'''re: Forwarding''' You have the option to forward the received email 'inline' or as an 'attachment'. This can be set up here: 'Tools' > 'Options' > 'Composition' > 'General' tab This is because you are not responding to a specific email - you are selecting to forward information from a different person to another person, which may be best sent as an attachment. '''re: Reply''' In this instance you have the option to either: * include the received email in a reply * Not include the received email in a reply * include selected part (quote) of received email in reply. A Reply implies a continued conversation and so the option to include the conversation is available. This is set up here: 'Tools' > 'Account Settings' > 'Composition & Addressing' for the mail account. But regardless of whether you choose to 'automatically quote the original message when replying' or not, you can always highlight a section of text and then click on 'Reply' to include only the selected section of text. A Reply will also not include any attachments that were received attached to the original email because you do not need to send back the senders own attachments. Otherwise you create a new 'Write' message and attach the original email, so it is not technically a Reply - you do not use the 'Reply' button and these emails will not be threaded. It makes it more difficult to see continuity of conversation.