclusion, it is your choice to make which spelling you will adopt, although it is better to find out which spelling is used if you are writing for a particular publication. It is advised to stick to inquire if you are unsure of which to use and whichever you decide on, ensure you are consistent.


Credit: Daily Writing Tips