Texting Manners
Billions of text messages are sent each year: They’re fast, relatively inexpensive, and you can get a message to someone without having their phone ring at an inopportune time.
Texting Guidelines
- Don’t text to inform someone of sad news or to end a relationship. Deliver the news in person or by phone.
- Be aware—not everyone has unlimited texting as part of their service plan.
- Keep your message brief. If it runs on and on, make a phone call instead.
- Be careful when choosing a recipient from your phone book; a slip of the finger could send the text to a wrong recipient.
- When you text someone who doesn’t have your number, start by stating who you are."Hi, it's Kate (from yoga)."
- Respond to a text by texting back or with a phone call.
- If you receive a text by mistake, respond to the sender with “Sorry, wrong number.”
- Don’t text at the movies, a play, or a concert—the screen light is annoying to others.
- Don’t text anything confidential, private, or potentially embarrassing.
- Don’t be upset if your text doesn’t get an immediate response—you can’t know for sure when the recipient will read the message.
- Think of texting as a conversation: If you would respond in the conversation, then respond in the text. A short “TNX” to acknowledge that the message was received is a simple way to end the conversation.
- Just as you shouldn't answer your phone during a conversation, you shouldn't text when you're engaged with someone else. If you are with someone who won't stop texting during your conversation, feel free to excuse yourself until they have concluded their messaging.
- Don't text and drive.
Text Speak
- IMHO – In my humble opinion
- TTYL – Talk to you later
- IDK – I don’t know
- BTW – By the way
- LOL – Laugh out loud
- CYA – See ya
- BRB – Be right back
- J/K – Just kidding
- OIC – Oh I see
- THX/TNX – Thanks
- L8R – Later
- BFF – Best friends forever
- ILY – I love you
- B/C – Because
