A legal phrase used for assessing damages relating to privately owned land that is taken for public use. The name of a writ formerly issuing from the English chancery, commanding the sheriff to make an inquiry "to what damage" a specified act, if done, will tend.

This writ is of ancient origin, and could be issued as a writ of right when a landowner was dissatisfied with the assessment of damages as a result of a condemnation commission.