Periods in text messages? Don't be ‘harsh,’ expert warns
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A seemingly harmless period at the end of a text message may carry very different meanings depending on who's reading it, according to one expert.
Megan Gerhardt, a professor at Miami University's Farmer School of Business, has spent more than a decade studying how people of different ages communicate and work together.
Her research led her to coin the term "gentelligence," a framework that encourages people to become more aware of generational differences and use them as strengths rather than sources of conflict.
Expert on periods in text messages
What they're saying:
"I always say communication is kind of, you know, it's the tip of the iceberg," Gerhardt told The Associated Press. "We do it millions of times a day, and it's it can really change the dynamic of how you work with someone."
She said one of the most memorable examples emerged from conversations with Generation Z students, who told her that ending a text message with a period could feel surprisingly "harsh."
Researcher Megan Gerhardt says these differences can cause frequent misunderstandings in workplaces where digital communication is common. (Credit: Getty Images)
Gerhardt, who is part of Generation X, learned that punctuation can signal tension or disapproval for younger people. But for older generations, however, the same period often carries a sign of professionalism or no emotional meaning at all.
"If the person is my age or older, we're not mad, we're just punctuating," Gerhardt said.
Communication in the workplace
Dig deeper:
But what initially seems like a trivial difference can reveal a much larger issue, experts say. In today's workplaces, where teams rely heavily on digital communication, subtle misunderstandings can occur repeatedly throughout the day.
"Think of how many text messages you send and read a day. Imagine how often your tone or intent might be misinterpreted, or if you are on the younger end of the age spectrum, how frequently you might be unnecessarily stressed by innocent punctuation," Gerhardt continued.
Gerhardt has also observed generational differences in the use of emojis.
Several recent graduates told her they received feedback from managers who considered frequent emoji use unprofessional. The younger employees were confused by the criticism because, from their perspective, emojis serve an important purpose.
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Younger communicators often use emojis, "LOLs," and other digital cues to soften messages and avoid appearing rude or overly serious.
But the goal, she argues, isn't to determine which generation communicates correctly. Instead, it's to recognize that different age groups have developed different communication norms based on the environments in which they grew up.
"Communication styles differ across generations. When messaging someone much older or younger than yourself, be aware that they may interpret your message differently than intended, regardless of whether you end with a period or an emoji," she said.
The Source: This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed.