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The purpose of the 'not an answer' flag is well summarised in the meta-discussion Flagging as 'not an answer'. I reproduce it here for convenience.

The "not an answer" flag is for the following situations:

• The OP...
• needed to update the question with new information, but posted the new information as an answer.
• wanted to reply to an existing comment or answer, but posted the reply as an answer.
• posted a "resolution answer" saying something along the lines of "Joe's answer worked for me"
• A user...
• wants to reply to the OP, an answerer or a commenter, but doesn't have enough rep, and instead of thinking "maybe there's a reason I'm not allowed to post comments," ignores the help text about what an answer is.
• posts to say "I'm having this problem too, does anyone have a solution yet?"
• has a related issue and isn't aware of the "Ask Question" button.

These are common situations for new SO users who may be confused by the reputation, editing and/or commenting systems. They may be used to forums where it's normal to add a new post underneath the existing posts, and blindly click the "Post Your Answer" button.

So:

1. If the answer really isn't an answer, but something else entirely (see above), flag it.
2. If an answer is technically inaccurate, wrong, or just doesn't answer the question, downvote it.

The purpose of the 'not an answer' flag is well summarised in the meta-discussion Flagging as 'not an answer'. I reproduce it here for convenience.

The "not an answer" flag is for the following situations:

• The OP...
• needed to update the question with new information, but posted the new information as an answer.
• wanted to reply to an existing comment or answer, but posted the reply as an answer.
• posted a "resolution answer" saying something along the lines of "Joe's answer worked for me"
• A user...
• wants to reply to the OP, an answerer or a commenter, but doesn't have enough rep, and instead of thinking "maybe there's a reason I'm not allowed to post comments," ignores the help text about what an answer is.
• posts to say "I'm having this problem too, does anyone have a solution yet?"
• has a related issue and isn't aware of the "Ask Question" button.

These are common situations for new SO users who may be confused by the reputation, editing and/or commenting systems. They may be used to forums where it's normal to add a new post underneath the existing posts, and blindly click the "Post Your Answer" button.

So:

1. If the answer really isn't an answer, but something else entirely (see above), flag it.
2. If an answer is technically inaccurate, wrong, or just doesn't answer the question, downvote it.

The purpose of the 'not an answer' flag is well summarised in the meta-discussion Flagging as 'not an answer'. I reproduce it here for convenience.

The "not an answer" flag is for the following situations:

• The OP...
  • needed to update the question with new information, but posted the new information as an answer.
  • wanted to reply to an existing comment or answer, but posted the reply as an answer.
  • posted a "resolution answer" saying something along the lines of "Joe's answer worked for me"
• A user...
  • wants to reply to the OP, an answerer or a commenter, but doesn't have enough rep, and instead of thinking "maybe there's a reason I'm not allowed to post comments," ignores the help text about what an answer is.
  • posts to say "I'm having this problem too, does anyone have a solution yet?"
  • has a related issue and isn't aware of the "Ask Question" button.

These are common situations for new SO users who may be confused by the reputation, editing and/or commenting systems. They may be used to forums where it's normal to add a new post underneath the existing posts, and blindly click the "Post Your Answer" button.

So:

1. If the answer really isn't an answer, but something else entirely (see above), flag it.
2. If an answer is technically inaccurate, wrong, or just doesn't answer the question, downvote it.

The purpose of the 'not an answer' flag is well summarised in the meta-discussion Flagging as 'not an answer'. I reproduce it here for convenience.

The "not an answer" flag is for the following situations:

• The OP...
• needed to update the question with new information, but posted the new information as an answer.
• wanted to reply to an existing comment or answer, but posted the reply as an answer.
• posted a "resolution answer" saying something along the lines of "Joe's answer worked for me"
• A user...
• wants to reply to the OP, an answerer or a commenter, but doesn't have enough rep, and instead of thinking "maybe there's a reason I'm not allowed to post comments," ignores the help text about what an answer is.
• posts to say "I'm having this problem too, does anyone have a solution yet?"
• has a related issue and isn't aware of the "Ask Question" button.

These are common situations for new SO users who may be confused by the reputation, editing and/or commenting systems. They may be used to forums where it's normal to add a new post underneath the existing posts, and blindly click the "Post Your Answer" button.

So:

1. If the answer really isn't an answer, but something else entirely (see above), flag it.
2. If an answer is technically inaccurate, wrong, or just doesn't answer the question, downvote it.

The purpose of the 'not an answer' flag is well summarised in the meta-discussion Flagging as 'not an answer'. I reproduce it here for convenience.

The "not an answer" flag is for the following situations:

• The OP...
• needed to update the question with new information, but posted the new information as an answer.
• wanted to reply to an existing comment or answer, but posted the reply as an answer.
• posted a "resolution answer" saying something along the lines of "Joe's answer worked for me"
• A user...
• wants to reply to the OP, an answerer or a commenter, but doesn't have enough rep, and instead of thinking "maybe there's a reason I'm not allowed to post comments," ignores the help text about what an answer is.
• posts to say "I'm having this problem too, does anyone have a solution yet?"
• has a related issue and isn't aware of the "Ask Question" button.

These are common situations for new SO users who may be confused by the reputation, editing and/or commenting systems. They may be used to forums where it's normal to add a new post underneath the existing posts, and blindly click the "Post Your Answer" button.

So:

1. If the answer really isn't an answer, but something else entirely (see above), flag it.
2. If an answer is technically inaccurate, wrong, or just doesn't answer the question, downvote it.

The purpose of the 'not an answer' flag is well summarised in the meta-discussion Flagging as 'not an answer'. I reproduce it here for convenience.

The "not an answer" flag is for the following situations:

• The OP...
  • needed to update the question with new information, but posted the new information as an answer.
  • wanted to reply to an existing comment or answer, but posted the reply as an answer.
  • posted a "resolution answer" saying something along the lines of "Joe's answer worked for me"
• A user...
  • wants to reply to the OP, an answerer or a commenter, but doesn't have enough rep, and instead of thinking "maybe there's a reason I'm not allowed to post comments," ignores the help text about what an answer is.
  • posts to say "I'm having this problem too, does anyone have a solution yet?"
  • has a related issue and isn't aware of the "Ask Question" button.

These are common situations for new SO users who may be confused by the reputation, editing and/or commenting systems. They may be used to forums where it's normal to add a new post underneath the existing posts, and blindly click the "Post Your Answer" button.

So:

1. If the answer really isn't an answer, but something else entirely (see above), flag it.
2. If an answer is technically inaccurate, wrong, or just doesn't answer the question, downvote it.