What vs. Why — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 19, 2024
"What" asks for information or identification, focusing on objects or events, while "Why" seeks reasons or explanations, probing for causes or motives behind actions or phenomena.
Difference Between What and Why
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"What" is used to inquire about the nature, identity, or description of something. It aims to clarify or gather factual information about objects, actions, or events. For instance, asking "What is your name?" seeks a straightforward piece of information. On the other hand, "Why" delves into the reasoning or cause behind a situation, decision, or action. When someone asks, "Why did you choose this career?" they're looking for insights into the motives or factors that influenced the decision.
In the realm of knowledge acquisition, "what" questions can be seen as the foundation, establishing the basic facts and details necessary for understanding. These questions are often the starting point in learning, allowing individuals to accumulate data and information. Whereas "why" questions are more complex, inviting analysis and critical thinking. They encourage the exploration of relationships, consequences, and underpinning principles, pushing for a deeper comprehension of circumstances and phenomena.
When it comes to problem-solving, "what" questions help in identifying the components of a problem, laying out the elements involved. This is crucial in technical fields, research, and daily problem-solving, where understanding 'what is happening' is a precursor to addressing any issue. Conversely, "why" questions are essential for diagnosing the root causes of problems. They enable individuals and professionals to look beyond the surface, identifying the underlying reasons why something is occurring, which is critical for developing effective solutions.
In communication, "what" questions tend to be more direct and less invasive, making them suitable for initial interactions or when gathering surface-level information. They are straightforward, eliciting specific information or facts. In contrast, "why" questions can be more personal and probing, often requiring the respondent to reflect, justify, or explain their thoughts, actions, or feelings, thus fostering deeper conversation or analysis.
In the context of decision-making, understanding the 'what' involves knowing the options, choices, and details at hand, which is essential for any decision process. It’s about identifying the possibilities or the elements involved in a decision. Meanwhile, understanding the 'why' delves into the rationale or justification behind choosing one option over another, highlighting the importance of motivations, values, and priorities in decision-making processes.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Identifies or clarifies information.
Seeks reasons or explanations.
Focus
On objects, actions, or events.
On causes, motives, or justifications.
Role in Learning
Establishes foundational facts.
Promotes understanding of principles and relationships.
Use in Problem-Solving
Identifies elements of a problem.
Diagnoses root causes.
Nature of Questions
Direct and factual.
Reflective and analytical.
Use in Communication
Less invasive, suitable for initial interactions.
More probing, fostering deeper insights.
Impact on Decision-Making
Clarifies options and details.
Explores rationales and motivations.
Compare with Definitions
What
Requests information about something.
What is your favorite book?
Why
Probes for underlying motives.
Why are you volunteering here?
What
Seeks clarification.
What did you say?
Why
Seeks explanation for actions or decisions.
Why did you choose that college?
What
Asks for repetition or specifics.
What’s the time?
Why
Asks for reasons or causes.
Why are you studying English?
What
Inquires about activity or event.
What are you doing this weekend?
Why
Questions the rationale behind opinions.
Why do you think that is the best option?
What
Identifies nature or identity.
What kind of bird is that?
Why
Inquires about the purpose or objective.
Why is this rule important?
What
Asking for information specifying something
What is your name?
I'm not sure what you mean
Why
For what reason or purpose
Why did he do it?
What
The thing or things that (used in specifying something)
What we need is a commitment
Why
(with reference to a reason) on account of which; for which
The reason why flu jabs need repeating every year is that the virus changes
What
(in exclamations) emphasizing something surprising or remarkable
What some people do for a crust!
Why
Expressing surprise or indignation
Why, that's absurd!
What
Asking for information specifying something
Do you know what excuse he gave?
What time is it?
Why
Used to add emphasis to a response
‘You think so?’ ‘Why, yes.’
What
(referring to the whole of an amount) whatever
He had been robbed of what little money he had
Why
A reason or explanation
The whys and wherefores of these procedures need to be explained to students
What
(in exclamations) how great or remarkable
What a fool she was
What luck!
Why
For what purpose, reason, or cause; with what intention, justification, or motive
Why is the door shut? Why do birds sing?.
What
To what extent?
What does it matter?
Why
The reason, cause, or purpose for which
I know why you left.
What
Used to indicate an estimate or approximation
See you, what, about four?
Why
Usage Problem On account of which; for which.
What
Used for emphasis or to invite agreement
Pretty poor show, what?
Why
The cause or intention underlying a given action or situation
Studying the whys of antisocial behavior.
What
Which one or ones of several or many
What college are you attending? You should know what musical that song is from.
Why
A difficult problem or question.
What
Whatever
They soon repaired what damage had been done.
Why
Used to express mild surprise, indignation, or impatience.
What
How great; how astonishing
What a fool!.
Why
(interrogative) For what cause, reason, or purpose.
What
How much; in what respect; how
What does it matter?.
Why
Introducing a complete question.
Why is the sky blue?
Why did you do that?
I don’t know why he did that
Tell me why the moon changes phase.
What
That
I don't know but what I'll go.
Why
Introducing a verb phrase (bare infinitive clause).
Why spend money on something you already get for free?
Why not tell him how you feel?
What
Used to express surprise, incredulity, or other strong and sudden excitement.
Why
Introducing a noun or other phrase.
Why him? Why not someone taller?
What
Chiefly British Used as a tag question, often to solicit agreement.
Why
(relative) For which cause, reason, or purpose.
That's the reason why I did that.
What
(interrogative) Which, especially which of an open-ended set of possibilities.
What colour are you going to use?
What time is it?
What kind of car is that?
Why
(fused relative) The cause, reason, or purpose for which.
That is why the sky is blue.
What
(relative) Which; the ... that.
I know what colour I am going to use.
That depends on what answer is received.
Why
Reason.
A good article will cover the who, the what, the when, the where, the why and the how.
What
(relative) Any ... that; all ... that; whatever.
He seems to have lost what sense he had.
What money I earn is soon spent.
Why
An exclamation used to express pleasant or unpleasant mild surprise, indignation, or impatience.
Why, that’s ridiculous!
Why, how kind of you!
What
Emphasises that something is noteworthy or remarkable in quality or degree, in either a good or bad way; may be used in combination with certain other determiners, especially 'a', less often 'some'.
This shows what beauty there is in nature.
You know what nonsense she talks.
I found out what a liar he is.
Why
For what cause, reason, or purpose; on what account; wherefore; - used interrogatively. See the Note under What, pron., 1.
Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
What
Used to form exclamations.
What nonsense!
Wow! What a speech.
What some lovely weather we've been having!
What beautiful children you have.
With what passion she sings!
Why
For which; on account of which; - used relatively.
No ground of enmity between us knownWhy he should mean me ill or seek to harm.
Turn the discourse; I have a reason whyI would not have you speak so tenderly.
What
(interrogative) Which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.
What is your name?
Ask them what they want.
Why
The reason or cause for which; that on account of which; on what account; as, I know not why he left town so suddenly; - used as a compound relative.
If her chill heart I can not move,Why, I'll enjoy the very love.
The how and the why and the where.
What
(fused relative) That which; those that; the thing(s) that.
He knows what he wants.
What is amazing is his boundless energy.
And, what's even worse, I have to work on Sunday too.
Why
A young heifer.
What
(fused relative) Anything that; all that; whatever.
I will do what I can to help you.
What is mine is yours.
Why
The cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase `the whys and wherefores'
What
That; which; who.
'Ere! There's that bloke what I saw earlier!
Why
Question word; what is the reason (`how come' is a nonstandard variant);
Why are you here?
How come he got an ice cream cone but I didn't?
What
(interrogative) In what way; to what extent.
What does it matter?
What do you care?
What
Used before a prepositional phrase to emphasise that something is taken into consideration as a cause or reason; usually used in combination with 'with' (see what with), and much less commonly with other prepositions.
What
An expression of surprise or disbelief.
What! That’s amazing!
What
What do you want? An abrupt, usually unfriendly enquiry as to what a person desires.
What? I'm busy.
What
Clipping of what do you say? Used as a type of tag question to emphasise a statement and invite agreement, often rhetorically.
It’s a nice day, what?
What
What did you say? I beg your pardon?
— Could I have some of those aarrrrrr mmmm ...
— What?
— What?
What
Indicating a guess or approximation, or a pause to try to recall information.
I must have been, what, about five years old.
What
Something; thing; stuff.
What
(countable) The identity of a thing, as an answer to a question of what.
What
(countable) Something that is addressed by what, as opposed to a person, addressed by who.
What
As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this? what did you say? what poem is this? what child is lost?
What see'st thou in the ground?
What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
What
As an exclamatory word: - (a) Used absolutely or independently; - often with a question following.
What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
What
Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!
What a piece of work is man!
O what a riddle of absurdity!
What
As a relative pronoun
What
Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!
What partial judges are our love and hate!
What
Used substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent to that which, or those [persons] who, or those [things] which; - called a compound relative.
With joy beyond what victory bestows.
I'm thinking Captain Lawton will count the noses of what are left before they see their whaleboats.
What followed was in perfect harmony with this beginning.
I know well . . . how little you will be disposed to criticise what comes to you from me.
What
Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; - used indefinitely.
Whether it were the shortness of his foresight, the strength of his will, . . . or what it was.
What
Used adjectively, equivalent to the . . . which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at, which.
See what natures accompany what colors.
To restrain what power either the devil or any earthly enemy hath to work us woe.
We know what master laid thy keel,What workmen wrought thy ribs of steel.
What
Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; - with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition.
What for lust [pleasure] and what for lore.
Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom shrunk.
The year before he had so used the matter that what by force, what by policy, he had taken from the Christians above thirty small castles.
What time the morn mysterious visions brings.
What
Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.
What
Why? For what purpose? On what account?
What should I tell the answer of the knight.
But what do I stand reckoning upon advantages and gains lost by the misrule and turbulency of the prelates? What do I pick up so thriftily their scatterings and diminishings of the meaner subject?
What
Something; thing; stuff.
And gave him for to feed,Such homely what as serves the simple lown.
Common Curiosities
Are "what" questions easier to answer than "why" questions?
Generally, yes. "What" questions often require straightforward, factual answers, while "why" questions may need more thought and reflection.
Can "why" questions help in personal growth?
Yes, "why" questions encourage introspection and understanding of personal motives and beliefs, fostering personal growth.
Is it possible to answer a "why" question with a "what" answer?
Partially. While a "what" answer can provide information, it might not fully address the underlying reasons or explanations that a "why" question seeks.
Are there situations where "what" questions are more appropriate than "why"?
In initial meetings, information gathering, or when specifics are required, "what" questions are more appropriate due to their directness and less invasive nature.
Can "why" questions sometimes be seen as confrontational?
Yes, depending on tone and context, "why" questions can be perceived as challenging or confrontational, requiring sensitivity in their use.
Do "what" and "why" questions serve different purposes in education?
Yes, "what" questions help in acquiring factual knowledge, while "why" questions encourage deeper understanding and critical thinking.
Should "what" or "why" questions be asked first in research?
Typically, "what" questions are asked to establish basic information, followed by "why" questions to delve deeper into causes and relationships.
How can "why" questions improve communication?
They encourage deeper dialogue, understanding, and empathy by exploring thoughts, feelings, and motivations.
Why are "what" questions important?
"What" questions are crucial for gathering factual information, establishing a basis for further inquiry and understanding.
Are "what" questions sufficient for deep learning?
While essential, "what" questions need to be complemented with "why" questions for a thorough understanding and critical thinking.
Can "why" questions help in conflict resolution?
Yes, understanding the reasons behind actions or beliefs can aid in resolving conflicts by addressing underlying issues.
How do "what" questions contribute to problem-solving?
They help identify the problem's components, setting the stage for effective analysis and solution development.
Is it necessary to use both "what" and "why" questions in analysis?
Yes, using both types of questions provides a comprehensive approach to analysis, combining factual information with deeper insights.
Can "why" questions lead to better decision-making?
Yes, by understanding the reasons behind options, "why" questions can lead to more informed and thoughtful decisions.
How do "what" and "why" questions affect curiosity?
"What" questions spark curiosity about the world, while "why" questions deepen that curiosity by seeking to understand the reasons behind phenomena.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
