In contract terms, which term describes the moment the offeror receives a written or oral communication of acceptance?

• A. Actual communication
• B. Offer & Acceptance
• C. Constructive communication
• D. Disclosure

Answer: (A)

Acceptance becomes binding at the moment the offeree actually conveys the acceptance to the offeror and the offeror receives it. This real-time receipt is what we call actual communication. If you accept in person, by phone, or by email, the contract is formed when the offeror hears or sees that acceptance. The mailbox rule can change this in non-instantaneous methods like mailing an acceptance, where the contract may be formed on dispatch rather than upon receipt. The other terms don’t capture this moment of actual receipt: one describes the general process of agreeing to terms, another means notice is presumed by law from certain acts, and the last is unrelated to acceptance communication.