The #1 Mistake People Make When Texting

“The difference between someone saying, “Funny!” ” and funny.’ is dramatic in terms of how it’s interpreted,” Senning says.

However, when it comes to exclamation points, you can’t overdo it.

Rules can add a tone of hostility to short messages. You don’t need to end “one- or two-word answers” with a period, Senning says.

If you want to communicate that a problem is really serious, use a period, he says.

Another tool you may want to use sparingly is humor, because tone, something that cannot be conveyed through text, is crucial for it to be interpreted correctly.

“It’s really hard to write funny,” Senning says.

Before texting a joke, Senning suggests asking yourself, “Are these relationships established enough or do I need to know them well for this to work?”

Exclamation points can be used quite liberally, however.

“Be aware that people are using exclamation points and emoji more freely in text,” says Senning. “It’s a way of showing enthusiasm and doesn’t indicate a super enthusiastic explanation. It can be used to change the tone in a positive way.”

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