We can’t stop the reality of instant and digital communication. We just have to go with the flow. While many would still prefer face-to-face communication, texting is unavoidable, so it’s best for you to learn to do it right. Here are the 20 texting etiquette tips for dating that you must learn.
#1 Know when to initiate. Except for certain occasions, men are almost always expected to be the one to initiate a texting conversation in the early stages of dating. The same can be said after dates, although it is also completely acceptable for women to text the guy with a “thank you for last night” or “I had a great time yesterday” to initiate a conversation.
#2 Don’t text when you’re drunk. This deserves repeating over and over in all texting etiquette guides. When you’re tipsy or drunk, chances are, you have less inhibitions, which can cause you to feel embarrassed or regretful the next day when you’re sobered up. As a general rule, keep your phone away from you when you’re drinking.
#3 Don’t text when you’re upset. As with actual person-to-person conversations, try to keep your thumbs away from your phone when you’re upset. You might say something that will only make the situation worse, and even if you don’t mean any harm, there’s always that chance for your text messages to be misconstrued.
#4 Be short and sweet. Less words, less mistakes. This is especially true in the realm of texting and dating, since the recipient can’t see you as you say *type* those words. Avoid lengthy messages that give you more opportunities to be misunderstood. Here, brevity is key.
#5 Just once. Have you ever had someone send you the same text multiple times back-to-back? It’s annoying, right? The more texts you send at a time, the more desperate and needier you come across. Though you might feel that you were ignored or left hanging without a response, fight the urge to resend the message and just get your mind off of it. \
#6 One word: Spellcheck. There are so many things that can go wrong with bad spelling and bad grammar. Before hitting the “send” button, go over your message at least once. This prevents you from coming off as careless and even annoying.
#7 Punctuation is key. Punctuation may seem like tiny characters, but they can greatly change the meaning of your message. Be careful with how you use exclamation points, being sure to use them in moderation.
#8 Don’t be passive-aggressive. This behavior is about as unacceptable in texting as it is in real life. There are many ways you can be passive-aggressive through text, and it can frustrate the other person. As always, it’s best to speak in person and talk about your feelings instead of taking the underhanded route.
#9 Don’t make big decisions over text. Don’t make up or break up over text. And if you want the other person to feel as special as they truly are to you, save your declarations of love for them when you see them in person.
