Which scenario is an exception to the general rule that acceptance must be communicated?

• A. Silence on offer
• B. Acceptance by conduct
• C. Acceptance by post
• D. Email acceptance

Answer: (B)

Acceptance that is communicated is the usual route to forming a contract, but there is a clear exception: acceptance by conduct. When the offer invites performance rather than a promise, the offeree can accept by carrying out the specified act. The act itself signals that the offer has been accepted, so no separate message saying “I accept” is needed. The contract is formed at the moment the act is performed (subject to the usual limits about revocation before completion). This unilateral‑offer scenario shows why conduct can count as acceptance without a direct communication.

Silence on an offer generally does not amount to acceptance, since there is no communication of assent. Acceptance by post is another recognized rule, but it still involves a form of communication and is treated differently from acceptance by conduct. Email acceptance is typically treated as effective on receipt, not as an exception to the rule that acceptance must be communicated.