This weeks thoughts:

Hello again!! So in a world where all communication is mainly based on texting, why is it that we’re taught how to write on paper or how to format an email but never how to send a text? Hence, I have formed: A guide on texting.

Finding ur texting voice:

The first thing abt texting is that u need to find ur texting voice. Obv this is gonna be different from person to person, but in general, ur normal texting voice (the one u use with ur friends) needs to be smth that’s casual and short but cohesive at the same time. It’s rly chill and is just a natural thing so I’m not gonna go too into it but the only rule is: DO NOT have a formal texting voice (it will just make things awkward).

A few things to note:

• Message structure: It’s all abt finding the balance between ‘1 word messages x 100’ (annoying) and ‘100 word messages x 1’ (tedious to read). Just make sure that it’s a nice in between.

• Vocab: Ig it’s just vocab u use in ur everyday life so like, yeah 👍

• Grammar:

  • Never use full stops (unless there is more than one sentence in the text)

  • ?’s and !’s can seem desperate, forward or over the top if used in the wrong context (unless ur being dramatic), so I would say if ur not sure, leave it out because it won’t have a chance of being interpreted wrong

    e.g. ‘wyd’ will get the same response to ‘wyd?’ but ‘wyd?’ may sound a bit 🕵️ depending on the context (if u get what I mean)

Some abbreviations (the ones I use or know):

I think all these r pretty obvious but here’s a list anyway:

• about - abt

• kind of - kinda

• obviously - obv

• something - smth

• how about you - hbu

• to be honest - tbh

• not gonna lie (used in a similar way to ‘tbh’) - ngl

• thank you (so much) - ty(sm)

• never mind - nvm

• really - rly

• what are you doing - wyd

• right now - rn

• I know right (used to show a similar sentiment) - ikr

How to laugh:

Laughing over text is probs the biggest struggle you’ll face because it can very easily be interpreted wrong; here r some options:

• ahahah: The most acceptable laughter when ur texting friends as it conveys genuine laughter in a non sarcastic way

• HAHAHA: Second best laughter as it also conveys genuine laughter and is fun to use when both texters are being 🤪

• hehe: The most childish laugh so it can only be used in silly or lighthearted situations as it may come across as a little evil. OR u can also use it if u wanna convey a funny, evil laugh

• lol/lmao: Still acceptable, but it can come across as very dismissive, so use at ur own risk…

• 😂: If u use an emoji to laugh, ur overthinking it. If somethings funny, u shouldn’t need to spend time switching to the emoji keyboard and finding the emoji BUT if u do wanna use it no one cares that much abt this one

• haha: Never to be used UNLESS ur laughing with someone older who won’t find it lowkey offensive or sarcastic

Emojis:

So basically all emojis, except the happy/love one’s are all used in a non serious or goofy way, so don’t use emoji’s if the vibes aren’t chill. Here are some of my most used ones:

• 🫣: Ur embarrassed or getting second hand embarrassment

• 🙈: Similar to the one above but it’s a more silly thing and more light hearted

• 🤨: Ur friend sent u smth weird or quirky

• 💀: Smth made u cringe

• ⚰️: Smth that u did made u cringe (like ur passing away)

• 🤭: Ur excited and it’s genuine

• 😏: Ur excited and it’s still genuine but it’s just different

• 😒: Ur friends being sarcastically mean or snobbish

• ✨: Slay, but it’s very versatile and can be used for anything positive

Which heart should I use?

So, over text love is rly easy to overthink because u don’t want the receiver to think that ur like in LOVE with them (u know what I mean). So these r the best heart emojis to use for friendly love, in order of best to worst:

1. 🥰, Solid and warm

2. 💕, Genuine and loving

3. 💖, Genuine and a bit fun

4. I can’t find the pink heart emoji on my laptop but this one is a game changer and is great for solid friendly love (but may be a bit in ur face depending on the context)

5. 💝, Nice, but unless u gave me a present, I’m not sure it’s giving the right vibes

6. 💗, Nice, but it kinda confuses my eyes

7. ❤️, Very solid, but I feel like u only use this with the love of your life

8. 😍, A little dramatic and it might be awkward (it can be used right, but it’s hard)

Conclusion:

Idk if this is helpful (or at least reaffirming), but I felt like there just needed to be ground rules with texting so this is my rulebook 💖.

P.S. If u wanna send in ur own texting rules, reply to this and I can add them in ✨.

Side note of a book review: Someone Else’s Shoes, Jojo Moyes

So over the last 2 weeks I read this book and actually thought it was good, so here’s my review 🥰.

What it’s abt:
Basically, one day, 2 women accidentally take each others shoes from the gym and the book follows (in 3rd person) their two separate worlds and u get an insight into the chaos of their lives + how they intertwine.

Review:
So this book has was a really easy read and the plot was super intriguing, but the main thing was that it felt REAL. Idk how to explain it, but the imperfect characters and what they were all feeling made the story feel homey and realistic in a way that I’ve never experienced when reading a book before.

Anyway, it’s a rly nice story abt female friendship 💕 that doesn’t romanticize it in a cliché way that I feel like other books tend to do and shows how messy lives can be whilst having sweet fulfilling ending that doesn’t feel cringy in any way. 4.5 ⭐’s / 5

Hope you have a sweet message filled week.

P.S. I know that sounds a bit weird but I needed it to fit the post (insert the melting face emoji here)

C