what company

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what company" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring about the name of a specific company or organization. Example: "I heard you got a new job. What company are you working for now?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What company would do that?

The New York Times

What company produced Stanley?

The New York Times

What company would possibly say otherwise?

The Guardian - Business

What company is sold for a pound?

The Guardian - Business

"What company?" She says it loudly — she's caught Jana's accent.

The New York Times

CALLER: Dude, I don't care what company it is.

The New Yorker

How is it different from what company X does already?

The New York Times

What company doesn't understand the math of personal survival?

The Washington Post

It is not clear what company will handle that project.

The New York Times - Science

What company invented and/or markets the product?

The New York Times

What company was in charge of auditing the Enron Corporation?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking about a known company, specify context. For example, "What company acquired them last year?"

Common error

Avoid using "what company" when the information you need is related to how a company operates or its values. In such cases, specify what you want to know, such as "What are the company's goals?" or "What is the company's mission statement?".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what company" functions primarily as an interrogative phrase, specifically used to solicit the name or identity of a business or organization. This is supported by Ludwig AI, as it appears in examples asking for company names and affiliations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

20%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "what company" is a grammatically sound and very common way to inquire about the identity of a business or organization. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used across diverse contexts, most frequently in News & Media and Academic writing. While generally neutral in register, it's crucial to consider the specific context to ensure the inquiry is clear and specific. To prevent ambiguity, avoid using the phrase when seeking information about a company's operations or values; instead, specify your inquiry. Considering the many examples, "what company" is a practical phrase with a very high chance of occurring in common and professional conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which company

Replaces "what" with "which" to specify a selection from a set of companies.

what is the company name

More explicit way to ask for the company's formal designation.

what type of company

Focuses on the nature or industry of the company rather than its specific name.

what firm

Uses a synonym for "company", often implying a professional services business.

what organization

Broadens the scope to include non-corporate entities.

what business

Similar to "what type of company" but more general.

which business entity

A more formal way of asking about the company, emphasizing its legal structure.

what corporation

Specifically asks about a company that is legally incorporated.

what brand

Focuses on the company's consumer-facing identity or product line.

what entity

Very broad and formal, encompassing any organization or business.

FAQs

How do I use "what company" in a sentence?

You can use "what company" to inquire about the name of a specific company. For example, "What company do you work for?" or "What company manufactures this product?"

What can I say instead of "what company"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "which company", "what organization", or "what firm".

When is it appropriate to use "what company" instead of "which company"?

Use "what company" when the answer is open-ended and you don't have a specific set of options in mind. Use "which company" when you're choosing from a known list of companies.

Can I use "what company" to ask about the type of business a company is in?

While grammatically correct, it's more precise to ask "What type of company is it?" or "What kind of business is it?" if you're interested in the industry or sector the company operates in, rather than its name.