What Does Dot Dot Dot Mean in a Text?

What does the “...” typing symbol mean?

On smartphones, 3 dots pop up when someone is typing. On both iPhone and Android, the 3 dots that appear in a text thread when two people are texting are referred to as the “typing awareness indicator.” When you see these 3 dots, Oppido says this “means that someone is actively typing back to you or is typing a response in the text window.” If the dots disappear and reappear a few times, the person is likely pausing and trying to figure out the right words to say. It’s normal to feel a bit anxious when you see these dots appear. Just keep in mind that the person is trying to think of the best way to respond, so try not to worry that you’ve said something wrong. If you get “3-dot anxiety” regularly, turn this feature off in “Settings.”

What does “...” mean in text?

3 dots at the end of a sentence can represent unfinished thoughts. Placing the 3 dots at the end of a sentence can create a feeling of unfinished business or unspoken truths. Maybe the texter is unsure how to complete their thoughts, or maybe they’re worried about offending someone. The ellipsis is the written version of someone starting a sentence, slowly speaking more and more quietly, and ultimately trailing off without reaching a true endpoint. For example: “She invited me to her party, but I’m not sure if I should go…” “There are some strange people in this world…” “Okay, if you say so…” Many millennials and Gen Z’ers state that they don’t like it when people use ellipses in text messages. They feel like the ellipses make it seem like something is wrong.

“Dot dot dot” can help build suspense. In literature and grammar, the ellipsis is often described as the punctuation of suspense… because that’s exactly what it does… build suspense! When chatting via text, using the ellipsis might simply be for dramatic effect. Whether you’d like to actually reveal a big secret or keep a friend on the edge of their seat about something silly, here are some examples of how the 3 dots might be used: “I have news to share with you…” “Well, since you asked… the truth is…” “Unfortunately…”

3 dots by themselves could mean someone is waiting for your response. If someone texted you a little while ago and you haven’t responded yet, they may prompt you by sending another text that reads “...” They may think you forgot to reply, or they need an answer quickly. Some people find this rude, though, so be careful how and when you use it!

Ellipses can represent missing words. “Ellipsis” comes from the Greek word “elleipein” meaning “to leave out.” If someone is quoting something, they may use “...” in the middle of the quote to leave out words that are irrelevant or to get to the point more quickly. This may be more common in emails or academic papers than in everyday texts, however.

How to Respond to Dot Dot Dot

If you see the 3 scary little dots… don’t panic! It probably just means the person you’re texting is taking their time to craft the perfect response or that they’re trying to figure out exactly what to say. Avoid the temptation to double-text. Instead, put the phone down and try to get your mind off things. After all, it is just a text, and unless you’re expecting the long-awaited response to be totally life-changing, then waiting for it to come through won’t make you or break you.