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"It is a good mannerism to reply for a message".

Is this sentence right? If so then why? Which one should be used in the above line — "good mannerism" or "good manners"?

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The sentence you're looking for is:

It is good manners to reply to a message.

The phrase is "reply to" and not "reply for", but I guess your confusion is between the word "manners" and the word "mannerisms". They mean different things:

  • manners (or good manners, always plural) refers to etiquette, things that are considered polite, or expected in society. (You already know this meaning.) Example: "It is good manners to reply to a message."

  • mannerisms are idiosyncrasies or other peculiar behaviour specific to a person, his/her style of doing things, speaking, etc. Example: "Rajinikanth is a star mostly for his mannerisms."

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  • +1 for the answer. As a side note, I know more than a few people who will be likely to try and lynch you for your 2nd example :-) :-)
    – Jagmag
    Commented Dec 30, 2010 at 10:13
  • This answer is correct, but I would prefer "It is polite to reply to a message." Seems more direct and less clunky.
    – ghoppe
    Commented Dec 31, 2010 at 19:05

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