Reading text
Digital messages are quick enough to make a reply feel urgent, even when no answer is needed immediately. People often (1) .......... significance to the wording of a short message, especially when they cannot see a face or hear a voice.
This can create a (2) .......... but misleading impression that we know exactly what the writer means. We may be (3) .......... to read a pause as annoyance, although it could simply mean that someone is busy.
(4) .......... a conversation has begun online, it does not have to stay there; a short call can resolve uncertainty much faster. Some people (5) .......... important messages over before sending them, which gives them time to notice a phrase that might sound harsher than intended.
Friends can offer a piece of useful (6) .......... about sensitive wording, and platforms can (7) .......... people to choose whether a reply will appear at once. A little delay is not always avoidance; (8) .........., it can be a form of care.