Cool MateEnquiry vs Question
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Enquiry
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B2noun
Question
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Most common: Question
| Enquiry | Question | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkwaɪəri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪnkwəri//ɪnˈkwaɪəri/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkwestʃən/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkwestʃən/"]/ |
| Meaning | A question or a request for information. | A sentence or phrase that asks for information. |
| Example | I made an enquiry about the availability of the product. | The teacher asked a difficult question during the exam. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | detailed, thorough, full, carry out, conduct, have, be underway, take place, begin, report, team, process, at an/the enquiry, during an/the enquiry, in an/the enquiry, a steward’s enquiry, the outcome of an enquiry, the result of an enquiry, exhaustive, extensive, thorough, flood, stream, make, pursue, send, desk, office, service, pending enquiry, enquiry about, enquiry as to, direct an enquiry to somebody, careful, systematic, further, encourage, enquiry concerning, enquiry into, an area of enquiry, a board of enquiry, a commission of enquiry | awkward, difficult, embarrassing, ask (somebody), have, address, question about, question as to, question concerning to, awkward, difficult, embarrassing, ask (somebody), have, address, question about, question as to, question concerning to, burning, challenging, controversial, bring up, pose, raise, arise, go unanswered, remain unanswered, question about, question for, question of, come into, call into, be open to, beyond question, in question, without question |
| Antonyms | answer, response | answer, solution |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'inquiry'; 'enquiry' is often British English., Using 'enquiry' in informal contexts where 'question' is more suitable., Incorrect pluralization; 'enquiries' should not be replaced with 'enquiries'. | Confusing 'question' with 'query' in formal contexts., Using 'questions' as a singular noun, e.g., 'I have a question' instead of 'I have questions.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'enquiry' in formal or business contexts when asking for information. In casual conversations, 'question' may be more common. Avoid using 'enquiry' in very informal settings. | Use 'question' in both formal and informal settings. It's appropriate in classrooms, interviews, and casual conversations. Avoid using in situations where a statement is expected. |
Frequently asked questions: Enquiry vs Question
What's the difference between Enquiry and Question?
Enquiry: A question or a request for information. Question: A sentence or phrase that asks for information.
Which is more common: Enquiry and Question?
Question is the most common in everyday English.
Are Enquiry and Question the same CEFR level?
Enquiry: B2, Question: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Enquiry and Question interchangeably?
Not always. Enquiry and Question are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.