Cool MateInquiry vs Research
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Inquiry
Research
| Inquiry | Research | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkwaɪəri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪnkwəri//ɪnˈkwaɪəri/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈsɜːtʃ//ˈriːsɜːtʃ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːsɜːrtʃ//rɪˈsɜːrtʃ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A question or asking about something. | The act of studying something carefully to learn more about it. |
| Example | The teacher encouraged an inquiry into the reasons behind climate change. | The research on climate change is very important for our future. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | make an inquiry, conduct an inquiry, primary inquiry, formal inquiry, inquiry process | careful, detailed, in-depth, piece, carry out, conduct, do, demonstrate something, find something, identify something, degree, effort, programme/program, research in, research into, research on, an area of research, focus your research on something, somebody’s own research |
| Antonyms | answer, response | ignorance, inactivity |
| Common mistakes | Used incorrectly as 'inquiries' instead of 'inquiry' when talking about one question., Confused with 'enquiry'; remember 'inquiry' is more formal., Not using 'make' to form the phrase 'make an inquiry'. | Using 'research' as an uncountable noun instead of a countable noun (e.g., saying 'a research' instead of 'a piece of research'), Confusing 'research' with 'search' (research is more in-depth and analytical), Using 'research' inappropriately in non-academic contexts |
| Usage notes | Use 'inquiry' in formal situations like business or academic contexts, not in casual conversations. It’s suitable for asking for information or clarification. | Used in academic and professional contexts. Avoid using 'research' as a verb in casual conversation; instead, use 'study' or 'look into'. |
Frequently asked questions: Inquiry vs Research
What's the difference between Inquiry and Research?
Inquiry: A question or asking about something. Research: The act of studying something carefully to learn more about it.
Which is more common: Inquiry and Research?
Research is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Inquiry and Research?
Inquiry is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Inquiry and Research the same CEFR level?
Inquiry: B2, Research: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Inquiry and Research?
Inquiry: noun, Research: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Inquiry: The teacher encouraged an inquiry into the reasons behind climate change. Research: The research on climate change is very important for our future.
Can I use Inquiry and Research interchangeably?
Not always. Inquiry and Research 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.