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If you want to come across as genuine and get more responses to your text messages, avoid using abbreviations and spell out your words, according to recent findings.
If you want to come across as genuine and get more responses to your text messages, avoid using abbreviations and spell out your words, according to recent findings published by the American Psychological Association.
Researchers carried out eight experiments involving over 5,300 participants using diverse methods. Across all studies, individuals who utilized texting shortcuts were seen as less sincere and received fewer replies because they seemed to be putting in less effort during text conversations. This research was published online in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
“In our daily interactions, we often meet people who are either skilled or unskilled at texting,” commented the lead researcher, David Fang, BCom, a doctoral student in behavioral marketing at Stanford University. “We initially thought that abbreviations would foster an informal sense of intimacy between texters, so we were taken aback to find that they produced negative impressions of those who employed them.”
Text messaging has emerged as a predominant means of digital communication, and many texters frequently use abbreviations, like IDK for “I don’t know” or GOAT for “greatest of all time.” However, many may not recognize the downsides of using these shortcuts. In a preliminary survey conducted by the researchers, a striking 99% of participants acknowledged using texting abbreviations, and 84% didn’t think that others disliked them.
The studies included an examination of responses in Discord group chats, dating situations, and conversation logs from Tinder users across 37 different countries. Other tests involved participants evaluating their text exchanges with individuals who did or did not use abbreviations.
Results showed that texters who employed abbreviations received less lengthy responses and fewer replies overall, and were less likely to get contact details from their conversation partners. While younger individuals tend to use more texting shortcuts, they are not particularly enthusiastic about them, though Fang noted that some findings varied among different studies.
“Although our results regarding age were somewhat mixed, it is evident that younger individuals do not have a strong preference for abbreviations, even though the degree of their dislike might differ by age,” Fang stated.
Using texting abbreviations may lead to feelings of loneliness if people sense that their social connections diminish over time due to receiving less frequent or positive responses to their texts, according to Fang. However, he does not advocate for a complete abandonment of abbreviations.
“We typically adjust the effort we invest in conversations based on the importance of the relationship. Sometimes, it’s appropriate to put in less effort and be okay with being viewed as less sincere, such as when quickly texting a delivery driver,” Fang explained. “Nevertheless, our findings are particularly significant when we want to come off as more sincere and enhance social connections, particularly at the start of a relationship or when we aim to make a favorable impression.”
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