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There are few things more frustrating than pouring your heart out to a guy over text, only to have him respond with the dreaded “K.” Luckily, if your dude tends to clam up over text, there are things you can do to help bring him out of his shell. Read on for our tips on how to handle a dry texter.
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It can be really hard to pick up on tone over text. When you’re texting, you can’t hear a guy’s tone of voice or see his facial expressions and body language. That means it can be really easy to misinterpret text messages, especially short ones.[1]
Before you assume that those dry texts mean he’s bored, upset, or being passive-aggressive, think about other possibilities. For example, it’s possible that:- He doesn’t like texting or isn’t used to it
- He’s busy or distracted
- He doesn’t realize that his short texts could come off as rude
- He wants to chat, but he isn’t sure what to say
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When in doubt, it’s a good idea to clear the air. If his one-word texts seem a little different from his usual style, you might worry that something’s bothering him. Instead of jumping to conclusions or trying to guess what’s on his mind, just ask him what’s going on.[2]
- Say something like, “Hey, you seem kind of quiet today. Is everything ok?” Or, “Is now a good time to chat? If you’re busy, we can talk later.”
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He might be bored or unsure of what to say. Or, it’s possible that the topic you’ve been talking about is sensitive for him. Whatever the reason, if it seems like he’s clamming up all of a sudden, sometimes changing the subject can help. Say something to make the transition to a new topic feel more natural.[3]
- For instance, “Oh hey, I just remembered something I’ve been meaning to ask you about.” Or, “This is a bit of a change of subject, but how was that Netflix documentary you watched last night?”[4]
- Say something like «Hey, random thought» to send the conversation in a new direction. By including the word «random,» you pretty much have permission to bring up whatever you want.[5]
- For instance, “Oh hey, I just remembered something I’ve been meaning to ask you about.” Or, “This is a bit of a change of subject, but how was that Netflix documentary you watched last night?”[4]
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These tend to require longer answers. If you tend to ask a lot of “yes” or “no” questions, the dude you’re chatting with might not realize you’re looking for something a little more substantial. The same goes if you’re just telling him things without actually inviting him to respond in some way. Try to get the conversation flowing by asking questions that start with who, what, where, when, why, or how.[6]
- For instance, instead of just saying, “Did you have a good day?” try something like, “How was work today?” or “So, what have you been up to this weekend?”
- If you tell him something, follow up with a question. For example, you might say something like, “That snowstorm was crazy last night, we must have gotten at least 10 inches up here. How much did you get?”
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Texting might not be his style. Sometimes you just need to switch up how you communicate. If he has trouble opening up over text, ask if he wants to take it to voice. You could also suggest video chat, or even meeting up to talk in person.[7]
- For instance, say something like, “I’d love to hear how your big presentation went today. Is this a good time to call?”
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He might be chattier later on. If you’re getting a bunch of one-word answers, it could be because he’s multi-tasking. You can always ask him if it’s a good time to chat. If he says no, take a rain check and try again later.
- For instance, say something like, “Seems like you’re busy right now. TTYL?”
- It’s totally normal for people to want space from texting sometimes. Even if he’s not busy, he might just need a break from texting or want some time to himself.[8]
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He might not realize how they come across. If you have a good vibe with the guy in general, but his short texts drive you up the wall, it might help to let him know how you feel. Keep it chill and try not to make it sound accusatory, so he’s less likely to feel hurt or defensive.[9]
- For example, say something like, “Hey, I love chatting with you, but I’m not sure how to feel when you send a lot of one-word answers. Sometimes I wonder if you’re bored or upset with me.”
- Try suggesting a solution, like, “Hey, just let me know if you’re not in the mood to talk,” or “We can do FaceTime if you prefer.”
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Slow down if you feel like you’re doing all the work. Just like in a face-to-face conversation, things can get unbalanced if one person is a lot more talkative than the other. If you tend to send a lot of long, chatty texts, it’s possible that he might just feel a bit overwhelmed. Try slowing it down or stopping for a bit and see if he makes a move to get the convo going again.[10]
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Heavy conversations are always trickier over text. For one thing, it’s a lot easier to misunderstand each other than if you’re talking face-to-face or even over the phone. If you have something important or difficult to discuss, give him a call or ask if he can meet up—that way, you’re more likely to have a productive conversation instead of getting a lot of frustrating one-word answers.[11]
- For instance, if you need to talk to him about where the relationship is going, or open up about a tough situation that you’re dealing with, don’t try to connect with him over text.
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Sometimes, one-word texts can be a red flag. If you’ve noticed that the dry texts are becoming more of a pattern—especially if he’s taking longer and longer to answer you—then it could be that he’s losing interest.[12]
If you just can’t seem to get a conversation going, and if you’re not connecting in other ways (like over the phone or in person), then it might be time to let him go.
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Pretend you’re texting the guy you like. The conversation is flowing, texts are going back and forth, the mood seems fantastic, and then you get hit out of nowhere with a one-word answer.
It could look something like this:
“K.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”
“Fine.”
“Sure.”
Suddenly, your conversation stutters to a cold and awkward halt. You wonder to yourself how you’re supposed to answer that and return back to the flowing conversation from before.
Well, you’re in the right place. We’ll be showing you how to reply to one-word texts from guys, as well as tell you why he’s sending you those curt messages at all.
Why He’s Sending You One-Word Texts in the First Place
We’ll start by explaining why he’s suddenly decided to become the world’s laziest texter. There are several reasons behind his icy tone:
He’s just not that into you.
The most hurtful answer is simple: he’s not into, or he’s grown bored of you. This is more likely if you’re still early on in your relationship in the “getting to know him” stage.
In those first few weeks of “just talking,” the relationship is young and fragile. You probably don’t even have any sort of formal commitment yet. Because he could be (and probably is) talking to other girls, you need to keep his interest if you really like him.
The one-word answer could be a great way for you to gauge his interest level. At this point, it shows to you that he doesn’t care enough to put effort into your conversation.
Read Next: How to Text a Guy You Just Met
He’s a little busy at the moment.
A one-word text doesn’t have to be a bad sign. If his mind is elsewhere, such as work or family, he might not have the ability to write you something more detailed right now.
For example, if he’s answering you on a quick break at work or while he’s visiting his mom, he doesn’t necessarily have the time to send you more…but he still cared enough to try and answer you, anyway.
When he sends you that dreaded one-word text, think about the time of day. Did you knowingly text him in the middle of his shift at work? Do you know if he had any plans at the time you texted him?
If you can answer yes to those questions, you can be more confident that he’s just a bit occupied.
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VIDEO REVEALS: Secret ‘Desire’ text message that men are powerless to resist
He doesn’t realize he’s coming off as cold.
Men are often solution-focused. This means that, if one word perfectly sums up the response to something, he might spring for it because it makes sense.
He’s not necessarily trying to be rude, nor does he realize he’s coming off as cold. It’s kind of hard to tell if this is the case, though.
If he does this often, but seems interested in continuing the conversation by texting you again afterward, it’s a pretty good sign that his texting skills might just need a little polishing. He probably doesn’t know that he seems disinterested.
He could be testing your interest.
Unfortunately, both men and women play a lot of games when it comes to dating. We do this to protect our hearts from hurt.
Your guy could be doing exactly that when he sends you a one-word answer. He might be unsure how interested you are in him, so he sends you that single word, waiting to see what you do next. What he’s looking for in your response varies based on the man in question.
Again, this is another hard one to pinpoint. You can try looking at your past interactions to see if he has a pattern of playing games with you.
If you think he’s playing games with you, make sure to read our guide on what to text a guy who is playing games.
You Might Also Like: Random Things to Text a Guy You Like (That He Won’t Be Able to Resist)
He’s upset.
We’ve all been sulky before. Sometimes, when we’re upset, our first line of defense is sending someone a cold one-word text and hoping they get the hint.
At other times, we send them that one-word message when we don’t know what else to say. Your guy could be doing the exact same thing.
To determine if this is what’s going on, take a step back and look at the circumstances surrounding the text. Did you just have a disagreement or an argument? Are you giving him some bad news?
Then there’s a good chance his cold reply is just him indicating he’s upset.
He’s trying to play it cool.
Here’s another game that we often play in the early stages of relationships: hard to get. You know how it works – you pretend to be less interested than you really are so you don’t come off as desperate.
Women aren’t the only ones who do this. Men frequently try to keep it cool, too, which could be exactly what he’s doing with his one-word texts.
Like many of the other causes, this one is hard to tell. It’s something you might not ever discover until later, when you know him well enough to ask him why he did it.
Recommended Article: Interesting Text Messages to Send to a Guy (With 15+ Intriguing Examples)
Don’t answer him at all.
Ignoring him might seem childish, but we honestly think it’s your overall best option. It can apply to every single reason for him sending you the one-word text.
Think he might be busy? Not texting him back could free him up to focus on other things and show him you respect his space.
If he’s playing games with you or losing interest, the lack of a response is a clear signal that you’re not desperate for him. When he realizes you’re not at his beck and call, he’ll be forced to see that he must work harder to keep your attention.
And if he’s being sulky, not answering him will give him time to stew in peace. Once he cools down, he should text you again himself if he’s actually interested in you.
Take a little break from him.
Ignoring him completely might seem too rude to you. And when you’re really smitten with him, you’ll feel less inclined to take risks like that with your relationship.
We hear you. If cutting him off completely until he steps up his game is too drastic, consider the happy medium: ending the conversation yourself for now.
After he sends you that frustrating single-word text, tell him you’ve got to go for now. Then, simply take a bit of a break from him or your phone. If you can, wait for him to text you next.
Send him a one-word answer of your own.
We’re not the kind of people to constantly tell you to give someone “a taste of their own medicine,” especially when it comes to romance. In the arena of love, we should strive to be the best we can be.
However, sometimes returning the favor is the only way to show someone how something as cold as a one-word answer feels. Don’t be rude about it by sending him a haughty “whatever;” instead, just send him something acknowledging his answer, like “okay.”
Then don’t say anything else. Let him come to you when he’s ready to talk more.
If you know him well, check in on him.
When you’ve been talking to him longer or you’ve already started a committed relationship, you’re probably at a point where you can confide in each other. If you know him better and can sense that he’s upset, ask him if he’s doing okay or what’s wrong.
Don’t do this simply because you’re feeling insecure. If you constantly ask him what’s wrong any time you so much as think he’s mad, you’ll just look clingy.
You should only ask him if you’ve gotten to a stage in your relationship where you actually know him well enough to tell when he’s angry. Additionally, don’t ask him in a way that feels judgmental, such as saying something like, “what’s wrong now?”
Ask him in a way that sounds concerned and open to his thoughts. For example, you could say something like the following:
“Hey, it feels like you might be upset. Want to talk about it?”
Stay away from boring conversation openers.
Conversations are a two-way street. If he’s giving you one-word answers, there’s a possibility you might have sent him something lackluster first.
There are some boring conversation openers that are just exhausting to answer all the time. “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?” are two examples of this. They can work perfectly fine sometimes, but as you get to know each other better, these classics are just plain uninteresting.
Keep your talks feeling fresh. Avoid using traditional conversation openers all the time, and try to go for things that are more personal to him, such as asking about how certain things went at work or who won the game he watched last night.
Further Reading: I Want to Kiss You Texts for Him (With 15 Examples You Can Use)
How to Become a Master of Texting
We get it. Texting can seem impossible, especially if you were never a strong writer to begin with. Even detailed guides might not be enough to make you feel more confident about your texting.
Follow the steps laid out in this video and learn how to hook a guy the easy way.
Whether she’s your Tinder match, real life crush, platonic friend, or girlfriend…
…I’m going to give you 9 ways to deal with her one word texts.
So by the end of today’s article, you’ll know:
- What do one-word text messages mean?
- #1: Take a breath
- #2: You’re texting her at the wrong time
- #3: The best mindset to deal with one-word texts
- #4: How often does she send you one-word texts?
- #5: Ask more open-ended questions
- #6: Be clear in your tone of voice
- #7: Don’t be too hard-to-get
- #8: Stop selling yourself
- #9: Why you’re getting one-word texts from your girlfriend or boyfriend
- #10: Stop typing like your uneducated
- What to text after a one-word text
Important: I know you’re sometimes unsure what to text. So I’ve put together 10 Texts That Always Work. Copy-paste lines that instantly attract her and make her crave your attention. They work and they are free. Just a small gift to get you started. Enjoy! Click here to get them.
What do one-word text messages mean?
Honestly, it can mean many things.
She could be too busy to tell you more. It could be that your last text was difficult to answer. And it could mean she’s done with your shit.
Yup. More often than not, a one-word text is a negative sign.
But it doesn’t have to be.
So don’t jump to conclusions. It’s not good for your back or your relationship with that girl.
The only time you need to be worried is if you get one word replies a lot.
Then the odds are that you’re doing something wrong.
Find out what you’re doing wrong in the next tips.
#1: Take a breath
One of the most important things to do after you get a one-word text is to relax.
Take a chill pill, dude.
Because if you grab your phone with a heart full of rage, you’ll probably say something you’ll regret.
Something you can’t undo.
So don’t let your emotions get the better of you.
Take a deep breath and put the phone away.
Then do something fun or productive.
Go for a walk, hit the gym, or hang out with a friend.
And remember: her one-word reply may not mean anything.
#2: You’re texting her at the wrong time
Sometimes one word replies make a lot of sense.
You just caught her at the wrong time.
She’s working. Hanging out with friends. Or she’s done talking with you after you blew up her phone with text messages.
So timing is of the essence.
In this next 2-minute video, I tell you exactly what the best time is to text a girl.
#3: The best mindset to deal with one-word texts
One-word texts usually rattle us for two reasons.
- We like the other person so much that their lack of interest hurts
- We have a negative mindset
Story time!
One of the students from my TextGod Mentoring Program was at a girl’s house on a date when he saw something bad.
A trash can with two empty pizza boxes.
“Oh no…” he thought “she probably had a date yesterday and had sex with him!”
Now he felt like a cheap manwhore and the whole vibe of the date was ruined.
Let’s hit rewind.
Did the two empty pizza boxes mean she had a date?
How else could we interpret that?
- She’s had a couple pizzas by herself this week
- She had pizza with a platonic friend
- She’s into modern art and this is her latest art installation (probably not)
In short: there are plenty of innocent reasons why she has a trash can with two empty pizza boxes!
But because my student had a negative mindset, he assumed the worst and was a real Debbie Downer.
So be careful, my friend.
Don’t assume the worst. Instead, assume she likes you and all is good.
- 10 Ways to make a girl like you over text
#4: How often does she send you one-word texts?
Don’t worry if you get a brief reply every now and then.
That’s normal.
And more importantly, it’s probably not a bad sign.
Does it happen more often?
Now it’s time to put on your thinking cap, because we may have found a pattern.
Check your convo. Do the one-word texts have anything in common?
Were they perhaps sent at the same time of day (work hours) or after you said something with a unique flavor (something she didn’t like)?
Look carefully.
Because if you’re the cause of her short replies, you have the power to stop them.
You just need to find out what you’re doing wrong.
Here are some questions to help you identify the problem:
- Was your text easy to reply to?
- Were you talking about the same subject for too long?
- Was the vibe of your text very different from the texts that came before?
- Did you ask a question out of necessity rather than curiosity?
Want to know how to get her more engaged? Check out this article:
- 19 Texting rules for guys to make her interested in you
#5: Ask more open-ended questions
A HUGE reason why people struggle with online dating is this.
They ask bad questions.
Closed questions.
Did you have a good weekend?
And, of course, this zinger of a question.
What’s the trouble with asking these types of questions?
They lead to one-word answers.
Yes and no.
Sure, she could reply more.
But if you want a rich and fulfilling love life, you need to take responsibility and be proactive.
So start writing texts that lead to long and fun answers.
An easy way is to start asking open-ended questions.
Here are two articles to give you some inspiration:
- 100+ Tinder questions that actually work
- 70+ Questions to ask your crush over text
#6: Be clear in your tone of voice
If you don’t take care of your tone of voice, you’re torpedoing your love life.
Even the most innocent texts can turn off Tinder matches or start fights with your significant other.
Why?
Because unless you clarify the vibe of your text, she’ll interpret the text based on her mood and what she knows of you.
If she barely knows you and she’s in a foul mood, you can guarantee an ambiguous text will go down badly.
So don’t just type up a joke and think she’ll laugh.
Read your text out loud to yourself and ask yourself: “Can I interpret the text in any other way?”
If so, delete that mothatrucka and send it to hell.
Or rewrite the text in a way that it only has one clear meaning. Sometimes the answer is as simple as adding an emoji.
So drop the linguistic puzzles and be clear.
#7: Don’t be too hard-to-get
Playing hard-to-get definitely has its place in seduction.
But it usually backfires harder than a sumo wrestler’s backside on enchilada night.
Why?
Because most people do it wrong.
They’re not hard-to-get. They’re cold.
- They wait forever to text back
- They never ask questions
- And they never give compliments
What type of reaction do you think that type of behavior promotes?
MORE cold behavior in the shape of one-word answers.
So don’t be hard-to-get.
Be warm.
Which starts with smiling in your online dating photos. Click this link for 11 Tinder profile photo tips on how to triple your matches.
Anyway, being warm also means being friendly, genuine and curious in your text conversations.
- If someone actually says or does something you like, tell them.
- Don’t constantly hide behind jokes and witty remarks, be your relaxed self.
- Lastly, be interested in their opinions and who they are.
But be careful you don’t simp for her.
That’s a big turn off.
Check my next article for what I mean:
- 7 Signs you’re a simp over text message
#8: Stop selling yourself
If you’re a guy, you’re in trouble.
You see, when it comes to dating guys are born with a handicap.
A donger.
I’m joking, but only slightly.
Men are genetically wired to procreate and shoot babies into our better halves.
Although we can override that instinct, most dudes don’t even bother.
So the instant they see a pretty lady, they think: “I must have her!”
And all standards fly out the window.
The problem?
They’re already decided they want her and will do and say everything to get her.
Which often turns guys into a pushy car salesman.
Like so.
One simple text turned this guy into doggy listening to its master.
Which communicates to her:
“Man, I really like you. Here’s what I can do for you. Please say it’s enough and like me back.”
Not all girls will be turned off by this behavior.
But to many it’s a buzzkill.
Which they’ll show you by sending you one word texts.
#9: Why you’re getting one-word texts from your girlfriend or boyfriend
This is a serious topic which deserves a quick and serious answer.
First of all, remember that one-word texts aren’t an issue unless you’re getting them regularly.
Are one-word texts common for you?
Here’s what might be going on.
Warning, it’s not pretty:
You like her and the relationship a lot more than she currently likes you and the relationship.
Because you like her so much, you’re likely showering her with texts and affection.
And because she’s in need of some space, she’s being curt over text in the hope that you’ll take the hint.
Does that mean the relationship is over?
No.
Just that you and your partner CURRENTLY have different needs.
So slow down.
If she’s suffering from a you-overdose, you want to give her a little less and give her the opportunity to miss you.
Once your loving strangle-hold loosens, she’ll likely start typing in full sentences again.
Want to make her fall in love with you (again)? Check out this article:
- 14 Ways to make her fall in love over text
#10: Stop typing like your uneducated
If this title didn’t trigger you, then you need to read this tip.
Did the title make you cringe? Great.
Now you know how she’s feeling.
Anyway, the title has a big grammar mistake that will shrivel up a girl’s eggs.
Not all girls will have such a strong reaction. But many of the good ones will.
You know, the girls with diplomas, big ambitions and next level tongue and throat skills. (The last point is made up, but I feel like it makes my point more convincing.)
So while you may scoff at grammar mistakes, others wince at them as if they were hearing the sound of nails on a chalkboard.
And it makes sense.
Proper grammar communicates that you’re smart and probably live the life of a smart dude.
Nice place. Decent job. And a big d- oggo for her to cuddle.
So get your grammar right.
It doesn’t cost much effort and the rewards are big.
What to text after a one-word text
One of the most effective ways to get a woman to open up to you over text is this.
Clickbait.
If you get it right, clickbait is irresistible.
As long as you choose the right topic to get the clicks.
Your safest bet is talking about her.
Why?
Because it’s her most favorite subject in the world.
So to get a good answer, hit her with some questions like this:
You know what I find so interesting about you?
Or:
I never thought about it until now, but you know what’s kinda funny about you?
IRRESISTIBLE.
She won’t be able to stop herself from replying.
For more clickbait questions and good follow-up questions, check my clickbait video where I tell you exactly what to do using actual text conversations.
You can find my clickbait video here.
Enjoy.
Blessings,
Louis Farfields
And don’t forget your download below
You put a ton of thought and effort into your text, only to get a one-word response back.
Receiving a one-word text is a frustrating scenario, as it makes it look like the guy doesn’t even care about what you have to say.
The good thing is that there are plenty of ways to respond to this type of immature behavior. Let’s take a look at your options, and more importantly, why he does it.
How Do You Respond To A Random Short Text From A Guy?
It’s not always easy to respond to a short and random text from a guy, but the good news is that the ball is in your court and you can take the conversation wherever you want.
Many guys are known for dry texting, which is another name for receiving shorter texts that lack any type of engagement. After all, think about how many times you’ve gotten responses like this:
- lol.
- Sure.
- Yeah.
- Nope.
- Maybe.
- Okay/k.
These types of responses can be super frustrating, especially when you’re looking to get more out of the guy from his texts. Either way, this is something that you need to know how to handle.
Here are a variety of strategies (and text responses) that you can use to spark some life back into your texting.
1) Dig Deeper With Open-Ended Texts
If a guy is giving you one-word responses through text, then you’re going to want to peel the onion a little. You’re going to want to dig a little deeper and ask better questions.
One of the biggest reasons as to why guys answer with only one word is the fact that you might have given him a question with only 3 responses, which include:
- No.
- Yes.
- Either one of those answers with brief reasoning.
Many guys aren’t always going to dive into all of the details when it comes to answering questions, so many times you’ll receive a simple yes or no, and that’s perfectly fine.
So if you asked if likes playing sports, you have to dig a little bit deeper in order to get more details out of him. As a follow-up, you could respond with something like:
- What motivates you to play so many sports?
- How would you describe yourself as an athlete?
- Ohhh… tell me more about your favorite sports!
- What sports accomplishments are you very proud of?
You might have noticed something about all of these responses, and it’s the fact they are all open-ended.
This means that he can’t get by on a simple one-word response, and the ball is now in his court when it comes to talking about something that he really likes.
Obviously, your response is always going to be different based on what you’re texting about. If you feel like he’s not going to explain anymore, then it’s time to move on to the next strategy.
2) Pivot The Conversation In A New Direction
If he’s responding with a one-word text, then you might want to consider pivoting the conversation in a completely different direction.
Think about this scenario for a second. If a guy that you really liked started asking you questions about a topic that you enjoy the most, would you respond with only one-word texts?
You most likely wouldn’t, unless you were really busy and could only sneak in a one-word response every now and then.
Either way, when you pivot the conversation in a new direction, you want to make sure that you lead with an open-ended question.
Once again, this will help remove any option for him to respond with just one word. Here are a few examples:
- What does a typical weekend look like for you?
- What’s the craziest thing that you’ve done lately?
- So what do you have planned for the rest of the day/week/weekend?
Keep in mind that you don’t want to just go write into adding those responses too, as you need to slide into them so that it doesn’t look forced and out of the left field.
Let’s say that he responded to something that you had to say with “Maybe”. Here is how you’ll want to transition into something new:
Mysterious? I like that! Speaking of mystery, what do you usually like to do on the weekends?
If he still ends up responding with a one-word response, then you’ve most likely gotten to the super-frustrating part of texting him.
It’s time to get to the bottom of this one-word texting behavior. After all, it’s not right that you put a lot of thought and information into your texts and he responds like he doesn’t even care.
3) Ask If He Always Texts With One Word Responses
If he keeps responding with one-word texts, perhaps it is time that you ask him if he always texts like that.
This is genuine curiosity at its finest, and a subtle way of letting him know that you don’t care for this type of behavior.
There’s nothing wrong with expecting a little bit more effort when it comes to texting, and he is going to need to understand that.
You also don’t need to be rude with your response, here are some examples for you:
- Seems like you’re a man of a few words, huh?
- One-word response. You must be a man of mystery, huh?
- Duly noted, do you always like keeping things short and sweet?
- I see, and I noticed that you like one-word responses. Is that your thing?
He can always respond with a one-word response, but he certainly knows that his lack of tacking effort is on your radar.
This also opens up the possibility for him to say something like:
Sorry, I was busy at (specific activity) and couldn’t give you a longer response.
Related: Guys Apologizing For Texting Late.
If he does choose to keep responding with a one-word response, then you just might have to consider that this guy just might not be worth texting or spending time on.
Here’s what you can do when he keeps being immature and lacking any interest.
4) Text Back With A One Word Response Yourself
If the guy keeps repetitively responding to your texts with just one word, then it’s time to fight with fire. Text back with one-word responses and give him a taste of his own medicine.
- Does this come off as immature? Yup.
- Does this come off as passive-aggressive? Yup.
- But is this fair based upon how he’s responded to you? Absolutely.
In fact, if you really want to send him a message, you can respond with a long chain of one-word responses. For example, if you ask him a question and he says maybe, you can say:
Cool. Great. Grand. Wonderful. Thanks.
As stated earlier, it’s a pretty childish thing to do, but you’re not the one who led with a lack of effort and a maximum amount of immaturity.
If you don’t want to stoop down to his level, then I completely understand where you’re coming from.
If it reaches this stage, then the chances are much higher that you’re most likely not interested in texting him anymore. There are plenty of other guys who will give you the time of day.
Here is the last response that you can use to counter his one-word texts, and it’s actually no response at all.
5) Don’t Even Bother Texting Back (Ghost Him)
If the guy uses one-word responses for most of his texts, then you just might want to forget about giving him the time of day and stop texting him.
As the popular quote states:
Sometimes the best response, is no response.
The same is true here, but keep in mind that this option should only be used after:
- You’ve exhausted all of your other options.
- He has no reason to keep responding like that.
- He knows that you don’t care for his lack of effort.
- He continues to act immaturely and respond with one-word texts.
In other words, you can pretty much ghost him. If he happens to text you later down the road in a normal and coherent way, then it’s up to you if you want to continue on with the conversation.
The situation even gets weirder if the guy was the one who gave you his number, because he should be much more interested, right?
I’m not usually an advocate of ghosting someone, but when you get to this point, the guy should know that he had it coming.
Plus, there’s no reason to explain yourself to him anyway. It’s not like he’s going to have any valid (or lengthy) input when he responds to your text.
What Do Short Text Responses Mean?
Short text responses can mean a lot of things, but two big reasons for them is that the person is too busy to give you a longer response, or they just aren’t interested.
While it can be very annoying to receive a short text response, make sure that you don’t quickly jump to conclusions. After all, people aren’t able to be on their phones for every minute and every second of the day.
Let’s talk more about why you’re likely to receive these short, and often random, text responses.
1) Short Text Responses Can Mean Busyness
This is the perfect example of where receiving a short text response is a really good thing, and it’s because the person on the other side is really busy.
A lot of weird feelings and emotions can arise from texting, especially when you don’t get the perfect response that you’ve been thinking of.
With that being said, sometimes you have to accept the fact that a short text response is so much better than not getting a response at all.
Here are a few possible scenarios for you to think about:
- Someone at school who is not able to text back.
- Someone bust at work not being able to text back.
- Someone in the middle of a movie (at a theater) not being able to text back.
- Or being in a location where texting is difficult (like texting when he’s on vacation).
Think about all of those possibilities above, and the fact that they shouldn’t be texting you back… and they still do.
Sometimes we need to take a look at the spectrum of possibilities, and things could be so much more. They could have just not responded and then ghosted you (which is the worst outcome).
Related: You Gave Him Your Number Yet No Text.
Speaking of bad outcomes, it’s time to look at the other side of what it can mean to receive shorter text messages.
1) Short Text Responses Can Mean Apathy
You also have to keep in mind that constant and continuous short test responses can mean apathy, or in other words, they just don’t care enough for longer responses.
There’s a popular quote that I’d like to share with you here:
When someone acts like they don’t care, believe them.
Many times, this is going to be the truth, especially if this short-texting response behavior has been going on for a long period of time.
Sometimes the person just isn’t busy but has other priorities and interests that are more important than sending longer text responses.
Sometimes, it is what it is, and you need to understand that. By doing so makes it much easier to move on and not devote so much time to the person who just doesn’t seem to care.
Why Do Guys Respond With One-Word Answers? Final Words
Guys respond with one-word answers because many times, it’s just their nature of texting. They like getting straight to the point, and often don’t feel the need to further explain themselves.
When it comes to texting you guys, you can certainly expect this type of behavior. In fact, the more you text, the more that you’re going to end up seeing it.
To give the guys a little more credit, you also have to keep in mind that he might just be too busy to respond with a much longer text message.
While it can immature and frustrating to get hit with constant one-word text responses, eventually that will stop.
You’ll find the guy that genuinely cares about having a great conversation with you through text. He’ll put actual effort and thoughts into his responses, and everything will flow nicely.
Until then, you can expect to see a lot of one-word text responses, it’s just how many guys are… k?
Ever been texting a girl you wanted to get to know better and all you get are one word responses? While a few well placed one word responses are fine, it might be aggravating to constantly get nothing back. There are some steps that you can follow to get her to finally text you back in full sentences.
Texting Help
Answering With Flirty Texts
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Appeal to her interests. Have the last few things you’ve written her been boring or commonplace? If you are not saying anything interesting, she won’t want to reply back to you. Try to liven up your texts with a topic she is interested in or something that you know she would like to talk about. This way, she might be more willing to respond and hold a longer discussion with you over text.
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Compliment her. A good way to get her to respond is by letting her know you are thinking about her. Text her things like: «I really liked that outfit you wore yesterday.» or «You kicked butt when we all went bowling last week.» These things make her pay attention to the conversation, feel special, and know you like her.
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Let her know you think about her. Bring up something that reminds you of her. Text her something like: «There is this flower outside that is the same colour as your eyes. It makes me think about you when I see it.» It lets her know that you think about her outside of the current conversation. It will also likely bring her back into the conversation with you.
- Make sure you don’t say anything inappropriate at this stage. Match what you say with how close of a relationship you have. If you just met her, you will not say the same things to her as you would if you’ve known her for a long time.
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Ask a question. If you are trying to get a longer response from her, ask her a question that has more than a one word answer. You can even turn it into something flirty. Ask her something like: «What is your idea of a perfect date, and why?» This puts the idea of romance in her head and requires a longer response. It also has the added benefit of helping you get to know her a little better.
Replying with Funny Texts
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Tease her. Since she is only sending you one word text messages, try turning it into something funny. Say something like: «A cat has your tongue, huh? I hope you’re not allergic :)» It makes her one word response funny instead of weird or uncomfortable. It also shows her your playful side.
- You can also say something like: «You must be on some important spy business today. Tell James Bond I said hi :)»
- Make sure you are appropriate with your teasing. You don’t want to offend her or make her feel uncomfortable. Try to feel out her boundaries to know what kind of teasing is best for her.
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Make up ridiculous stories. If you want her to respond to your texts, you need to hook her in with something interesting and funny. Start off with something like: «Something so weird just happened to me.» When she responds, make up something ridiculous like: «A zombie just ran into my room. But I took care of it. Good thing I know about apocalyptic survival.»
- The more ridiculous you make your story, the more likely she will be to respond.
- Make sure you don’t take it too far. You want to make her laugh, not make her uncomfortable.
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Exaggerate your responses. Whenever she answers, exaggerate your responses to her one word replies. For example, you ask her how her day was and she replies «Okay.» You can respond with something like: «Woah, calm down there. You don’t need to be so enthusiastic :)» The added emoticon helps her know that you are saying it in jest and aren’t mad at her reply. It will also hopefully make her want to respond with more detail in the future.
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Make fun of yourself. Since she isn’t responding to you, lay the blame on yourself for the lull in conversations. Make fun of your conversational skills with quips like: «Wow, I must really be off my game today. I’m not usually this boring :)» The added emoticon lets her know that you are not mad at her and are poking fun at yourself.
- Don’t be self deprecating. You want your quips to be funny, not make her uncomfortable or make you look sullen and unhappy.
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Make up answers for her. If she isn’t being super responsive, you can make up playful answers for her to get her interested in the conversation and let her know how funny you are. When you ask her a question, make up a playful answer for her. Tell her something like: «What are you doing this weekend? Let me guess, you’re going to take your dog on a rocket ride to the moon. That’s so sweet of you :)» This playful banter can help bring her back into the conversation, even if it is to tell you how silly you are.
- Make sure whatever you say is appropriate. You don’t want to take your scenarios over the top.
Tips
- Don’t over text in your quest to get her to respond with full answers. Clogging up her message box isn’t going to help you.
- Never be the one to answer with a short text. Since you don’t like it, you should never reply in the same fashion when texting with a girl.
- If she doesn’t respond right away, she might be busy. She might have too much to do to reply more than just a simple word.
- If you try some of these techniques and she still sends you one word answers, she might not be interested in you. Back off for a little while and try again. If you keep getting the same results, she more than likely doesn’t like you.
- Take a day off from texting her.
- You could add some emojis. Not constantly, but just enough to let her know your expressions.
- Don’t be rude and don’t take forever to reply. Try not to overthink what you’re about to say.
- “K” doesn’t always mean that the other person is bored, or some other negative implication. It really depends on the person.