Enquiry vs. Investigation

In this lesson, we will try to analyze all the details related to these two confusing words. If you like criminal stories, you may have encountered these words.

What Is Their Main Difference?

Both of them refer to asking questions and gaining information in law cases. However, 'investigation' is done by a police officer in order to gain more evidence and it is the first step of a criminal case, whereas, an 'enquiry' is the act of understanding whether facts are true or not and it is done by the madistrate.

Differences

An 'investigation' usually refers to the first stage of a criminal case in which an officer is determined to gain additional information and it is mostly based of a definite supposition. Check out the following examples:

What have they got from these recent investigations?

The police thought it necessary to conduct another investigation.

'Enquiry', however, is the second stage of a criminal case and it is done by the magistrate in court. Also, the aim here is not to gain extra information, but to determine whether certain claims are true or false. Look at the examples below:

I'd rather rely on a formal enquiry than some unknown claims.

It's is somehow impossible for a magistrate to conduct an enquiry while being totally objective.

Similarities

As stated above, both refer to seeking information officially. Look:

A series of investigations have showed that the criminal has tricked us all.

What does she hope to find out of a formal enquiry?

Are They Interchangeable?

Although they both refer to asking questions, they cannot be used interchangeably. One refers to a chain of events with the goal of gaining extra information, whereas, the other one is determined to submit whether certain claims are true or not. Compare:

✓ I don not want to disappoint you sir, but another investigation seems pointless to me.

Here, the sentence is correct but it has a totally different meaning.

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