Difference Between
versus

Ask vs. Query: Know the Difference

Shumaila Saeed
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Ask is to request information or guidance, while Query is a question, often formal or technical, seeking specific information.
Ask vs. Query

Key Differences

Ask generally refers to the act of requesting information, advice, or help. Query, on the other hand, is more specific and often implies a formal or technical question.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023
The term Ask can be casual and is used in everyday conversation. Query tends to be more formal, used in contexts like computing or research.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023
When you Ask something, it can be a general question or request. A Query is usually more precise, seeking specific information or clarification.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023
Ask can also imply a request for action or response. Query, however, is primarily focused on gaining information or solving a specific issue.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023
While Ask is versatile and widely used, Query often appears in professional or technical settings, requiring detailed answers.
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Dec 04, 2023
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Comparison Chart

Formality

Generally casual
More formal, often technical
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Usage Context

Everyday conversation
Professional, computing, research
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Dec 04, 2023

Purpose

Request information, advice, action
Seek specific information or clarification
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Specificity

Can be general or specific
Usually precise and detailed
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Common Settings

Social, informal settings
Technical, professional environments
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Ask and Query Definitions

Ask

To request information.
She asked the teacher for clarification.
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Dec 04, 2023

Query

A question, especially one addressing a specific point.
The scientist submitted a query about the experiment's results.
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Dec 04, 2023

Ask

To request assistance or help.
Can you ask someone to help us move this?
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Dec 04, 2023

Query

A request for information in computing.
He wrote a database query to extract customer data.
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Dec 04, 2023

Ask

To pose a question.
The journalist asked a tough question during the interview.
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Dec 04, 2023
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Query

An expression of doubt or question about accuracy.
Her query highlighted an error in the report.
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Dec 04, 2023

Ask

To put a question to
When we realized that we didn't know the answer, we asked the teacher.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

A technical question in a specific field.
The programmer resolved a query in the code.
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Dec 04, 2023

Ask

To seek an answer to
Ask a question.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

A question; an inquiry.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To seek information about
Asked directions.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

A doubt in the mind; a mental reservation.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To make a request of
Asked me for a loan.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

A notation, usually a question mark, calling attention to an item in order to question its validity or accuracy.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To make a request for. Often used with an infinitive or clause
Ask a favor of a friend.
Asked to go along on the trip.
Asked that he be allowed to stay out late.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

To express doubt or uncertainty about; question
Query someone's motives.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To require or call for as a price or condition
Asked ten dollars for the book.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

To put a question to (a person).
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To expect or demand
Ask too much of a child.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

To mark (an item) with a notation in order to question its validity or accuracy.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To invite
Asked them to dinner.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

A question, an inquiry US, an enquiry UK.
The teacher answered the student’s query concerning biosynthesis.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

(Archaic)To publish, as marriage banns.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

A question mark.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To make inquiry; seek information.
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Query

A set of instructions passed to a database.
The database admin switched on query logging for debugging purposes.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To make a request
Asked for help.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

(intransitive) To ask a question.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

The act of making a request
“He was contacted by the mayor's fund-raiser ... a day after the mayor made the ask” (Jennifer Fermino).
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

(transitive) To ask, inquire.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

Something that is requested
“Being funny on demand is a big ask” (Anne Curzan).
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

(transitive) To question or call into doubt.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To request (information, or an answer to a question).
I asked her age.
I asked her (for) her age.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

To pass a set of instructions to a database to retrieve information from it.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To put forward (a question) to be answered.
To ask a question
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

To send a private message to (a user on IRC).
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To interrogate or enquire of (a person).
I'm going to ask this lady for directions.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

To send out a query letter.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To request or petition; usually with for.
To ask for a second helping at dinner
To ask for help with homework
Emma asked Jim to close his eyes.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

A question; an inquiry to be answered or solved.
I shall conclude with proposing only some queries, in order to a . . . search to be made by others.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To request permission to do something.
She asked to see the doctor.
Did you ask to use the car?
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

A question in the mind; a doubt; as, I have a query about his sincerity.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity.
What price are you asking for the house?
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

An interrogation point [?] as the sign of a question or a doubt.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To invite.
Don't ask them to the wedding.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

To ask questions; to make inquiry.
Each prompt to query, answer, and debate.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To publish in church for marriage; said of both the banns and the persons.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

To have a doubt; as, I query if he is right.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

(figuratively) To take (a person's situation) as an example.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

To put questions about; to elicit by questioning; to inquire into; as, to query the items or the amount; to query the motive or the fact.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

An act or instance of asking.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

To address questions to; to examine by questions.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

Something asked or asked for.
I know this is a big ask, but …
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

To doubt of; to regard with incredulity.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

An asking price.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

To write " query" (qu., qy., or ?) against, as a doubtful spelling, or sense, in a proof. See Quære.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

(Internet) A message sent to a blog on social networking platform Tumblr, which can be publicly posted and replied to by the recipient.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

An instance of questioning;
There was a question about my training
We made inquiries of all those who were present
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

An eft; newt.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

Pose a question
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

A lizard.
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Oct 19, 2023

Query

A formal question or inquiry.
The auditor raised a query regarding the financial records.
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Dec 04, 2023

Ask

To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; - often with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed.
Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
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Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price do you ask?
Ask me never so much dowry.
To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity.
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Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to or about; to question.
He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
He asked the way to Chester.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To publish in church for marriage; - said of both the banns and the persons.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To request or petition; - usually followed by for; as, to ask for bread.
Ask, and it shall be given you.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To make inquiry, or seek by request; - sometimes followed by after.
Wherefore . . . dost ask after my name?
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

A water newt.
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

Inquire about;
I asked about their special today
He had to ask directions several times
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

Make a request or demand for something to somebody;
She asked him for a loan
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

Direct or put; seek an answer to;
Ask a question
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

Consider obligatory; request and expect;
We require our secretary to be on time
Aren't we asking too much of these children?
I expect my students to arrive in time for their lessons
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

Require or ask for as a price or condition;
He is asking $200 for the table
The kidnapers are asking a million dollars in return for the release of their hostage
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

Address a question to and expect an answer from;
Ask your teacher about trigonometry
The children asked me about their dead grandmother
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

Require as useful, just, or proper;
It takes nerve to do what she did
Success usually requires hard work
This job asks a lot of patience and skill
This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice
This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert
This intervention does not postulates a patient's consent
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Oct 19, 2023

Ask

To seek advice or opinion.
He asked his friend for career advice.
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Dec 04, 2023

Ask

To inquire about something.
I asked about the meeting schedule.
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Dec 04, 2023

Repeatedly Asked Queries

Can Ask be used in formal situations?

Yes, though it's more common in casual contexts.
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Dec 04, 2023

Is a Query always technical?

Often, but it can be used in any context requiring specific information.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023

Can Ask be a synonym for request?

Yes, in contexts where it's used to request help or action.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023

Can Ask imply a request for action?

Yes, it can involve requests for help or specific actions.
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Dec 04, 2023

Does a Query need technical knowledge to answer?

In many cases, especially if it's a technical or specialized query.
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Dec 04, 2023

Are Queries common in academic research?

Yes, they are often used to seek specific information or clarification.
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Dec 04, 2023

Are Queries used in programming?

Yes, particularly in database management and programming.
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Dec 04, 2023

Is Query used more in certain professions?

Yes, especially in computing, research, and academic fields.
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Dec 04, 2023

Does Ask require a detailed answer?

Not necessarily, it depends on the context and nature of the question.
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Dec 04, 2023

Is Ask appropriate for all age groups?

Yes, it's universally used across different ages and settings.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can Ask be used in writing?

Absolutely, it's used in both spoken and written communication.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can a Query be informal?

It's typically more formal, but the tone can vary based on context.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023

Is Ask used in customer service?

Yes, it's commonly used to understand customer needs or requests.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can a Query be about clarification?

Yes, it often seeks to clarify or gain precise information.
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Dec 04, 2023

Do Queries require a specific format?

In professional or technical settings, they may follow a specific format.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can you Ask a rhetorical question?

Yes, where the answer is not expected or already known.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can Ask be used in legal contexts?

Yes, though Query might be more common in formal legal settings.
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Dec 04, 2023

Is a Query always related to problem-solving?

Frequently, especially in technical or professional contexts.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023

Is a Query more likely to be written?

Often, especially in professional or technical communications.
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Dec 04, 2023

Is Ask suitable for verbal communication?

Yes, it's commonly used in everyday speech.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023

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Shumaila Saeed
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Shumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.

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