[Vocabulary] answer/reply

[Will17]

Hello!

What's the difference between a reply and an answer?

Thank you
W

 

[Richard1]

Hi,

You can reply to something (a letter say) without there being any request to do so.
e.g. You may have complained to a company and received a response which isn't satisfactory. Your subsequent follow up would be a reply.

An answer is a response to a specific question you have been asked.

Regards

 

[milan2003_07]

Right. We always reply to emails even if a sender hasn't asked any specific questions. When we acknowledge an email message we actually reply to it saying that we've got and read it. Sometimes people reply by saying "Thank you" or sending your greetings on some occasion. An answer is usually caused by a question asked before.

 

[Richard1]

Hi,

A reply is exactly as you describe.

However an answer is always caused by a question otherwise it wouldn't be an answer - but a reply. ;-)

Rgds

 

[SoothingDave]

This is a reply. It is not an answer.