13 things you should avoid texting

There are exceptions, of course. If the recipient and the person who has died have a bit more distance, it might be OK to pass along the news in a text, perhaps with details about memorial

services. Apply common sense and consider how you would feel getting such news via text. 2. DON’T END A RELATIONSHIP. Breaking up with someone via text is harsh, cowardly, cold and

inconsiderate. The dreaded phrase “It’s not you, it’s me” might come off even worse in a text. “I do think for the most part breakups should be over the phone or in person, as best they can

be,” Post says. “At the same time, letting someone you’ve been on two Tinder dates with know that you’re not going to see them again is perfectly fine.” 3. DON’T EXPRESS UNREQUITED FEELINGS

OF LOVE, the flip side of No. 2. Don’t pour it on too thick, especially if your relationship is not exactly on solid ground. 4. GO EASY ON ALL CAPS. Sorry, but YOU’RE SHOUTING AND IT’S RUDE!

If you’re really that angry, perhaps you should calm down before sending texts of any kind. 5. AVOID SARCASM. Beyond words, we usually can tell when people are being sarcastic in person by

reading the expression on their faces and the tone of their voices. Absent the social cues, conveying sarcasm or, for that matter, irony is a lot more difficult in a text, even with visual

aids such as smiley faces, winks and colorful emojis meant to impart a certain mood or idea. THAT OLD SPELLING TIP ABOUT ‘ASSUME’ APPLIES 6. UNDERSTAND EMOJIS. Speaking of emojis, some may

have a hidden meaning or slang. That eggplant emoji 🍆 probably isn't really referring to the garden vegetable, nor is the peach 🍑 just Georgia’s favorite fruit. While we’re at it, this

smiling swirl of brown 💩 isn't soft-serve chocolate ice cream. Avoid embarrassment and search Google to decode meanings of these and other emojis that are perhaps a bit spicier than

what you have in mind. They’re frequently not G-rated. 7. BE WARY OF ABBREVIATIONS. Most people know LOL as shorthand for “laughing out loud,” or “NP” for “no problem.” But TBH (to be

honest), it could become a problem when you appear to be trying too hard, using abbreviations without much thought or fully understanding their intent. If so, don’t be surprised to get a

response with SMH (shaking my head) or worse, STFU, which you’ll have to look up on your own. 8. DON’T WRITE AN OPUS. No one wants to read _War and Peace_ as a text. Keep the message

concise, so it’s not answered with a TL;DR (too long; didn’t read). 9. WATCH TYPOS. “It” is different than “In,” and we all make mistakes texting on the fly. But if you’re communicating with

an employer, client or customer, take an extra second to read the message before hitting Send. You don’t want to leave a sloppy impression.