Romance

Guys Texting Habits & Behavior: What They Really Mean

Have you ever received a perplexing text message from the guy you fancy? Did you find yourself seeking the opinion of your closest friends to make sense of it?

Dating can be bewildering, especially since a significant portion of it now takes place virtually. The tone and intention of messages can easily be misconstrued. This problem is exacerbated if the guy you're communicating with isn't adept at writing.

For this reason, we have compiled a comprehensive guide on men's texting habits and behaviors. Our guide will demystify numerous enigmatic texting techniques that you may have observed your significant other employing.

Continue reading to discover solutions to many of your most urgent inquiries regarding romance...

THINGS HE SAYS AND WHAT THEY COULD MEAN

In this section, we will examine particular messages he is sending you - rather than his general texting habits. If you're worried about the content of his messages and what they imply, this is where you should focus your attention.

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He's asking you a lot of questions about yourself

Suppose he continues to barrage you with inquiries? He might inquire about your hobbies, musical preferences, TV viewing habits, and even basic information such as your favorite color. It could make you feel like you're being interrogated by him!

In all likelihood, these are the sorts of messages you can expect to receive during the initial phases of a relationship. During this time, receiving texts like these is a positive indication.

The reason is that it demonstrates his desire to get to know you better. One wouldn't bother learning about someone they're not interested in, so these inquiries could be a strong indication of his romantic interest in you.

There are tons of emojis and hearts in his text messages

Another behavior you might observe from your partner is punctuating their text messages with emojis, such as hearts or smiley faces. We believe this is yet another encouraging signal.

When communicating through text messages, it's easy for the intended tone to be misinterpreted. However, using emojis can effectively convey emotions and prevent misunderstandings. If someone is using emojis, it's a clear indication that they want to express their feelings and communicate clearly.

The types of emojis used heavily impact the message conveyed. Emojis that express positivity, such as smiling faces and hearts, are preferable to receive.

He compliments you a lot

Receiving frequent compliments through text can be uncomfortable. Without being able to see the person's facial expressions, it can be difficult to determine whether the compliments are genuine. Thus, when someone compliments you repeatedly on your eyes, smile, or any aspect of your personality, it can be hard to know what to make of it.

Whether receiving frequent compliments is positive or negative depends on the context. It's possible that the person is using flattery to manipulate you into a casual hookup, which may or may not align with your desires. Alternatively, they could be genuinely enamored with you.

One method for distinguishing between genuine and insincere compliments is to examine their frequency and timing. If he spontaneously and consistently compliments you throughout your conversations, then it's likely that his praise is genuine.

Conversely, if he bombards you with compliments from the very beginning, he may either be socially awkward or have ulterior motives.

Good night and good morning texts

Receiving texts like "good morning beautiful" or "good night beautiful" can make you feel extremely appreciated, and fortunately, these messages are intended to make you feel unique.

While it may only take a few seconds to send these texts, consistently remembering to do so requires time, effort, and dedication. When he consistently remembers to greet you in the morning or send you off to bed at night, it demonstrates that he's thinking of you during those moments.

We believe that when someone is the first person on your mind in the morning and the last person on your mind at night, you're on the path to developing feelings for them. This also applies to him.

He's asking you for nudes or videos

We have all received those messages from guys asking for a "hot pic" or a particular video, which depending on when they're sent, can feel repulsive, unpleasant, and a major turn-off.

The purpose of such texts is clear: he wants you to arouse him sexually. However, whether or not you choose to oblige is entirely your decision.

Don't dismiss every guy who requests nude photos right away. If you've been developing a relationship with him for some time, it's normal to desire physical intimacy. The context determines whether it's acceptable or offensive. Consider your own feelings, whether you were previously having a steamy conversation, and whether you're prepared to take the relationship to that level.

Conversely, if you've only recently met and he's already attempting to use you for rapid sexual gratification, it's safe to say that he's not interested in a meaningful emotional bond. Once again, this isn't inherently negative - you may also want a casual hookup - but if that's not what you're after, don't hesitate to decline his advances.

He questions you about your plans and availability

Has he been inquiring about your schedule by asking whether you're available or what your plans are? You can probably deduce what this implies, but if not, we'll clarify his intentions for you.

When he inquires about your schedule, he's attempting to determine if you're free to spend time with him. This is a subtle approach to preparing himself to ask you out on a date, as he wants to ensure you're available first.

In fact, it may even be his indirect method of asking you out. He may be anticipating your response indicating that you're available and interested in seeing him.

Giving you elusive answers about the nature of your relationship/what he wants

Occasionally, you encounter a guy you're truly drawn to, and you share a mutual connection with him. However, when you attempt to broach the topic of your relationship, he responds with vague and evasive answers.

His response may vary, but he may say that he doesn't want to "label" your relationship or that he's "not ready for a commitment."

The interpretation of this response can vary. It can be a valid means of obtaining additional time, especially if he has recently been hurt and needs to regain his self-assurance.

Conversely, it can be a deceitful tactic to keep you at his disposal without making any commitment. In such a situation, he is luring you with the romance you desire, keeping you as an option until someone he prefers more comes along.

To differentiate between the two, observe his conduct outside of texting. If he is treating you like a girlfriend, taking you on dates, purchasing gifts for you, sending you affectionate messages, and being intimate with you, then he may be using you for his convenience without making any commitments. This indicates that he wants everything without making a promise so that he can leave whenever he wants.

On the other hand, if he is being cautious in all aspects, including physical, it could be a sign that he is genuinely interested in you but needs time. This is common in situations where he has recently been hurt emotionally and needs to recover before getting into a relationship.

Sending really romantic and poetic messages

What if the guy you're talking to sends you cheesy messages that melt your heart? What if he consistently peppers his texts with flowery expressions and romantic notes that feel like love letters?

The implications of receiving cheesy and romantic texts from a guy are not straightforward. It could be either positive or negative depending on the context.

If he's sending you love letters right off the bat, it could be a sign that he's insincere or desperate, as true love takes time to develop.

A guy's cheesy messages can be acceptable and genuine when you've spent a considerable amount of time getting to know him and building a connection. In that case, his romantic texts may be appreciated as a sincere expression of his feelings. However, if he's already sending you love letters in the early stages of talking, he may come across as insincere or desperate.

There are a lot of "hahas" and "lols" in his texts

You may notice that he frequently ends his texts with "haha" or "lol," even if there wasn't anything particularly funny said by either of you.

Men do this for a few reasons. One reason is that they use it as a filler word to make their text messages sound less abrupt, sort of like an emoji. It's like how people have their own filler words in person, such as saying "like" frequently, and it serves a similar purpose.

Additionally, using "haha" at the end of a message can make it appear more casual. The tone of a text can be significantly altered by adding a "haha" at the end. If a man has made a statement that might come across as cold or pointed, he might use "haha" to soften it.

Lastly, using "haha" at the end of a message could be a fallback for a man when he's uncomfortable or doesn't know what to say. If you asked him a pointed question or made a statement that puts pressure on him, he might use "haha" in response to signal discomfort or uncertainty.

Looking to make him genuinely laugh and say "haha"? Here are some texts to send while he's at work.

GENERAL TEXTING BEHAVIORS IN GUYS

Texting involves more than just the words in the message. Other factors, such as the time of day or how quickly he responds, can also influence their meaning.

If you have questions about his texting habits, but not about any particular message he sent, then this is the section for you.

He sends you a lot of one-word replies

One type of text message that can make you stop in your tracks is a single-word response. We've all experienced receiving a cold "okay" in response to something we've said and felt confused or hurt by it.

Feeling hurt and confused in response to a one-word text is a reasonable reaction. If a man frequently sends you short, one-word texts and you find yourself carrying most of the conversation, it could be a strong indication that he's not interested in you.

On the other hand, if he only sends you those brief, one-word texts occasionally, consider the timing of your texts to him. If you're texting him during work or school hours, it's possible that he's just too occupied to send a longer response.

Another possibility is that he's upset. If you've just had a disagreement moments before, a one-word text could be his way of showing that he's still uncomfortable and upset. In such a situation, it's best to give him some space to breathe and recover.

You often must wait a long time for him to respond

Another thing that can be nerve-wracking is when guys take a long time to respond to your text. You might know the feeling of sending a message and then anxiously waiting for a reply, checking your phone every time it makes a sound.

If he's not responding quickly, several factors could be at play. One possibility is that he's simply occupied with other things. Timing is crucial here; if it's during regular working hours, he may be unavailable due to job-related obligations and unable to check his phone frequently.

If he consistently takes a long time to respond, it may indicate that he is less committed to the relationship than you are, and therefore doesn't feel the need to prioritize responding to you promptly. In this scenario, you may want to consider letting go and pursuing a connection with someone who is more responsive and engaged.

He texts you most in the middle of the night

Late-night text messages have a reputation for being a guise for a booty call. The later the message is sent, the greater the likelihood that he is awake, craving intimacy, and hoping that you'll satisfy that desire.

However, sending late-night texts doesn't always indicate a sexual motive. Context is critical once again. For instance, if he's messaging you in the late evening, it could be that his schedule is packed until then, and he only has time to message you later in the day.

Whenever you ask to see him, he makes excuses

If he consistently comes up with excuses whenever you suggest getting together, alarm bells are likely ringing in your mind. The particular excuse he offers is inconsequential; what's significant is that he repeatedly finds reasons to avoid meeting with you.

You're correct in suspecting that something suspicious might be occurring. The precise nature of what's happening could vary depending on a range of factors.

Have you had an in-person meeting with him, or have your interactions been solely through online communication? If you've only connected with him online, have you ever engaged in a video call? If you haven't met him in person or spoken to him via video call, there's a possibility that he might be catfishing you.

The situation is distinct if you've had at least one in-person encounter with him. In this case, refusing to meet again is just as dubious. He may simply lack interest in you, or he may not want to be seen with you face-to-face.

It's important to note that this only holds true if he persistently evades spending time with you. It's natural to occasionally be unavailable or not feel up for a date. So, it's reasonable to anticipate that he may decline the offer to meet occasionally.

If you don't answer right away, he keeps sending you more texts until you reply

One of the most frustrating things that a guy can do is incessantly demand your attention. Picture this: you take a brief break from your phone, and return to an onslaught of messages such as:

"Are you still there?"

"???"

"I suppose you must be too occupied for me at the moment..."

"Where did you go?"

These messages don't even have to be as overt as the prior instances. He might send you a series of texts on different topics or continue the conversation as though you were responding actively.

The reason he does this is that he's insecure and concerned that you may be losing interest in him or talking to other people. Therefore, he takes action to redirect your attention back to him.

This behavior is a major warning sign. If he's already behaving like this when you're just texting, it's likely he'll be even more bothersome in a serious relationship. You should address this promptly by reassuring him that he has no reason to feel insecure and informing him that you will respond when you are able to.

His messages have a cold and distant tone

Occasionally, men engage in an exasperating game of push and pull. Everything can appear to be progressing smoothly with frequent affectionate and teasing messages...until, without warning, he abruptly becomes unresponsive. His responses may become distant, or he might only give short replies.

Determining his motives can be challenging since there are numerous potential explanations.

One possible explanation could be that he felt pressured by you. If you were attempting to coerce him into a commitment, the detachment you're sensing may be his way of putting up barriers.

Another possibility, which is more painful, is that he might be conversing with other women. During the initial "just talking" stage of a relationship, it's typical for both individuals to keep their options open. His withdrawal could indicate that one of his other options has become more appealing to him.

Even if there isn't necessarily another woman involved, he may have simply lost interest. Not all playful interactions lead to a relationship, and sometimes those sparks simply fade away for no apparent reason.

Lastly, he may have something else occurring in his life. Whether he's occupied with work, school, spending time with friends, or dealing with family issues, he may not have the time to devote to lengthy, responsive messages.

He answers you right away

A guy responding to you immediately should be a positive thing, correct? After all, you want someone who values your time and conversation.

Hold on, though. There's something a bit odd about him consistently responding to you right away at any given moment.

It's possible that something as adorable and harmless as him being eager to get to know you is the reason. This is generally the situation if you've only just begun speaking.

Nevertheless, if it has been weeks or even longer, and he continues to respond to you within minutes every time, there is a possibility that he could be fixated. Sound relationships are not constructed on fixation, but on mutual respect for each other and equilibrium.

It could be another warning sign if he appears to have no life outside of your conversations. Consider the stress it could create for you if you began dating him and his entire world revolved around you.

He sends you a lot of pictures of himself

Is it appropriate to be worried if a man is consistently sending you pictures of himself, regardless of whether they are suggestive or not?

Not particularly. Women enjoy taking lovely photographs of themselves, and so do men. If you frequently send him selfies, he likely wants to return the favor and provide you with a little visual appeal.

Make sure to boost his confidence by complimenting the outfit he shows you or by expressing affection when he takes lovely photos with his dog.

Some of his texts include memes/funny gifs

What about the guy who enjoys sending you humorous pictures on a regular basis? What's his deal?

The answer to this one really varies. Sending you an occasional meme or GIF isn't necessarily problematic - he's indicating that he came across something amusing, thought of you, and wanted to share a laugh. Bonus points to him if the meme is something you're interested in but he's not, as it demonstrates that he remembers your interests.

It becomes more problematic if sending memes is virtually all he does by text. If he consistently relies on memes to communicate with you, he may not be taking your relationship seriously, or he may not be mature enough to communicate effectively.

He's stopped texting you entirely

Now for the most difficult behavior in this guide: the disappearing act. How should you interpret it when a guy stops responding to you altogether?

This infamous disappearing behavior is commonly known as "ghosting". Guys tend to ghost you as an immature way of ending a connection that they just weren't feeling.

It could be any number of things. Perhaps he found someone else and didn't have the heart to tell you, or he may have just decided that you weren't the right person for him and couldn't discuss it like an adult.

The truth is, ghosting is a cowardly way for someone to escape a connection they no longer want to pursue. The reasons for his disappearance could vary, from finding someone else to simply deciding that you're not the right fit for him, but regardless, it's an immature way to handle things. If he's ghosted you and won't communicate, it's best to move on and focus on finding someone who is mature enough to handle difficult conversations.