Text messaging isn’t just for kids. You can say a lot with a simple missive—but there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it.

1. Don’t overdo the shorthand, especially when texting in a professional capacity. A few abbreviations are OK, but I draw the line at subbing numbers for words (e.g., “4” instead of “for”).

2. Keep texts short. Go longer than 10 to 12 words, and you may as well send an email.

3. Don’t overdo it. Many (if not most) phone users pay for texting on a per-message basis—up to 25 cents a pop, sent or received. Remember the cost to your recipient before you hit send.

4. Texting is at its best when you can’t speak out loud. Whether you’re stuck in ameeting, in a movie or on another phone, texting still lets you get the word out.

5. A picture is worth a thousand words. Most phones support MMS, which lets you send a photo to another phone.

6. Practice. If your phone doesn’t have a full keyboard, try using the T9 word-recognition system that most phones now include to cut down on keystrokes.But watch out for common mistakes.


—CNNULL