We all may have wondered at some point or the other if there is a difference between a Query, Enquiry & an Inquiry. When do we use these terms? Also, what is the meaning of ‘complaints’ in a formal environment? Our next few posts will answer all these questions for you
Let us see the difference between these terms:
Enquiry: This is a request for some information. It could be formal or informal.
E.g.: I would like to enquire the price of the book.
This is the Enquiries Team.
Inquiry: This is a formal investigation into something.
E.g.: The committee is inquiring the promotion.
An official inquiry is being carried out to find out the intent behind the robbery.
Query: This is simply a question.
E.g.: He queried the fine he would have to pay.
Feel free to ask all your queries here.
Complaint: A complaint is a statement that something is unsatisfactory or unacceptable by a certain standard.
E.g.: I intend to make an official complaint.
This is the Complaints Department.
Another point to remember is that people tend to use Regarding to when responding to complaints. But this is a mistake. We do not use to with regarding. Regarding generally means about or with respect to. However, with regard to has the same meaning as regarding.
E.g.: Mrs Smith, this is regarding your complaint, we will do our best to resolve the issue. Thank you for your patience.
Mrs Smith, this is with regard to your complaint, we will do our best to resolve the issue. Thank you for your patience.