Difference between waiting and awaiting

[riazuddin]

Dear Teachers,

Could you please explain the difference between waiting and awaiting in the context of the following sentences:

1. I am waiting to receive your reply at the earliest.
2. I am awaiting to receive your reply at the earliest.

Thanks

[Tom]

Dear Riaz (I welcome myself back on the forum )

Await is a formal word and mostly used with abstract objects. Unlike wait, it does not take the preposition for..

1- We are still awaiting instructions.
2- Back then, I was awaiting my result.

Tom

Ps: Thank you, Amy and Conchita,for such gigantic support.

[Yankee]

Hi riazuddin

I've got an additional comment about your sentences.

The phrase "at the earliest" doesn't work in this context. I assume you were thinking of the phrase "at your earliest convenience" which is a more formal way to say "as soon as possible" (ASAP). For example:

Please reply at your earliest convenience.

To make the above sentence more urgent, you can add the word "possible":

Please reply at your earliest possible convenience.

Also, rather than using "wait" in a sentence like this, you will often find the verb "look forward to". Using the word "wait" can sound impatient and therefore could also sound rude.

Examples:
We look forward to receiving a reply at your earliest convenience.

We are looking forward to a fast reply.

Amy

PS
We have all been awating Tom's return to the forum.
Welcome back, stranger.
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Conchita]