# Reply to a Message
There are three ways to reply to a message in Zulip.

## Click on a message
To reply to a message, click on it.
A message compose box will appear with the **Stream** (outlined in red
below) and **Topic** (outlined in green below) fields
autofilled to match the message you clicked on.

![reply messaging box](/static/images/help/reply-messaging-box.png)

You can type your reply in the **Compose your message here...** field.
Learn about formatting messages [here](/help/format-your-message-using-markdown).

## The chevron icon
{!message-actions.md!}
{!down-chevron.md!}

2. Select the **Reply** option from the dropdown to reply to the selected
message. A message compose box will appear with the **Stream** (outlined in red
below) and **Topic** (outlined in green below) fields autofilled to match the
message you selected.

![reply messaging box](/static/images/help/reply-messaging-box.png)

You can then type your reply in the **Compose your message here...** field.

## The `r` hotkey
On the Zulip home screen, you will notice a blue box around one of the
messages on your screen.

![blue box](/static/images/help/blue-box-message.png)

This box indicates which message is currently highlighted.
It is found on the home screen, in all streams, in your private
messages, in your starred messages, and in your @-mentions.

You can change which message is highlighted by scrolling or
using the arrow or `j` and `k` keys on your keyboard.
Pressing the `r` key on your keyboard will open a message compose
box to type your reply in.
This box will appear with the **Stream** (outlined in red below)
and **Topic** (outlined in green below) fields
autofilled to match the message that you highlighted.

![reply messaging box](/static/images/help/reply-messaging-box.png)

You can then type your reply in the **Compose your message here...** field.

## Discard your reply

At any time you can discard your reply by clicking the **x**
(<i class="icon-vector-remove"></i>) icon located at the top-right corner
of the messaging box or by pressing the `esc` key on your keyboard.
This message will be saved as a draft if you wish to restore it later.
Learn more about this [here](/help/restore-the-last-unsent-message).