Cool MateInquiry vs Investigation
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Inquiry
Top 3,000 (common)B2noun
Investigation
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Most common: Investigation
| Inquiry | Investigation | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkwaɪəri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪnkwəri//ɪnˈkwaɪəri/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˌvestɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˌvestɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | A question or asking about something. | Looking into something to find out more about it. |
| Example | The teacher encouraged an inquiry into the reasons behind climate change. | The police launched an investigation into the missing person's case. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | make an inquiry, conduct an inquiry, primary inquiry, formal inquiry, inquiry process | careful, close, detailed, carry out, conduct, pursue, demonstrate something, reveal something, show something, on investigation, under investigation, investigation into, the subject of an investigation, careful, close, detailed, carry out, conduct, pursue, demonstrate something, reveal something, show something, on investigation, under investigation, investigation into, the subject of an investigation |
| Antonyms | answer, response | disregard, neglect, overlook |
| 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'. | Confused with 'invest' which means to put money into something., Using 'investigation' as a verb instead of a noun., Mixing up 'investigation' with 'inspector', which refers to a person. |
| 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. | Use 'investigation' in formal contexts, like police work or research. Avoid in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Inquiry vs Investigation
What's the difference between Inquiry and Investigation?
Inquiry: A question or asking about something. Investigation: Looking into something to find out more about it.
Which is more common: Inquiry and Investigation?
Investigation is the most common in everyday English.
Are Inquiry and Investigation the same CEFR level?
Inquiry: B2, Investigation: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Inquiry and Investigation?
Inquiry: noun, Investigation: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Inquiry: The teacher encouraged an inquiry into the reasons behind climate change. Investigation: The police launched an investigation into the missing person's case.
Can I use Inquiry and Investigation interchangeably?
Not always. Inquiry and Investigation 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.