What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Inquiry vs Request - What's the difference?

inquiry | request |

As nouns the difference between inquiry and request

is that inquiry is the act of inquiring; a seeking of information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning while request is act of requesting.

As a verb request is

to express the need or desire for.

inquiry

Alternative forms

* enquiry

Noun

(inquiries)
  • The act of inquiring; a seeking of information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning.
  • Search for truth, information, or knowledge; examination of facts or principles; research; investigation; as, physical inquiries.
  • Usage notes

    According to Fowler's Modern English Usage'' (1926), ''inquiry'' should be used in relation to a formal inquest, and ''enquiry'' to the act of questioning. Many (though not all) British writers maintain this distinction; the Oxford English Dictionary, in its entry not updated since 1900, lists ''inquiry'' and ''enquiry'' as equal alternatives, in that order. Some British dictionaries, such as ''Chambers 21st Century Dictionary'' [http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/features/chref/chref.py/main?title=21st&query=inquiry], present the two spellings as interchangeable variants in the general sense, but prefer ''inquiry'' for the "formal inquest" sense. In Australian English, ''inquiry'' represents a formal inquest (such as a government investigation) while ''enquiry'' is used in the act of questioning (eg: the customer enquired about the status of his loan application). Both spellings are current in Canadian English, where ''enquiry'' is often associated with scholarly or intellectual research. (See Pam Peters, ''The Cambridge Guide to English Usage , p. 282.) American English usually uses inquiry .

    References

    *

    request

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Act of (l).
  • * Shakespeare
  • I will marry her, sir, at your request .
  • A formal (l) requesting something.
  • of being sought after.
  • * Sir W. Temple
  • Knowledge and fame were in as great request as wealth among us now.
  • (obsolete) That which is asked for or requested.
  • * Bible, Psalms cvi. 15
  • He gave them their request .

    Synonyms

    * (act of requesting) asking, beseech, prayer, wish * (formal message requesting something) petition, postulation * (state of being sought after) demand

    Derived terms

    * discovery request * request for admission * request for production

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to express the need or desire for
  • to ask somebody to do something
  • Synonyms

    * (to express the need or desire for ): indicate, pray, wish * (to ask somebody to do something ): ask, bespeak, call for

    See also

    * * (wikipedia "request")

    Anagrams

    *