Appeal vs. Request — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 25, 2024
An appeal is a formal plea for a specific change or decision reversal, often based in emotion or critical need, while a request is a straightforward ask for a favor or service, usually more informal.
Difference Between Appeal and Request
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An appeal usually implies a deeper level of urgency or seriousness, often used in legal or formal contexts to seek a change in decision or assistance. On the other hand, a request is generally a more routine or everyday ask, lacking the connotations of desperation or critical need.
Appeals often carry an emotional weight, designed to persuade or move the audience to action, suggesting that significant consequences hinge on the response. Whereas requests might not invoke strong emotional responses and are often straightforward communications.
In terms of structure, appeals are typically more formal, possibly involving specific formats or protocols, especially in legal or institutional settings. Requests are less bound by formality and can vary greatly in their level of casualness, depending on the situation.
While appeals can be made to authorities or bodies with the power to reverse decisions or grant significant aid, requests are usually directed at any individual or organization capable of fulfilling a simple need or task.
Appeals also tend to be public or widely communicated in efforts to gather support or awareness, contrasting with requests, which are often private and directed at specific persons or small groups.
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Comparison Chart
Context
Legal, formal, serious
Everyday, informal, routine
Emotional Weight
High, often urgent or desperate
Low, straightforward communication
Structure
Formal, may follow specific protocols
Informal, flexible in form
Audience
Authorities, large public or supporters
Individuals or specific small groups
Communication
Often public to garner support
Usually private
Compare with Definitions
Appeal
Often based on emotional or moral grounds.
The charity made an appeal for donations to aid disaster victims.
Request
An ask for a service or favor.
She sent a request for document approval via email.
Appeal
Used in critical situations requiring urgent attention.
The environmental group’s appeal focused on the urgent need for policy change.
Request
Generally informal and part of routine communication.
He made a request for a day off next week.
Appeal
Requires specific formats in legal or official settings.
The appeal to the insurance company followed a strict format to dispute a claim denial.
Request
Usually private or directed at specific individuals.
The manager’s request for team feedback was sent directly to her department.
Appeal
A formal request to reconsider a decision.
The lawyer filed an appeal against the court's verdict.
Request
Flexible in form, depending on the context.
His request for information was casual, made during a coffee break.
Appeal
Directed at influencing or persuading a broader audience.
The public appeal aimed to raise awareness about human rights abuses.
Request
Does not typically involve emotional persuasion.
The request for additional resources was based purely on project needs.
Appeal
In law, an appeal is the process in which cases are reviewed by a higher authority, where parties request a formal change to an official decision. Appeals function both as a process for error correction as well as a process of clarifying and interpreting law.
Request
An act of asking politely or formally for something
A request for information
The club's excursion was postponed at the request of some of the members
Appeal
An earnest or urgent request, entreaty, or supplication.
Request
Politely or formally ask for
The chairman requested that the reports be considered
He received the information he had requested
Appeal
A resort to a higher authority or greater power, as for sanction, corroboration, or a decision
An appeal to reason.
An appeal to her listener's sympathy.
Request
To express a desire for, especially politely; ask for. Often used with an infinitive or clause
Requested information about the experiment.
Requested to see the evidence firsthand.
Requested that the bus driver stop at the next corner.
Appeal
A higher court's review of the correctness of a decision by a lower court.
Request
To ask (a person) to do something
The police requested her to accompany them.
Appeal
A case so reviewed.
Request
An act of asking for something.
Appeal
A request for a higher court to review the decision of a lower court.
Request
Something asked for
Wasn't happy until he got his request.
Appeal
The power of attracting or of arousing interest
A city with special appeal for museumgoers.
Request
To ask for (something).
The corporal requested reinforcements.
I have requested that the furniture be moved back to its original position.
Appeal
To make an earnest or urgent request, as for help.
Request
(transitive) To ask (somebody) to do something.
She called me into her office and requested me to sit down.
Appeal
To have recourse, as for corroboration; resort
I appeal to your sense of justice.
Request
Act of requesting (with the adposition at in the presence of possessives, and on in their absence).
Appeal
(Law) To make or request an appeal.
Request
A formal message requesting something.
Appeal
To be attractive or interesting
The idea didn't appeal to me.
Request
Condition of being sought after.
Appeal
To request for an appeal of (a case) to a higher court for rehearing.
Request
(networking) A message sent over a network to a server.
The server returned a 404 error to the HTTP request.
Appeal
(law)
Request
(obsolete) That which is asked for or requested.
Appeal
An application to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned.
Request
The act of asking for anything desired; expression of desire or demand; solicitation; prayer; petition; entreaty.
I will marry her, sir, at your request.
Appeal
The legal document or form by which such an application is made; also, the court case in which the application is argued.
Request
That which is asked for or requested.
I will both hear and grant you your requests.
Appeal
A person's legal right to apply to court for such a review.
I have an appeal against the lower court decision.
Request
A state of being desired or held in such estimation as to be sought after or asked for; demand.
Knowledge and fame were in as great request as wealth among us now.
Appeal
(historical) An accusation or charge against someone for wrongdoing (especially treason).
Request
To ask for (something); to express desire ffor; to solicit; as, to request his presence, or a favor.
Appeal
(historical) A process which formerly might be instituted by one private person against another for some heinous crime demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered, rather than for the offence against the public; an accusation.
Request
To address with a request; to ask.
I request youTo give my poor host freedom.
Appeal
(historical) At common law, an accusation made against a felon by one of their accomplices (called an approver).
Request
A formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority
Appeal
A call to a person or an authority for a decision, help, or proof; an entreaty, an invocation.
He made an appeal for volunteers to help at the festival.
Request
The verbal act of requesting
Appeal
(cricket) The act, by the fielding side, of asking an umpire for a decision on whether a batsman is out or not.
Request
Express the need or desire for; ask for;
She requested an extra bed in her room
She called for room service
Appeal
(figuratively) A resort to some physical means; a recourse.
Request
Ask (a person) to do something;
She asked him to be here at noon
I requested that she type the entire manuscript
Appeal
(figuratively) A power to attract or interest.
Request
Inquire for (information);
I requested information from the secretary
Appeal
(rhetoric) A call to, or the use of, a principle or quality for purposes of persuasion.
Appeal
(historical) A summons to defend one's honour in a duel, or one's innocence in a trial by combat; a challenge.
Appeal
(law)
Appeal
(intransitive) Often followed by against (the inferior court's decision) or to (the superior court): to apply to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned.
Dissatisfied with the judge’s ruling, she decided to appeal.
He was advised by his lawyer to appeal against his conviction.
Appeal
To apply to a superior court or judge to review and overturn (a decision or order by an inferior court or judge).
The plaintiff appealed the decision to the appellate court.
Appeal
To accuse or charge (someone) with wrongdoing (especially treason).
Appeal
Of a private person: to instituted legal proceedings (against another private person) for some heinous crime, demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered.
Appeal
Of the accomplice of a felon: to make an accusation at common law against (the felon).
Appeal
(intransitive) To call upon a person or an authority to corroborate a statement, to decide a controverted question, or to vindicate one's rights; to entreat, to invoke.
Appeal
Of a fielding side; to ask an umpire for a decision on whether a batsman is out or not, usually by saying "How's that?" or "Howzat?".
Appeal
(intransitive) To call upon someone for a favour, help, etc.
I appeal to all of you to help the orphans.
Appeal
To have recourse or resort to some physical means.
Appeal
To be attractive.
That idea appeals to me.
Appeal
To summon (someone) to defend their honour in a duel, or their innocence in a trial by combat; to challenge.
Appeal
To make application for the removal of (a cause) from an inferior to a superior judge or court for a rehearing or review on account of alleged injustice or illegality in the trial below. We say, the cause was appealed from an inferior court.
Appeal
To summon; to challenge.
Man to man will I appeal the Norman to the lists.
Appeal
To invoke.
Appeal
To apply for the removal of a cause from an inferior to a superior judge or court for the purpose of reëxamination of for decision.
I appeal unto Cæsar.
Appeal
To call upon another to decide a question controverted, to corroborate a statement, to vindicate one's rights, etc.; as, I appeal to all mankind for the truth of what is alleged. Hence: To call on one for aid; to make earnest request.
I appeal to the Scriptures in the original.
They appealed to the sword.
Appeal
An application for the removal of a cause or suit from an inferior to a superior judge or court for reëxamination or review.
Appeal
A summons to answer to a charge.
Appeal
A call upon a person or an authority for proof or decision, in one's favor; reference to another as witness; a call for help or a favor; entreaty.
A kind of appeal to the Deity, the author of wonders.
Appeal
Resort to physical means; recourse.
Every milder method is to be tried, before a nation makes an appeal to arms.
Appeal
Earnest or urgent request;
An entreaty to stop the fighting
An appeal for help
An appeal to the public to keep calm
Appeal
Attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates;
His smile was part of his appeal to her
Appeal
(law) a legal proceeding in which the appellant resorts to a higher court for the purpose of obtaining a review of a lower court decision and a reversal of the lower court's judgment or the granting of a new trial;
Their appeal was denied in the superior court
Appeal
Request for a sum of money;
An appeal to raise money for starving children
Appeal
Take a court case to a higher court for review;
He was found guilty but appealed immediately
Appeal
Request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection;
Appeal to somebody for help
Invoke God in times of trouble
Appeal
Be attractive to;
The idea of a vacation appeals to me
The beautiful garden attracted many people
Appeal
Challenge (a decision);
She appealed the verdict
Appeal
Cite as an authority; resort to;
He invoked the law that would save him
I appealed to the law of 1900
She invoked an ancient law
Common Curiosities
When should I use an appeal instead of a request?
Use an appeal when facing a serious situation needing urgent attention or formal reconsideration, whereas a request is suitable for routine asks.
What makes a request different from a simple question?
A request implies a desire for action or service, whereas a question seeks information without implying a need for action.
Can an appeal be informal?
While typically formal, appeals can occasionally be informal, especially in personal or community settings.
What is an appeal?
An appeal is a formal plea to reverse a decision or gain assistance, often used in legal or critical contexts.
What is a request?
A request is a straightforward ask for a favor or service, usually informal and part of everyday communication.
Are requests always verbal?
Requests can be verbal or written, depending on the context and the desired formality.
Can anyone make an appeal?
Anyone can make an appeal, but its effectiveness often depends on the audience’s authority to act on it.
What are typical responses to a request?
Responses to a request can range from approval or denial to requests for further information.
How do emotions play a role in appeals?
Emotions in appeals help persuade the audience, emphasizing the seriousness or urgency of the situation.
What is a common format for a legal appeal?
A legal appeal often requires a written petition or application outlining grounds for reconsideration, following legal standards.
Why might an appeal be denied?
An appeal might be denied due to insufficient evidence, non-compliance with formal requirements, or the decision-maker’s discretion.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
