How many times have you read a message from your significant other, eyebrows raised, as you wondered if they were annoyed at something you said, or just busy at work? How many times have you sent a text realizing it contained an embarrassing autocorrect mid-send? If only phones had a cancel or take-back button!
With texting becoming the most common method of communication amongst family, friends, even co-workers, and with June being Effective Communication Month, we could all learn to do a little better with our electronic communication. Here’s five simple ways you can be a better texter.
Respect Environments: Before getting into the Dos and Don’ts of text messages, it’s important that you know when and where to text. It’s generally not acceptable to text during class, at meetings, at the movies, at church, or while driving, simply because it’s distracting. You should also strongly reconsider texting when out on a date, while spending time with family and friends, and while others are trying to speak to you face-to-face.
Be mindful of when you send texts to colleagues. If you’re sending a work-related text, try to keep it within work hours. Many people don’t want to be interrupted during dinner or family game night with questions on a report when it could wait until morning.
While most people with cell phones are smart enough to turn the sound off at night, it’s best you only text others when you suspect they’ll be awake.
Respond: Nobody likes feeling ignored. Make it a goal to respond to all text messages in one way or another, even if it’s to say, “I’m in meetings the rest of today so I’ll call you later” or “I’m sorry, you have the wrong number.” This will at least acknowledge the other person, even if you are unable/ don’t care to speak to them at that moment.
Avoid One-Word Answers: While you may have the best of intentions while replying to a text with “K” or “Yeah,” these over-simplified answers can come across as rude or dripping with tone. Because you’re only sending written messages, you need to put a little more feeling behind them so that the receiver understands you correctly. Just by adding an exclamation point, or a few more words, you can enhance the mood of your text. “That sounds good.” or “Alright!” is much friendlier than “sure.” At the same time, it’s also not wise to automatically assume a one-word answer contains a negative tone. Sometimes people really are just busy.
Proofread: The autocorrect feature has a mind of its own, and there are plenty of humorous websites to prove it. Double-check that your texts say what you want them to say. The letters “I” and “U” are right next to each other on the keyboard and can completely alter the meaning of your message when switched. Imagine having a bad day in which you glumly text a friend or family member “I look terrible,” but you accidentally switch those two letters. Ooops. Avoid embarrassing and uncomfortable situations with a quick re-read.
Know When to Call: If you’re passionately slamming your fingers across the screen in the middle of a fast-paced conversation, or if it’s taking hours just to come up with a simple evening plan, it’s probably best you just call the person and discuss what’s on your mind.
