This is such a dumb question, I'm embarassed that I can't figure it out for myself.

I use Outlook Express as my email client (don't need anything fancier for my very limited needs) running under Windows XP.

I have the option of creating or replying to emails using "Rich Text" (HTML) or "Plain Text".

When creating a new message, "Rich Text" is the default. When replying to a message, it always seems to default to "Plain Text" as the writing mode.

Is this because the message to which I am replying was sent as plain text and the default is just mimicing that message? Or is there a default I can set somewhere to always reply in Rich Text?

tanstaafl.

I assume you mean HTML vs plain text? Outlook Express doesn't (or at least didn't) ever support RTF.

Tools->Options->Send Tab

Set "Reply to messages using the format in which they were sent" accordingly.

and then "Mail Sending Format" for new mail format.

If you click on the SEND tab in options there is a box to check that reads---- reply to messages using the format in which they were sent.Try unchecking that box.

Try unchecking that box.

That was it. I suspected the answer was hiding around there someplace, I just wasn't smart enough to find it.

But what took so long with the answer? I mean, it was pretty near nine whole minutes from the time I posted until you and Shonky replied. Even for a Sunday night that's pretty slow for this bbs!

Thanks much for the info, newguy1 and Shonky. It never fails to impress me what an incredible knowledge base we have here.

tanstaafl.

replying in HTML to plaintext email is quite frankly hella rude.

Well... maybe a little bit, but all I ever use it for is to put italics or bold print on a few words here and there, and if I know the recipient does not receive HTML (I only correspond with about a dozen people, so I pretty much know) then I don't even do that.

tanstaafl.

If all you ever use it for is /italics/ and *bold*, then may I suggest the old standbys? I find they do the trick quite well, and a number of email clients will highlight appropriately (at least *mine* does, anyway).