Acquire is the correct spelling. Aquire is incorrect.
Use acquire when you mean to get, obtain, buy, gain, learn, or develop something.
Correct: She wants to acquire new skills.
Incorrect: She wants to aquire new skills.
Correct: The company plans to acquire a smaller business.
Incorrect: The company plans to aquire a smaller business.
The spelling tip is simple: acquire starts with acq, not aq.
What Acquire Means
Acquire is a verb. It means to come to have something.
You can acquire a physical object.
Example: The museum hopes to acquire a rare painting.
You can acquire a skill or knowledge.
Example: Students acquire stronger writing skills through practice.
You can acquire a company, property, or asset.
Example: The firm agreed to acquire the building next year.
You can also acquire a habit, taste, reputation, or quality.
Example: He slowly acquired a taste for black coffee.
In most uses, acquire suggests that something is gained over time, through effort, by purchase, or through some process.
Is Aquire A Word?
Aquire is not a standard English word.
It is a misspelling of acquire. The error happens when the c is left out after the a.
Incorrect: aquire
Correct: acquire
Do not use aquire in essays, emails, resumes, reports, business writing, captions, or published content.
Why People Misspell Acquire As Aquire
People often misspell acquire because the c is not heard clearly as a separate sound.
Acquire is usually pronounced like uh-KWIRE. Since the beginning sounds smooth, writers may forget that the spelling needs acq.
Another reason is that some English words begin with aq, such as aquarium and aquatic. Those words are connected to water. Acquire is different, so it keeps the c.
Remember:
acquire = acq + uire
Not:
aquire = aq + uire
Acquire Vs Aquire At A Glance
| Word | Correct? | Meaning | Use It? |
|---|---|---|---|
| acquire | Yes | To get, obtain, gain, buy, learn, or develop something | Yes |
| aquire | No | No standard meaning; misspelling of acquire | No |
The difference is not about American vs British English. It is not about formal vs informal writing. Acquire is the correct spelling everywhere. Aquire is a typo.
How To Use Acquire In A Sentence
Use acquire when someone gets or gains something.
- Correct: The school hopes to acquire new laptops for the lab.
- Correct: She worked hard to acquire confidence as a speaker.
- Correct: The startup wants to acquire more customers.
- Correct: Children acquire language through listening and practice.
- Correct: The company may acquire land for a new office.
- Correct: He acquired a reputation for being reliable.
Avoid aquire in all of these sentences.
Incorrect: The startup wants to aquire more customers.
Correct: The startup wants to acquire more customers.
Acquire, Get, And Obtain
Acquire, get, and obtain are close in meaning, but they do not always feel the same.
Use get for simple everyday writing.
Example: I need to get a new phone.
Use acquire when the sentence sounds more formal, professional, or precise.
Example: The company plans to acquire new software licenses.
Use obtain when you mean to get something by request, effort, permission, or a formal process.
Example: You must obtain approval before starting the project.
In casual conversation, get is often best. In business, academic, legal, or professional writing, acquire may sound more polished.
Common Forms Of Acquire
The c stays in the main verb forms.
| Form | Correct Example |
|---|---|
| acquire | We need to acquire better data. |
| acquires | The company acquires small brands. |
| acquired | She acquired new skills during the internship. |
| acquiring | The team is acquiring new customers. |
| acquisition | The acquisition was announced Monday. |
| acquirer | The acquirer will take control of the company. |
| acquirable | The property is no longer acquirable. |
Be careful with these common mistakes:
- Incorrect: aquired
Correct: acquired - Incorrect: aquiring
Correct: acquiring - Incorrect: aquisition
Correct: acquisition - Incorrect: aquires
Correct: acquires
Common Phrases With Acquire
Acquire knowledge
Example: Students acquire knowledge through reading, practice, and discussion.
Acquire skills
Example: The program helps workers acquire skills for better jobs.
Acquire property
Example: The city plans to acquire property for a new park.
Acquire a company
Example: The larger firm may acquire a company in the same industry.
Acquire customers
Example: The campaign helped the business acquire customers faster.
Acquire a taste for
Example: She eventually acquired a taste for spicy food.
Acquire a reputation
Example: He acquired a reputation for solving hard problems.
Common Mistakes And Better Fixes
Incorrect: I want to aquire new skills.
Correct: I want to acquire new skills.
Incorrect: She aquired the property last year.
Correct: She acquired the property last year.
Incorrect: The company is aquiring new clients.
Correct: The company is acquiring new clients.
Incorrect: The merger was a major aquisition.
Correct: The merger was a major acquisition.
Incorrect: He hopes to aquire a better understanding of the topic.
Correct: He hopes to acquire a better understanding of the topic.
Real-World Examples
For school:
Correct: Students can acquire new vocabulary by reading every day.
Correct: The class helped me acquire a better understanding of biology.
For work:
Correct: Our team needs to acquire better project management skills.
Correct: The company wants to acquire new clients in Texas.
For business writing:
Correct: The firm plans to acquire a smaller competitor.
Correct: The investor helped the company acquire additional funding.
For resumes:
Correct: Acquired advanced Excel skills through weekly reporting.
Correct: Helped the sales team acquire 300 new leads in one quarter.
For everyday writing:
Correct: I’m trying to acquire healthier habits.
Correct: She acquired a love of hiking after moving to Colorado.
Synonyms For Acquire
Good alternatives for acquire include:
- get
- obtain
- gain
- receive
- buy
- learn
- develop
- pick up
- come by
- take possession of
Choose the word that fits the sentence.
Use learn for skills or knowledge.
Example: She learned basic Spanish.
Use buy for purchases.
Example: The company bought new equipment.
Use gain for confidence, support, or experience.
Example: He gained confidence after the presentation.
Use develop for habits, traits, or abilities.
Example: She developed stronger leadership skills.
Use acquire when you want one word that can cover getting, gaining, buying, or developing something.
FAQ
Is aquire ever correct?
No. Aquire is not correct in standard English. The correct spelling is acquire.
Why does acquire have a c?
Acquire keeps the c in the acq spelling pattern. The c may not sound strong when spoken, but it belongs in the written word.
How do you pronounce acquire?
Acquire is usually pronounced like uh-KWIRE.
Is acquire a verb or a noun?
Acquire is a verb. The main noun form is acquisition.
Example: The company announced an acquisition.
What is the past tense of acquire?
The past tense is acquired.
Correct: She acquired new skills.
Incorrect: She aquired new skills.
What is the difference between acquire and get?
Get is simpler and more casual. Acquire is more formal and often suggests gaining something through effort, purchase, learning, or a process.
What is the noun form of acquire?
The main noun form is acquisition.
Example: The acquisition gave the company access to new technology.
What is a simpler word for acquire?
A simpler word may be get, buy, gain, learn, or develop, depending on the sentence.
Conclusion
Acquire is correct. Aquire is a misspelling.
Use acquire when you mean to get, obtain, buy, gain, learn, or develop something.
Correct: She wants to acquire new skills.
Incorrect: She wants to aquire new skills.
Remember the spelling this way: acquire starts with acq, so the c must stay.
