How Both Sexes Should Communicate Better Via Texting

One of the problems with texting is that tone is very hard to detect. You’ve probably already noticed this. Either someone in the past has misread what you’ve said to them and got upset, or you’ve misread what someone has said to you and got way too excited. Tone is hard to judge, and the only thing to make it easier for the other person to work out your tone is by being as clear and as concise as possible. Read back your text messages before sending and ask yourself if your tone is clear. If it isn’t, reword it so that your language is more direct. The other person is not a mind-reader - they need you to help them out. If you don’t want to appear frustrated with them, don’t say “Oh my God!!!” Instead, be clear about what you want from them: “LOL I see you’re still struggling with what I’m saying. What’s not clear?”

The beauty of texting is that we can edit our words before sending them. This is something you just can’t do in real life. In real life, the opposite sex gets you in raw, unedited form - fumbled lines, faux pas, the works! It’s so easy to say something you deeply regret two seconds later. You: “I love you." Your Brain Two Seconds Later: “Oh my God, did I just say that …” With texting, you have the chance to look over what you’ve typed out. You can edit it before sending. For example, let’s say that you’re a bit annoyed with the other person and you’re ready to lash out in the heat of the moment. “I’m seriously thinking of ending this!!” If you take a time-out before sending, you might return ten minutes later with a totally different approach. Maybe you’ll fine tune your text so that there is a lot less emotional intensity. Something like this: “I didn’t appreciate your last text, but I understand your concerns. Why don’t we talk about this over the phone?” You shouldn’t just give yourself some breathing space during more heated exchanges. Edit your texts whenever emotions are high. For better communication, it’s important that you don’t get caught up in knee-jerk reactions caused by the heat of the moment.

You know what’s really annoying? When people just vanish mid-conversation. You’re having a great time texting them. The minutes are flying by and you can’t stop giggling. This is fun. You’re just about to ask if they fancy catching a movie tomorrow when they just vanish into thin air. They stop replying abruptly. It’s nothing new. As a matter of fact, you’re used to it. They do it all the time. It’s nothing personal. It’s just the way they are. However, it makes them appear inconsistent and unreliable. And it’s really aggravating! For better communication with whoever you’re talking to, always let them know when you’ve got to go. Say something like, “I’ve had a great time texting you! But I have to go back to work now. :(“ If you’re super cool, you’ll even let them know when you’ll be back.

Always remember that you’re not composing a novel, and that the other person probably doesn’t have the time or energy (or interest) to read through a whopper of a text. If you want to be engaging and you want to communicate better via texting, keep things brief. Don’t waffle on about your day. “Oh, I got up late which was annoying and then I stubbed my toe on the bath before burning my tongue on my coffee. Then I got on the bus at last and this girl kept staring at me which was annoying for real like wtf.” Be more like: “My day was OK! Burnt my tongue on some coffee though LOL.”