no
Imagine asking someone "Do you like ice cream?" and they respond "yes…" — Yes WHAT? Is something wrong? Are you dying? JUST SAY YES. 🤦♀️
❌ Don't do this
Brad 2:15 PM
Tim 2:15 PM Brad 2:16 PM Tim 2:18 PMSee what happened? Tim answered the question. The answer was "yes." But those three trailing dots turned a simple confirmation into a psychological thriller.
Now Brad is spiraling. Is the deploy broken? Is Tim upset? Is he about to drop bad news? Nope. Tim just... types like that.
In chat, "..." after a complete thought implies something is being left unsaid. It signals hesitation, reservation, or bad news incoming. When none of that is intended, you're accidentally creating dread out of thin air.
It's not just answers — trailing off before getting to the point is just as bad:
- "I have a question..."
- "so about that thing ..."
- "we need to talk..."
- "I looked at your code ..."
- "hm..."
If you're done talking, stop typing. If you have more to say, say it. 😫
✅ Instead try this
Sara 2:15 PM Tim 2:15 PM Sara 2:15 PM Tim 2:16 PMSame question, same answer — but Sara isn't left wondering if the building is on fire.
You can still be casual and friendly — just don't leave phantom suspense hanging in the air.
If you have reservations, say them:
- "yes, but we should double-check the staging env first"
- "I have a question — is the deploy at 3 or 4?"
- "so about the deadline — can we push to Friday?"
- "I looked at your code and found a small typo in line 42"
If the dots mean something, finish the thought. If they don't, drop them.
When done right — everyone's blood pressure stays normal! 🎉