Period FAQs

what does period mean in texting

by Brielle Hessel Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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“We've agreed that putting a period after a one-word response in a text conveys something like abruptness, annoyance, negativity.” These findings held true with positive (“yeah” or “yup”), neutral (“maybe” or “alright”) or negative (“nope” or “nah”) responses.Nov 15, 2017

Full Answer

What is punctuation in text?

What is textism in texting?

Does omitting a period convey negativity?

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Why You Shouldn't Use a Period When Text Messaging - ThoughtCo

How We Communicate Social Cues Over Text . There are many ways that we add these social cues to our textual conversations. Most obvious among them are emojis, which have become such a common part of our daily communicative lives that Oxford English Dictionary named the "Face with Tears of Joy" emoji as its 2015 Word of the Year.We also use punctuation like asterisks and exclamation points to ...

What does it mean when someone uses multiple periods ... - Quora

Answer (1 of 23): Those three dots are together known as an ellipsis (plural: ellipses) — or “suspension point” in the printing trade. The principal (and traditional) function is to indicate intentional omission of a word, section or a whole section of text. However, it has come to pass that th...

What does a period means in a text message? - Ask Me Fast

When I do it, it means I`m irritated with the current conversation and I`m finished. As the period is meant, to show one is done with a sentence.However I do only use it when I`m irritated or annoyed and want to end the conversation.

What is the role of period in texting?

A team of psychologists at Binghamton University in New York conducted a study among the school's students and found that text message responses to questions that ended with a period were perceived as less sincere than those that did not. The study titled "Texting Insincerely: The Role of the Period in Text Messaging" was published in Computers in Human Behavior in February 2016, and was led by Professor of Psychology Celia Klin .

Why don't we have periods in text messages?

Klin and her team suggest that this occurs because the rapid back-and-forth exchange enabled by texting resembles talking, so our use of the medium is closer to how we speak to each other than to how we write with each other. This means that when people communicate by text message they must use other methods to include the social cues that are included by default in spoken conversations, like tone, physical gestures, facial and eye expressions, and the pauses we take between our words. (In sociology, we use the symbolic interaction perspective to analyze all the ways our daily interactions are loaded with communicated meaning.)

Why do we use period at the end of a sentence?

In the context of texting, other linguistic researchers have suggested that the period reads as final—as shutting down a conversation—and that it is more commonly used at the end of a sentence that is meant to convey unhappiness, anger, or frustration. But Klin and her team wondered if this was really the case, and so they conducted a study to test this theory.

Do you put a period in a text?

In the context of texting, the use of a period has taken on a similar meaning. So, if you want to ensure that your messages are received and understood with the level of sincerity you intend, leave the period off the final sentence. You might even consider upping the sincerity ante with an exclamation point.

Texting Is Its Own Language

Texting is great in lots of ways — it’s convenient, quick, and spares you the annoyance of a phone call. It is not, however, a perfect method of communication. When we text, we’re missing out on the visual and auditory cues and expressions that in-person communications or a call might include.

To Punctuate or Not to Punctuate

How you punctuate or don’t punctuate your texts can change the whole tone and meaning. This is particularly true of short messages like “ok,” “thanks,” “yes,” “no,” etc. Using punctuation after these words can come across as passive-aggressive, depending on the question.

Setting the Tone

When it comes to texting, tone is key. While proper punctuation is typically crucial in written communication, texting has its own rules. In studies, people have shared their thoughts on using periods in texting.

The Age Gap

Another factor that affects how people view punctuation in text messages is the age of the texter/textee. For older generations who did not grow up with texting or the internet, putting a period at the end of a sentence is likely a given.

Send the Right Message

Whether you’re writing a novel-length message or a one-word reply, punctuation (or lack thereof) and tone matter. Review these punctuation rules so that you can always send the right message.

What does a single dot mean in a text message?

After 1 week of missed period i got positive result but next dy bleeding strts?

What does "when I do it" mean?

When I do it, it means I`m irritated with the current conversation and I`m finished. As the period is meant, to show one is done with a sentence. However I do only use it when I`m irritated or annoyed and want to end the conversation.

What does it mean when you end a text with a period?

The use of the period is one example of situational code-switching: When using one in a text message, it’s perceived as overly formal. So when you end your text with a period, it can come across as insincere or awkward, just like using formal spoken language in a casual setting like a bar. Social norms dictated by code-switching could explain why ...

What is period in writing?

The period is merely one example of this shift, a change that has opened up new possibilities for communicating with written language. Just as we have different styles of speaking in different situations, so do we have context-dependent styles of writing.

Why do texts have punctuation?

In a 2007 study by linguists Naomi Baron and Rich Ling, multi-sentence text messages often had punctuation to indicate where the sentences stopped, but only 29 percent of these texts had punctuation at the very end of the message. The reason, Baron and Ling explain, is that “the act of sending a message coincides with sentence-final punctuation.”.

What does code switching indicate?

However, past research into situational code-switching in spoken language has shown that a person’s ability to code-switch can signal social competency, can affirm one’s sense of identity or membership in a community and may be an indicator of high intellectual ability in children.

Why do people add fillers in text messages?

Because text messaging is a conversation that involves a lot of back-and-forth, people add fillers as a way to mimic spoken language . We see this with the increased use of ellipses, which can invite the recipient to continue the conversation. The period is the opposite of that – a definitive stop that signals, as linguistics professor Mark Liberman has explained, “This is final, this is the end of the discussion.”

Do you put a period at the end of every sentence?

This shows that frequent and fluent users of casual written language can often readily code-switch: they know to put that period at the end of every sentence in a formal writing assignment. Some educators are even beginning to incorporate lessons about formal and informal writing into their classrooms, which can help students identify those situations that require the use of different styles.

Does text messaging have a difference in writing style?

However, now that text messaging and social media have given their users an outlet for casual written language, differences between writing styles can be seen.

Why does the period in the sentence sound good?

could indicate the opposite of what the words literally mean, because one’s voice typically goes down when reading a sentence that ends in a period. As McCulloch puts it, “The falling intonation seems to undermine it,” especially for a younger reader.

What does a period reinforce?

To younger texters: A period reinforces a negative connotation to a sentence, particularly with short sentences that stand alone.

What does an exclamation point mean in texting?

To older texters: This can read like yelling. To younger texters: An exclamation point might feel like a tool indicating politeness. Explanation of difference: McCulloch says exclamation points have been used as "a politeness marker" since the early 2000s.

What does the ellipsis mean in texting?

To older texters: The dot-dot-dot can mean an indication of a new idea, with no negative connotation. To younger texters: The ellipsis can be used to convey that there’s something left unsaid.

What does period mean in writing?

With the period established as a signifier of seriousness in texts , other kinds of writing may have started to use it as such too.

Why is text speak not period?

In other words, not using periods is a way for texters to indicate that they’re feeling relaxed with the recipient.

Why is punctuation important in texting?

To younger generations, using proper punctuation in a casual context like texting can give an impression of formality that borders on rudeness, as if the texter is not comfortable enough with the texting partner to relax. The message-ending period establishes a certain distance. The punctuation is polite when speaking to someone older than you or above you at work, but off-putting among friends.

Why are periods unnecessary?

Each idea is contained in its own distinct bubble, so periods are unnecessary to indicate that a message has ended.

Why is the message break considered a full stop?

It is clear that a message has ended regardless of punctuation, because each message is in its own bubble. Thus, the message break has become the default full-stop.

What does it mean when a mother uses her son's full name?

Think of a mother using her son’s full name when issuing a stern ultimatum. Or of an upset lover speaking to a partner in a cool, professional tone, withholding intimate silliness and warmth to convey frustration. People gain and express interpersonal comfort through unpolished self-presentation, and acting (or writing) too formally comes off as cold, distant, or passive-aggressive.

Is it difficult for older texters to adapt to the new convention?

Ms. McCulloch recognizes that adapting to this new convention may be difficult for older texters.

What is punctuation in text?

Periods, the researchers wrote, “can serve a rhetorical, rather than a grammatical, function in text messages.”. And punctuation, in a more general sense, “can convey the types of social and pragmatic information that are communicated with extra-linguistic cues in face-to-face conversations.”.

What is textism in texting?

So-called “textisms” -- i.e., emoji, deliberate misspellings (“soooo”) and irregular punctuation (“!!!”) -- are believed to add valuable context to text messages that otherwise lack the subtleties and nonverbal cues (tone, pauses and gestures) of a face-to-face conversation, a recent study in the journal Computers in Human Behavior says.

Does omitting a period convey negativity?

So the authors, zeroing in on punctuation, found the inclusion of a period can convey negativity. Across three experiments using 10 male and 39 female undergraduate participants, the Binghamton University researchers examined how including or omitting a period in a one-word text response to an invitation -- like “yeah,” “maybe” or “nope” -- affected people’s understanding.

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