Difference between "question" and "query"


What is the difference between a question and a query? It seems that in certain circumstances, the words are interchangeable:



I have one further question.


I have one further query.



But, other times they are not:



The police officer questioned the man.


The police officer queried the man.




Answer




Query noun



  1. a question, esp one expressing doubt, uncertainty, or an objection

  2. a less common name for question mark


verb



  1. to express uncertainty, doubt, or an objection concerning (something)

  2. to express as a query ⇒ “What's up now?” she queried

  3. (US) to put a question to (a person); ask





Question noun
(the first five uses are listed but there are a total of fifteen.)



  1. a form of words addressed to a person in order to elicit information or evoke a response; interrogative sentence

  2. a point at issue ⇒ "it's only a question of time until she dies",

  3. a difficulty or uncertainty; doubtful point ⇒ "a question of money", "there's no question about it"

  4. (a) an act of asking (b) an investigation into some problem or difficulty

  5. a motion presented for debate by a deliberative body


verb



  1. to put a question or questions to (a person); interrogate

  2. to make (something) the subject of dispute or disagreement

  3. to express uncertainty about the validity, truth, etc, of (something); doubt


Source: Collins Dictionary



Differences between question and query as nouns



  • You ask a question. NOT *You ask a query. ( * = incorrect)

  • You answer a question. NOT *You answer a query.

  • There are 10 multiple-choice questions on the exam. NOT *There are 10 multiple-choice queries on the exam.

  • How to write a query letter. NOT *How to write a question letter.

  • We regret that we cannot deal with queries on individual cases. (formal)

  • An exam/test question. NOT *An exam/test query

  • He popped the question (make a proposal of marriage). NOT *He popped the query.

  • Results of the query. Not *Results of the question

  • (idiom) Something begs the question 1. NOT *Something begs the query.

  • The question arises as to whether… (OXFORD LEARNERS DICTIONARY)


Common collocations with question: - probing - direct - straight - difficult - personal - loaded - rhetorical - controversial - awkward - embarrassing - inane - silly - tricky


Common collocations with query: - specific - separate


When the nouns question and query are synonymous



  • You submit queries or questions.

  • You raise queries/questions

  • If you have any questions/queries, please contact us.

  • You reply/respond to a question/query.

  • I would like to put a question to … (formal)

  • I would like to put a query to … (very formal)

  • Have you any questions/queries about…?



Differences between question and query as verbs


Query is more formal and slightly outdated, and can be substituted with either question or the more common reporting verb, ask.



  • She queried whether three months was long enough.

  • "Any chance of a cup of tea?" he queried hopefully.

  • She asked/questioned whether three months was long enough.

  • "Any chance of a cup of tea?" he asked hopefully.


“He questioned hopefully” sounds a little odd to me, I doubt a native speaker would actually say this, although it might be acceptable in its written form.


Similarities between question and query as verbs


They are both transitive verbs and are sometimes interchangeable.



  • The police officer questioned/queried him at some length.

  • They questioned/queried her motives.


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