Thursday 12 May 2016

Editing Tips: Advise/Advice and Enquire/Inquire

A couple to share with you today. For US readers, please note that the difference between enquiry/inquiry is general observed more in UK English than US English.


Advice/Advise

This one is a simple case of noun vs. verb, as follows:

He asked his mother for advice. (noun)
His mother advised him to forget about it. (verb)


Enquire vs. Inquire

These days difference between the two is less observed; however, in UK English it used to be that enquire was used more in the sense of asking about something, whereas inquire had a more formal/investigative sense

He enquired about the book he had ordered.
The inquiry lasted several weeks.

I, personally, observe this one when it's a case of enquiry vs. inquiry, but I always use enquire as the verb.

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