The popularity of texting means learning a whole new way to communicate. Not only do you have to think about what you are going to say, but also how you will write it. Let’s talk about using these three points…
Punctuation plays a huge role in text conversations. The way you end the sentence (or take advantage of it) can say a lot about how you feel. The hard time at the end, although grammatically correct, is often interpreted as “I’m upset” or “that’s dangerous.” I think that’s why some people switch to classic ellipses (…).
Related: Why is texting without capital letters so fashionable?
Are things going well…
Ellipses are a casual type of punctuation, which goes well with casual texting. Some people seem to like ellipses as a kind of middle ground between a period and an exclamation point. It is often used in the middle of a sentence to represent a pause in thought or a long pause for dramatic effect.
At the end of the sentence, she may have a different feeling. Again, it can be used to let the idea slip away. But ending a sentence with ellipses can also have a kind of ominous or passive-aggressive feeling. These are some examples.
“Okay… I’ll be there soon…”
“are you sure about that…”
“We should talk…”
“She looks good…”
“that’s cool…”
I don’t know about you, but when I read these messages, I don’t feel good. I really don’t know what feelings it conveys. Now let’s use these exact same sentences with different punctuation (or without punctuation).
“Okay, I’ll be there soon.”
“are you sure about that?”
“We should talk.”
“She looks good.”
“that’s cool!”
You may not realize it, but the change in punctuation makes these sentences more meaningful. “Okay, I’ll be there soon” is clear and informative. “Good! I will be there soon!” He is excited. “Okay… I’ll be there soon…” The person didn’t seem to be looking forward to seeing you. Think of a long pause and sigh.
Likewise, “That’s cool!” Excitement appears. “That’s cool” without the punctuation is a quiet show of support. But “that’s cool…” he continues in a way that may seem dishonest. And slapping for a while at the end can give him a “good for you” petty attitude.
What are you trying to say?
This is why deleting can be so annoying. You should do everything possible to add those extra periods, and the recipient may think you did for some reason. You leave the interpretation to them to decide. “Aren’t they happy to see me or is this just the way I’m texting…?”
Commas, periods, and exclamation points have relatively straightforward meanings in the texting world. Ellipses are a mystery, and receiving them can be intimidating. If you want to end a message informally, I think it’s a good idea not to use punctuation. A short message does not have to appear as a report in English.
If this all sounds too complicated, you’re right! The language is often very imprecise. You may not pick up on the feelings someone is trying to convey, even in spoken conversations. We all do our best to be understood.
Related: Yes, emojis have multiple meanings as well.