Reading text
Instant communication can make a delayed reply appear more meaningful than it is. In many cases, a pause (9) .......... a conversation says nothing about a person’s feelings.
Yet readers (10) .......... expect immediate answers may interpret silence as rejection. They (11) .......... not always consider that the sender is travelling, working or simply choosing words carefully.
This matters (12) .......... written messages offer fewer clues about tone than spoken ones. A brief note can therefore prevent (13) .......... small misunderstanding from becoming a larger one, particularly when it explains when a fuller reply will be possible.
It is kinder (14) .......... say “I need time to think” than to leave someone guessing. A pause can be as useful (15) .......... a reply, provided it is used honestly rather (16) .......... as a way to avoid responsibility.