Getting the tone right in chats and texts
A short message like “ok.” can look angry to the recipient, even if the writer was just busy. This guide covers how to write clear, friendly messages in work and personal chats.
You will need
- A phone or computer with a chat app
- Examples of your own messages
- 5 minutes before sending an important message
Steps
Start with a greeting
A short “Hi Jari!” makes a message friendlier. In a work chat, put the greeting and your point in the same message, rather than just saying hi and waiting for a reply.
Get to the point straight away
Read the message through the recipient’s eyes
Use emojis with care
Avoid capital letters
Switch to talking when needed
Agree on response times
Acknowledge receipt
The full guide with every step is for members. Try 7 days for €0.99.
People also search for: message tone chat · how do i avoid sounding rude in text messages · should i use emojis in work chat · teams message etiquette · why does ok. sound angry in whatsapp messages