What's the tone?
"Sure" (say it two ways)
There are several ways that "sure" can be perceived over text when there is no tone of voice to give us clues!
1) Friendly: “Sure!” (upbeat), 2) Annoyed: “Sure…” (flat or sarcastic)
Change “I don’t care.” to sound nicer
“I’m okay with whatever you choose 🙂”
What does 🙂 usually mean?
Friendly or polite tone—but sometimes can feel fake or forced depending on context
What are 2 meanings of “Thanks a lot”?
1) Sincere gratitude, 2) Sarcastic/annoyed
How can you clarify a text if you're not sure what someone meant?
Ask: “Did you mean that in a funny way?” or “Just checking—were you joking?”
"Fine" (How many meanings?)
At least 3: 1) It’s okay, 2) I’m not okay but saying I am, 3) Angry/sarcastic
Make “Whatever.” sound more flexible
“I’m good with any option—up to you!”
Add emoji to make “Okay” more friendly
“Okay 🙂” or “Okay! 👍”
“Wow.” – What two tones could it have?
1) Excited/surprised, 2) Unimpressed/sarcastic
What can you say when you’re unsure how a message was meant?
“Sorry—can you explain what you meant?”
“K.” – Friendly or annoyed?
Usually annoyed or dismissive, but could mean neutral if rushed
Rewrite: “Nice one…” (but you're not mad)
“Haha, that was funny—good one! 😄” or “Classic move 😂”
Name an emoji that could confuse someone
🙃 (can mean silly, sarcastic, or “not okay” depending on person/context)
“That’s great…” – What could this mean?
1) Genuinely happy, 2) Passive-aggressive or dismissive
When should you ask a follow-up question in a text?
If a message sounds confusing, possibly negative, or short without context
What do you think the person feels when they say “I guess”?
Unsure, hesitant, maybe avoiding conflict
What are two ways you could interpret "Good for you" over text.
1. Supportive
2. Sarcastic / Jealous
Match 3 emojis to tone: 😤, 😂, 😬
😤 = frustrated, 😂 = laughing, 😬 = awkward/nervous
Why is “...” sometimes confusing?
Could mean waiting, awkward silence, frustration, or holding back words
How do you fix a confusing message you sent?
Send a quick follow-up like “Sorry if that sounded weird—didn’t mean it that way!”
Interpret: “Whatever.”
Could mean: 1) I'm done talking, 2) I don’t care, 3) I'm upset but not saying it directly
Rewrite "Whatever you want" to sound less ambiguous
"I'm good with either option- it's up to you!" or "I don't really have an opinion on this - I am fine with whatever!"
Someone sends 😐 after you make a joke—what might they be feeling?
They might be unimpressed, confused, or not sure you were joking
Say “Oh.” in 3 different tones/meanings
1) “Oh!” (surprised), 2) “Oh…” (disappointed), 3) “Oh.” (understanding or brushing off)
How can you avoid hurting someone’s feelings over text?
Be clear, use emojis for tone, re-read your message, or use voice messages when tone is important