different between inquiry vs observation

English

Alternative forms

• enquiry

Etymology

From Middle English enquery, from the Old French verb enquerre, from Latin inqu?r?. Later respelled to conform to the original Latin spelling, as opposed to the Old French spelling.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?kwa???i/, /??-/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n?kwa?(?)?i/, /??nkw??i/, /???-/
• Hyphenation: in?qui?ry
• Rhymes: -a??ri

Noun

inquiry (countable and uncountable, plural inquiries)

1. The act of inquiring; a seeking of information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning.
2. Search for truth, information, or knowledge; examination of facts or principles; research; investigation

Derived terms

• line of inquiry

Usage notes

According to Fowler's Modern English Usage (1926), inquiry should be used in relation to a formal inquest, and enquiry to the act of questioning. Many (though not all) British writers maintain this distinction; the Oxford English Dictionary, in its entry not updated since 1900, lists inquiry and enquiry as equal alternatives, in that order. Some British dictionaries, such as Chambers 21st Century Dictionary [1], present the two spellings as interchangeable variants in the general sense, but prefer inquiry for the "formal inquest" sense. In Australian English, inquiry represents a formal inquest (such as a government investigation) while enquiry is used in the act of questioning (eg: the customer enquired about the status of his loan application). Both spellings are current in Canadian English, where enquiry is often associated with scholarly or intellectual research. (See Pam Peters, The Cambridge Guide to English Usage, p. 282.)

American English usually uses inquiry.

Translations

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “inquiry”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

English

Etymology

From Middle English observacion, borrowed from Middle French observacion. Also a borrowing from French observation and a learned borrowing from Latin observ?ti?(n-).Morphologically observe +? -ation

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??bz??ve??(?)n/
• (General American) enPR: ?b'z?r-v??sh?n, -v?sh?n, IPA^(key): /??bz??ve???n/, /-?ve??n?/
• Rhymes: -e???n
• Hyphenation: ob?ser?va?tion

Noun

observation (countable and uncountable, plural observations)

1. The act of observing, and the fact of being observed (see observance)
2. The act of noting and recording some event; or the record of such noting.
3. A remark or comment.
   • 1734, Alexander Pope, Of the Knowledge and Characters of Men

     To observations which ourselves we make / We grow more partial for the observer's sake.

4. A judgement based on observing.
5. Performance of what is prescribed; adherence in practice; observance.
   • 1650, Jeremy Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living

     We are to procure dispensation or leave to omit the observation of it in such circumstances.

6. A regime under which a subject is routinely observed.
7. Philosophically as: the phenomenal presence of human being existence.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

• observation on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin observ?ti?. Synchronically analysable as observer +? -ation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p.s??.va.sj??/

Noun

observation f (plural observations)

1. observation

Further reading

• “observation” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Interlingua

Noun

observation (plural observationes)

1. observation (something that has been observed)
2. observation (act or process of observing)
3. observation (regime under which a subject is routinely observed)