Answer, Reply, Respond

Answer, Reply, Respond

Hello English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. We will talk about the difference between three commonly mistaken words: answer, reply, respond.

Answer, reply and respond can be used interchangeably in many cases. We can say:

• He answered my question.
• He replied to my question.
• He responded to my question.

However, there are some differences between them. Let’s discuss these differences.

Answer

The verb “answer” is both a verb and noun, meaning to respond to a question, solve a problem or provide information in response to a question. It can be used with or without an object.

• Monica was waiting for an answer to her question.
• Mary answered the question correctly.
• The boy couldn’t answer the riddle.
• The student answered the teacher’s question.
• The phone’s ringing. I’ll answer it.
• Simon asked me to come to his wedding on Saturday, but I didn’t give him an answer immediately.
• I asked her to come to dinner with us, but she didn’t answer.
• Lorna refused to answer the questions about her personal matters.

Reply

The verb “reply” means to acknowledge or react to a statement or question, either verbally or in writing. It is similar to “answer” and “respond,” but it often implies a more direct or immediate reaction.

• He replied to her email promptly.
• The girl replied with a smile.
• They replied to the invitation happily.
• Tom replied to the text message while he was waiting for the bus.
• “Why didn’t you ask me to take my car?” she replied angrily.
• The witness didn’t reply directly to the judge’s question.
• The customer service team replied to my query within 24 hours.

Respond

The verb “respond”  has a broader meaning than answer or reply; it means reacting to any situation, not just verbal or written communication. Its verb form is “respond”.

• The company failed to respond to the crisis on time, and it went bankrupt.
• The dog would respond to commands only from its owner.
• Sheila didn’t respond to her boyfriend’s text until the next day.
• George was quick to respond to the emergency call.
• The company promised to respond to customer complaints within 24 hours.
• The patient did not respond well to the treatment.
• The government needs to respond to the public’s concerns.

In conclusion, while all replies and answers are responses, not all responses are replies or answers. “Respond” is more general and can refer to any kind of reaction or action, “answer” is more specific to providing information or solutions, while “reply” is more specific to communication.

Answer, reply, respond

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