Read “OK.” in a cheerful voice. Now read it in an irritated one. Same message. Two different conversations.
A text gives you words but leaves out the smile, the tone, and the pause. You supply the missing performance, using context, expectations, and tiny clues such as punctuation. Studies have even found that a period can change how a short reply is received, though habits vary between people. Before treating a brief message as a verdict, try one neutral reading. Sometimes “OK” means exactly that—and the sender is just carrying groceries.
General information, not a personal assessment. Explore the related articles and sources below.
Why do we read tone into messages so quickly?
We are used to reading words together with a face and a voice. In a text, punctuation and context have to do more of that work, and your expectations can fill the gaps. Try reading an ambiguous message twice—once impatiently, once neutrally. If both fit, the words alone may not tell you which was intended.