ESEN
Which one to use?Intermediateverbo / sustantivoverbo / sustantivo
AnswervsReply
"Answer" responds to a question or call; "reply" responds to a message, letter, or comment.
Side-by-side comparison
Answer
verbo / sustantivoTo give a response to a question. To pick up the phone or door. Broader in use.
Can someone answer the door? I have my hands full.
She did not answer my question. She changed the subject.
I called three times but he did not answer.
Reply
verbo / sustantivoTo respond to a written message, email, letter, comment, or in formal conversation.
I have not had time to reply to her email yet.
He replied with a one-word message: "No."
Please reply to this invitation by Friday.
Common mistake
- •"Reply the phone" does not exist in English: phones and doors are only "answered".
- •For messages, emails, and comments, "reply to" is more idiomatic than "answer".
Trick to remember it
- •"Reply" almost always needs "to" before its object: "reply to the email".
- •"Answer" is direct without a preposition: "answer the question", "answer the phone".
Quick rule
- •"Answer" = respond to a question, phone, or door (no "to").
- •"Reply" = respond to a message, email, or letter (with "to").
Did you know?
In email software, the universal buttons are "Reply" and "Reply All", never "Answer". The out-of-office automatic response is "Auto-reply". And in a legal or ethical context, "You need to answer for your actions" uses "answer", not "reply", because it implies direct accountability, not just a message exchange.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Could someone please _____ the phone? I'm in the shower!
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
I sent her a message this morning and she hasn't _____ yet.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
AskvsRequest
"Ask" is to inquire or request informally; "request" is to ask formally or officially.
SayvsMean
"Say" is to produce words; "mean" is the intention or meaning behind them.
AbovevsOver
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
ActuallyvsReally
"Actually" corrects or contrasts an assumption; "really" intensifies or confirms.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy