15 Simple And Easy Rules Of Texting Etiquette

Last week we shared 18 Important Cell Phone Rules For The Modern Gentleman. This week we are focusing on the written word. This week we are focusing on texting.

Look around you. How many phones do you see? Are you reading this on a phone right now? Is there one nearby? Most likely, yes. Smartphones have become so central to our lives that if we leave home without ours, we feel naked. It's our constant connection to the world, and while it has benefits, it can also have its flaws, especially when it comes to texting.

While text services allow us to easily send a message to another person anywhere in the world at our convenience, important elements like tone of voice and body language can become lost in translation. Therefore, we must take care that the meaning of our messages comes across as clearly as possible.

Texting is still a new form of conversing with others, but there are guidelines that should be followed to ensure that our intended messages are delivered as effectively as possible. Here are 15 guidelines you can use to ensure that your texts and conversations are effective:

Keep Messages Short 

Be conscious of how long your text message is. If it's going to take a while to read, consider calling the person instead. It's easier to tell a story and use your voice to convey your feelings and emotions rather than a wall of words. Some people may not have the time to read it all or may speed read it, causing them to miss important information.

Do Not Text Sensitive News 

Life-altering news should not be shared through text. Instead, phone the person. Let the tone of your voice describe your emotions to them and how they should react. Happy or sad news, it's better to hear a voice delivering it to you rather than reading it on a screen.

Reply Within 24 Hours

Jumping off the last tip, texting isn't as time sensitive as a phone call, but do your best to get back to the other person within a day or so. If you forget to reply, simply apologize in your next text. Life does get in the way; sometimes messages get buried or we accidentally delete notifications.

If you text someone and don't get a reply within a day or so, feel free to send them a follow-up text or phone call if need be. It isn't considered rude to follow up with someone if you need some information from them and they haven't given it to you yet.

Don't Text During Off Hours 

Be aware of when you text people. Texting late at night or early in the morning may disrupt someone's sleep. If it's urgent—for instance, you or a loved one are facing a medical emergency—then phone them instead of texting. Some people turn their phones off at night while others keep them on just in case of emergencies.

Use Proper Grammar 

While SMS language has become the norm in daily texts, keep it to a minimum, especially when texting people like coworkers or family members who may not understand the acronyms. Most people know what LOL stands for, but not as many know what ROFL or LMAO means. 

Use full words instead of abbreviations when possible. Since most phones have autocomplete or predictive text, typing complete sentences isn't as difficult as it was in the days of T9Word flip phones, where you'd have to press the same key multiple times for a single letter.

Keep Emojis To A Minimum 

Adding an emoji or two to a text can add a level of playfulness or help convey a certain emotion. While there seems to be one to suit every feeling, they can be subject to misinterpretation. Use them only if phoning the person isn't an option or if you're being playful. Saying a family member died, then adding a skull emoji, probably isn't the best idea. Older generations associate a skull with death, while younger generations have begun to use the skull emoji to mean that they've died laughing. 

Avoid One-Letter Or One-Word Replies 

If you receive a text, do your best to acknowledge it with at least a few words. If you don't have the time to reply at the moment, let them know. Simply replying "k", "ok", or a thumbs-up emoji may come across as insensitive. 

In texting language, a singular "k" may mean that you're not really interested in what the other person has to say or you're upset with them. When you reply with one letter or one word, you're not giving the sender any context. Are you happy? Sad? Upset? Annoyed? Let them know.

Communicate Clearly

Be mindful of what you're trying to say and spend a bit of extra time making sure your text makes sense. Be sure to include important details like dates, names, and events. Some people may not write down important information, but if it's in a text, there's no excuse for missing it.

Communication is one of the most important skills you can develop. Say what you mean and mean what you say. An effective communicator will never have to play mind games or beat around the bush.

Using Group Chats? Keep It Relevant 

Group chats can be great for keeping everyone on the same page. Some people have group chats for family, others for work, some for sports clubs, leisurely activities, and so on. While in the group chat, keep the topics relevant. 

If you wish to have a one-on-one discussion with another person, do it privately, not in the group chat. Avoid sharing memes in the chat unless they're related to the typical group content.

If you are leaving a group chat, you don't need to announce your departure. Simply leave. If anyone asks why you left, then you can explain why. There's no need to make a scene when you leave.

DO NOT TYPE IN ALL CAPS 

Typing in all caps is the equivalent of yelling. If you are emphasizing something, it's okay to capitalize that one word or phrase, but an entire text in full capitals may give the impression that you're angry at someone.

Periods At The End Of Texts. 

Most people, especially younger people, don't end each text message with a period and aren't used to seeing others do so. Texting is basically a written conversation meant to go back and forth fluidly. Most texts are usually very short and informal. This informality often means that the regular rules of written text, that would be used in letters or emails, are ignored. Including periods at the end of texts. 

Adding a period to the end of a text message can indicate that the sender may be unhappy or frustrated, as explained in the scientific journal Texting Insincerely: The Role Of The Period In Text Messaging.

Be Sure To Include Your Name When You Text Someone For The First Time 

If you are texting someone for the first time (even if you just exchanged numbers and they're in front of you), be sure to include your name. The other person may not add you to their contacts right away, and if they forget who you are, they may feel embarrassed to text back asking whose number it is.

• If you are texting someone who isn't present, let them know your name and who you are.

• If a friend gave you their number, tell them which friend did. If you're texting someone in a different department at work, let them know which department you work in.

• If, on the off chance, you get the number wrong, simply apologize and delete the number.

Unknown Number? Be Polite! 

If you receive a text message from an unknown number, ask who is texting and who they're trying to reach (if they didn't include any of that information). If it's someone who has the wrong number, let them know. 

You don't know who the other person is, so don't play games with them. Don't pretend to be the person they're trying to contact, and don't string them along with mind games.

Be aware that some scammers will claim to be looking for someone else, and then attempt to initiate a conversation with you in order to ask for money or favours. If you receive a text like this, report it immediately and block the number.

There are Three Simple Phrases Every Modern Gentleman Should Know. Using them effectively will help you out in all types of situations. 

Turn Off Loud Ringers In Public 

In a crowded place, it's best to have your ringer and notification volumes low. Be mindful of your environment. You don't want to be disrespectful to the people around you who are trying to have a conversation, focusing on something important, or just wanting silence. 

A loud ringtone can draw unwanted attention in public areas. Hearing constant dings from texts may drive someone nearby up the wall. 

Public places, places of worship, restaurants, doctor's offices, meeting rooms, and theatres are all places where you should keep your phone off or at the very least on vibrate only, unless you're expecting an important call or message.

If you are waiting for an important phone call or message, it's usually fine to have your volume up. Consider a classic ringer or ding over something obnoxious like someone with a thick Boston accent yelling "THE WIFE IS CALLING!" or loud fart noises.

Double-Check Before Sending 

If you use voice-to-text features, be sure to double-check your message before sending. Not all voice-to-text apps are flawless and some are terrible altogether. Homophones (words that are spelled differently but sound the same, like there, their, and they're) are difficult for voice-to-text apps to decipher, so be sure to proofread your texts for grammatical errors. 

Most voice-to-text apps have sensitive microphones and may pick up background noises as well. Some cheaper ones aren't great with accents, so if this is a consideration, do some research to see which one would be best for you. 

Summary

Texting is an effective way to communicate. Like most forms of communication, there are some rules that apply. Texting is still quite new so not everyone will know the proper etiquette when it comes to sending and receiving texts. 

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