# Cannot distinguish reply to previous post vs reply to original post **URL:** \ **Category:** Site Feedback\ **Created:** [May 5, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439 "2021-05-05T14:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/1 "2021-05-05T14:32:35Z")
Continuing the discussion from [Testing the "continuing this discussion…" option](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-the-continuing-this-discussion-option/941073/10): When a reply is made to the previous post, or when a reply is made to the original post, there is no indication who the reply is to. But when you reply to any other post, you get an indicator who the reply is to. Can we get that indicator for every post? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/2 "2021-05-05T15:00:02Z")
It is annoying. My work around is to quote a relevant part of the post I’m replying to. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/3 "2021-05-05T15:04:00Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > It is annoying. My work around is to quote a relevant part of the post I’m replying to But not the entire post. Or it won’t show up. You have leave off some portion of it. I don’t think I’m the only person that selects everything but the period at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/4 "2021-05-05T15:06:32Z")
Yeah, there’s work arounds. But it’s really something the board should do automatically. We shouldn’t have to do extra. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/5 "2021-05-05T15:08:09Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Yeah, there’s work arounds. But it’s really something the board should do automatically. We shouldn’t have to do extra.   I usually add   (non-breaking space) to the end of an entire quote. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/6 "2021-05-05T15:09:30Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > But not the entire post. Or it won’t show up. You have leave off some portion of it. I don’t think I’m the only person that selects everything but the period at the end. Yep, I’ve done this. > [@Pleonast](#): > > I usually add   (non-breaking space) to the end of an entire quote.  Good workaround, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/7 "2021-05-05T16:25:27Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > It is annoying. My work around is to quote a relevant part of the post I’m replying to. This is the clearest way to make sure everyone knows which post you’re replying to. You don’t have to quote the whole thing. And yes, if it’s the immediately preceding post, it will disappear when you post unless you alter the quoted portion in some tiny way that does not affect the meaning-- a period, a dash, or the like. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/8 "2021-05-06T04:41:54Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > > > It is annoying. My work around is to quote a relevant part of the post I’m replying to. > > This is the clearest way to make sure everyone knows which post you’re replying to. You don’t have to quote the whole thing. And yes, if it’s the immediately preceding post, it will disappear when you post unless you alter the quoted portion in some tiny way that does not affect the meaning-- a period, a dash, or the like. Not necessarily. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/9 "2021-05-06T04:48:18Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Not necessarily. Not necessarily what? ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/10 "2021-05-06T04:52:36Z")
Not necessarily this: > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > if it’s the immediately preceding post, it will disappear when you post unless you alter the quoted portion in some tiny way that does not affect the meaning-- a period, a dash, or the like. ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/codinghorror/32/4242_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/11 "2021-05-09T05:50:06Z")
Most conversations are replies to the previous post; if you want to make that exceedingly clear, quote as desired. It never hurts to be precise. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/12 "2021-05-09T05:52:07Z")
> [@codinghorror](#): > > Most conversations are replies to the previous post; if you want to make that exceedingly clear, quote as desired. It never hurts to be precise Just don’t quote the entire post or you will lose the indicator that says it’s a response. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/13 "2021-05-09T05:53:31Z")
Kind of strange that we can’t get this changed. ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/codinghorror/32/4242_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/14 "2021-05-09T05:54:27Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Kind of strange that we can’t get this changed I don’t view it as a particularly healthy behavior for readers, to see every post repeated over and over ad nauseam. Now, if you’re selectively replying to a specific statement, it’s helpful. That’s just me though. Opinions vary. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/15 "2021-05-09T05:55:31Z")
But we lose the indicator showing we’re replying to that post. We don’t need to see the entire post repeated. It isn’t always obvious by context that it’s a reply. ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/codinghorror/32/4242_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/16 "2021-05-09T05:56:04Z")
Is it really not clear that I’m replying to you here? Am I talking to someone else in the topic? (reminder that this only happens if your reply is _directly under_ the previous post, and you are the only reply.) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/17 "2021-05-09T05:56:57Z")
Obviously yes it’s clear _in this instance_. It isn’t always. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/18 "2021-05-09T05:59:57Z")
Maybe read the first couple of posts in this thread again. It keeps coming up. ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/codinghorror/32/4242_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/19 "2021-05-09T06:13:10Z")
I don’t think it’s a bad thing for people to learn discipline about being clear in their communication, which will serve them exceedingly well in many aspects of their life, personal and professional, both now and in the future. Just my opinion, one among many. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439/20 "2021-05-09T06:16:26Z")
> [@codinghorror](#): > > I don’t think it’s a bad thing for people to learn discipline about being clear in their communication, Provided they know ahead of time that the “reply to” indicator isn’t going to appear. It would just make things more clear to everyone. > [@Pleonast](#): > > When a reply is made to the previous post, or when a reply is made to the original post, there is no indication who the reply is to. But when you reply to any other post, you get an indicator who the reply is to. Can we get that indicator for every post? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-distinguish-reply-to-previous-post-vs-reply-to-original-post/941439.md?page=2)