Cool MateInquiry vs Looking up
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Inquiry
Top 3,000 (common)B2noun
Looking up
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most common: Looking up
| Inquiry | Looking up | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkwaɪəri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪnkwəri//ɪnˈkwaɪəri/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈlʊkɪŋ ʌp//🇺🇸 //ˈlʊkɪŋ ʌp// |
| Meaning | A question or asking about something. | Searching for information in a reference source. |
| Example | The teacher encouraged an inquiry into the reasons behind climate change. | I was looking up the definition of the word. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | make an inquiry, conduct an inquiry, primary inquiry, formal inquiry, inquiry process | looking up information, looking up a word, looking up data |
| Antonyms | answer, response | looking down, declining, worsening |
| 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 'looking at' (means observing instead of searching)., Using it in the wrong tense, e.g., 'looked up' for present actions., Omitting the object, e.g., saying only 'looking up' without what is being searched. |
| 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 'looking up' in academic or casual contexts. It's suitable for searching facts, but not for casual conversation. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Inquiry vs Looking up
What's the difference between Inquiry and Looking up?
Inquiry: A question or asking about something. Looking up: Searching for information in a reference source.
Which is more common: Inquiry and Looking up?
Looking up is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Inquiry: The teacher encouraged an inquiry into the reasons behind climate change. Looking up: I was looking up the definition of the word.
Can I use Inquiry and Looking up interchangeably?
Not always. Inquiry and Looking up 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.