With reference to your inquiry

Using this phrase is easier than setting up a new iPhone, I promise. You almost always place it at the very beginning of your email or letter. It serves as your opening hook. You usually follow it with a comma and then the main point of your message. For example: With reference to your inquiry, I have attached the price list. It acts as a label for your email. It tells the reader exactly why they are receiving this message before they even get to the second sentence. You can also use it to refer to a specific date or reference number to be even more precise. Something like With reference to your inquiry dated October 5th makes you look like a total pro who keeps excellent records. Just be careful not to over-complicate the rest of the sentence. Keep the follow-up simple so the reference stays clear. If you use it in the middle of a paragraph, it can feel a bit clunky, like wearing a tuxedo to a backyard BBQ. Stick to the intro for maximum impact.

This phrase lives in the very formal to formal neighborhood. You would use it with a boss you don't know well, a potential client, or a government office. It is the gold standard for corporate communication. You will see it in official letters, legal documents, and high-level customer service emails. If you use this with your best friend, they might think you’ve been replaced by a robot or that you’re about to sue them for that $10 they owe you. On the formality scale, it is much higher than About your question or Regarding your email. It suggests a level of seriousness and decorum. It is very popular in British English (often spelled enquiry there), but it is widely accepted in American business circles too. It’s like the dark blue suit of English phrases—it never goes out of style and works for almost any serious occasion.

Imagine you’re a freelance graphic designer. A big tech company emails you asking about your rates. You reply: With reference to your inquiry about my portfolio, I would be happy to schedule a call. Boom. Instant credibility. Or maybe you are emailing a university admissions office because you’re confused about the visa process. They might write back: With reference to your inquiry regarding the Tier 4 visa, please see the attached guide. It’s also common in automated but professional settings. If you use a contact form on a website like Airbnb or a luxury hotel, their first auto-reply might start this way. Even in the world of online shopping, if you ask a seller on Etsy about shipping to France, a savvy seller might use this to show they are a serious business person. It turns a simple chat into a documented transaction.

Reach for this phrase when the stakes are professional. It’s perfect for job applications when you’re following up on a specific question the recruiter asked. It’s also great for customer support roles; it makes the customer feel like their specific issue is being tracked. Use it when you want to sound authoritative but polite. If you are writing a formal complaint or a legal notice, this phrase is your best friend. It sets a structured tone that demands a structured response. It’s also very useful when you’re replying to an email that had multiple questions. You can use it to address them one by one: With reference to your inquiry about pricing... followed later by With reference to your inquiry about delivery.... It keeps things incredibly organized, which is a trait everyone loves in a colleague.

Avoid this phrase in casual settings at all costs. Do not use it in a WhatsApp group with your friends. If you say, "With reference to your inquiry about where we are eating dinner," your friends will probably stage an intervention. It is also too stiff for internal Slack messages with close teammates. In those cases, a simple Re: or About... is much better. Also, don't use it if no inquiry was actually made. If you just start an email with this out of the blue, the reader will be very confused looking for a question they never asked. It’s a reactive phrase, not a proactive one. Finally, if the situation is highly emotional—like apologizing to a neighbor for your dog barking—this phrase will make you sound cold and uncaring. Use "I'm so sorry about..." instead of a formal reference.

One of the most common trips-ups is using the plural references. It should always be singular: With reference to. Another classic is mixing it up with In reference of, which is grammatically incorrect. Always use to. People also often forget the comma after the phrase, which makes the sentence run together like a melted ice cream cone. Another mistake is using enquiry and inquiry interchangeably without knowing the regional preference. While both are okay, inquiry is the standard in the US, and enquiry is more common in the UK for general questions. Also, watch out for redundancy. Don't say With reference to your inquiry that you asked me. The word inquiry already implies they asked! Keep it lean and mean.

• ✗ With references to your inquiry → ✓ With reference to your inquiry
• ✗ In reference of your inquiry → ✓ With reference to your inquiry
• ✗ With reference to your inquiry I am sending... → ✓ With reference to your inquiry, I am sending...

If With reference to feels a bit too heavy, you have options. Regarding is a great, slightly less formal alternative. It’s like the "business casual" version—no tie, but still a blazer. In response to your inquiry is another solid choice that feels a bit more active. If you want to sound very British and very formal, you can try Further to your enquiry. This suggests a continuing conversation. In American English, people often just use In reference to. If you’re in a hurry and the culture is a bit more modern, Following up on your question works beautifully. It’s friendly, clear, and professional without being "Victorian era" formal. For very short messages or subject lines, you can just use Re: which is the ultimate shortcut for "About this topic."

Is this phrase too old-fashioned? Not at all! While it is formal, it is still the standard in industries like law, finance, and international trade. Is it okay for email subject lines? Usually, no. It's too long for a subject line. Use Inquiry regarding... or Re: [Topic] instead. Can I use it in a phone call? You could, but it sounds a bit strange spoken aloud. In person or on the phone, we usually say "Regarding your question" or "To answer your question." It’s much more of a "written" phrase. Does it matter if I use inquiry or enquiry? In the US, inquiry is used for everything. In the UK, an enquiry is a general question, while an inquiry is a formal investigation (like by the police). If you’re not sure, inquiry is the safer global bet.