If you only want to respond to the person who sent you an email, you should use ______.

Using the option for "reply" allows you to respond specifically to the individual who sent you the email. This option is ideal when your message is intended only for the sender, without involving other recipients included in the original email. This choice ensures privacy and keeps the communication focused on the sender's queries or comments, preventing unnecessary clutter in others' inboxes who would receive the response if "reply all" were chosen.

In contrast, "reply all" sends your response to everyone on the original email thread, which is not appropriate if the response is meant for the sender alone. "Forward" is used to send the email and its contents to another person, not to respond to the sender. The "cc" option is for carbon copying additional recipients on your reply, which again would not meet the goal of solely addressing the sender. Thus, choosing "reply" effectively maintains a direct line of communication with the original email sender.