9 Texting Habits That Come Off as Rude—Even if You Don't Mean To

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9 Texting Habits That Come Off as Rude—Even if You Don't Mean To originally appeared on Parade.
Texting is something we all do—constantly, casually, without a second thought. But just because it's second nature doesn't mean we're all doing it correctly. In fact, there are probably a lot of messages we text to friends, family, coworkers or partners that don't land quite the way we think they do. A quick, 'Sure,' or a missed emoji can totally change the vibe, and most of us don't even realize it. If you've ever hit send and wondered why someone replied with a weird energy, you're not alone. To help you decode your digital tone, we've rounded up 9 habits that come off as —even if you don't mean them that way.But don't just take our word for it—these tips are backed by two etiquette experts: Nick Leighton from the podcast Were You Raised By Wolvesand Adrienne Alexander, who has over 10 years of experience focusing on etiquette and interpersonal relationships as the owner of IPY Agency. Together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and real-world insight, helping us understand how subtle texting habits can impact relationships, and how the tiniest texting habits can cast unexpected shadows—or brighten someone's day.Keep reading to uncover if your have been secretly throwing off —and learn how you can sprinkle a little extra kindness and clarity into every message. Just a few simple tweaks are all it takes!Related:
9 Texting Habits That Come Off as Rude
1. One-word replies like 'K' or 'Fine'
You might be in a rush or think that you have sufficiently answered a question with just one word. However, to others, a curt response can be off-putting (even if you didn't mean for it to come off as abrupt)."One-word replies can feel like having a door slammed in your face," Leighton explains. "Receiving that can feel curt or dismissive or convey a sense of annoyance. Since tone is so tricky in text, it's best to not just send one-word replies that can be easily misunderstood."
2. Taking forever to reply (without explanation)
Our lives get busy and sometimes we just fall off of texting someone. But simply ignoring someone or taking a long time to respond to a text comes off as rude."Timing matters," Alexander notes. "In most casual conversations, taking more than 24 hours to respond to without a heads-up feels dismissive, especially if you're active online. Which is another story that we can talk about another time..."This doesn't mean that you need to drop everything to text someone back immediately. To take the disrespectful edge off, let the person know you're overwhelmed, but you intend to respond when things cool down."A quick, 'Sorry, swamped, give me a little bit,' shows respect," she recommends. "Silence can suggest they're low on your priority list."
3. Replying with just emojis
"How you text with people depends on your relationship, which is why responding to someone may come across as rude in some cases," Leighton states. "For some people, you should always text back using a full sentence and proper punctuation, like if you're communicating with someone you work for. For instance, sending a silly emoji to a close friend is fine; however, sending it to your boss might not be."Specifically, Alexander adds that not using any words and just emojis can also come off as rude if someone is seeking emotional support from you about something they're going through or if they clearly put thought into the message they sent you."A lone thumbs-up or smiley can come off as lazy or vague if the conversation requires more," she stresses. "It's fine for quick reactions, but not when someone's sent a thoughtful message, like if a friend texts, 'I'm really nervous about my interview,' and you respond with '😬.' That's not support, it's a shrug."Related:
4. Not using any punctuation at all
Just because you're texting, doesn't mean your punctuation should disappear."Punctuation is important, and without it, it can lead to misunderstandings when texting, which can make what you're saying come off as rude," Alexander reveals. "No punctuation can turn your message into a confusing run-on sentence or make it feel rushed."To see how this could look, she gives an example:"If you write, 'Sure I guess that works maybe later,' it reads like a garbled mess," she explains. "Are you agreeing, hesitating or stalling? Proper punctuation yields a clearer tone and reduces stress."
5. Leaving someone on read
While it's true that people can get busy and forget to reply to a text they read, there's no way for the person on the receiving end to know that. Instead, in their mind, you chose not to respond, which is not only rude but hurtful."Nobody likes to feel like they don't matter, so unless that's the signal you want to send, best to acknowledge rather than ghost," Leighton says.Alexander further explains why this can be seen as rude."Seeing 'Read 4:17 PM' with no reply? Ouch. Even if it's unintentional, it sends a signal of disinterest or avoidance," she explains. "If you can't respond right away, consider turning off read receipts or sending a 'BRB' to soften the ghosting vibes."
6. Changing the subject too quickly
"If you wouldn't do this in person, it's probably best to not do it over text, as it can seem rude," Leighton points out. "If someone says they've had a terrible day and you immediately pivot to a different topic, that'll come across as insensitive at best."Even though you're texting and not on a phone call or talking face-to-face, that doesn't mean your active listening skills should go out the window. "It makes it seem like you're not really listening, or worse, that you don't care," Alexander says. "Let conversations breathe before you pivot."
7. Overusing ALL CAPS
If you're thinking about using all caps while typing out a message to someone, our experts advise against it."We learned a long time ago that using all caps means you're shouting, and shouting can equal aggression," Alexander tells Parade. "All caps can overwhelm the reader."Related:
8. Ignoring questions but responding to other parts of a text
"Dodging part of a message, especially the question part, feels like selective hearing," Alexander explains. "If someone texts you a meme and then later asks, 'How was your weekend? Also, did you get my email?' and you reply, 'Haha yeah that meme was wild,' they'll feel dismissed. Acknowledging all parts of a person happens both in person and via text, so not doing so can lead to hurt feelings and come off as rude."
9. Ghosting mid-conversation
"Dropping off in the middle of a chat, especially after whoever you're texting asks something important, can feel rude," Alexander notes. "Instead, adding a quick 'Gotta run, will pick this up later!' or 'BRB' helps the other person feel seen, not abandoned."She adds that if you are guilty of doing this, you can redeem yourself."If the ghosting wasn't intentional, it's essential to pick up the conversation with an apology first to clarify any misunderstanding," Alexander suggests.Up Next:Sources:
Nick Leighton, Emmy Award-winning journalist and co-host of the podcast Were You Raised By Wolves.
Adrienne Alexander, who has over 10 years of experience focusing on etiquette and interpersonal relationships as the owner of IPY Agency.
9 Texting Habits That Come Off as Rude—Even if You Don't Mean To first appeared on Parade on Aug 11, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
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