reply to an email

Meaning

This phrase means to write and send an answer back to someone who sent you an email. It is a fundamental phrase in modern daily life, used constantly in both office environments and personal communications.

Examples

• I will reply to an email from the client as soon as I get to the office.

  I will reply to an email from the client as soon as I get to the office.

• It took him three days to reply to an email, which was very frustrating.

  It took him three days to reply to an email, which was very frustrating.

• Please reply to an email only if you have the correct information.

  Please reply to an email only if you have the correct information.

• I need to draft a quick response and reply to an email before lunch.

  I need to draft a quick response and reply to an email before lunch.

• She forgot to reply to an email, so she missed the event invitation.

  She forgot to reply to an email, so she missed the event invitation.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I will reply an email tomorrow.

  ✓ I will reply to an email tomorrow.

  The verb "reply" requires the preposition "to" when followed by an object. Alternatively, you can use "answer an email" without "to."

• ✗ I need to make a reply to an email.

  ✓ I need to reply to an email.

  While "make a reply" is grammatically possible, it sounds overly wordy and unnatural. Native speakers prefer using "reply" directly as a verb.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I have so many messages; it will take me hours to ___.

  💡 To send a written answer to an electronic message.

  Show answer

  reply to an email

• Please ___ from the hiring manager immediately to confirm your interview.

  💡 Write back to a digital message you received.

  Show answer

  reply to an email