Jean in Newcastle Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 What do you do when someone replies to you but their sentence just reads like a word salad to you? I'm not sure how to ask for clarification without it looking like I'm critiquing their writing, but on the other hand, I have no idea what they are trying to say. (This is not one of my kids or my husband - with them I would be comfortable saying "What in the world are you trying to say?") Quote
Wilma Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 ?? or ¿? is how I tend to handle this. Sent from my XT1094 using Tapatalk 4 Quote
bolt. Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 Is there a way to play yourself as a bit dim and ask your question again -- as if you forgot you already asked, or got distracted from the answer? Is there a way to casually put your best guess to your reply, so they would need to confirm or deny that you got it right? Could it be autocorrect? Quote
Forget-Me-Not Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 I'd just say, "I'm not following. Can you clarify?" It's entirely likely they're using voice to text and didn't check before hitting send. Some of my dads voice-to-texts are indecipherable :D 7 Quote
SparklyUnicorn Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 wtf do you mean? :lol: I wouldn't type that, but I'd be thinking it. 6 Quote
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 19, 2016 Author Posted February 19, 2016 I'd just say, "I'm not following. Can you clarify?" It's entirely likely they're using voice to text and didn't check before hitting send. Some of my dads voice-to-texts are indecipherable :D Ooh. I especially like this one. Thanks! 1 Quote
fraidycat Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 Word salad. Lol. I hate beating around the bush and wasting time and energy, therefore I'd straight out tell the person it doesn't make sense and they need to clarify. 2 Quote
Chris in VA Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 I just did this today! I text a ?. Quote
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 19, 2016 Author Posted February 19, 2016 I asked for clarification. I don't understand the clarification! :lol: Oh well, I think I'm just going to see what happens in the end. It will be a surprise! 5 Quote
Tenaj Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 My m-i-l tends to type slower than her brain works and often sends me texts that I can't make heads or tails out of. I just send her a "?" back. Then she laughs about it later because she sent it without actually reading what she had typed and my reply makes her read what she actually sent. Her emails are often the same way. Quote
zoobie Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 I'd ask for a convenient time to call to clarify. Then take a stiff shot to fortify myself for the phone call. ;) 3 Quote
Reefgazer Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 I've typed that, LOL! wtf do you mean? :lol: I wouldn't type that, but I'd be thinking it. 2 Quote
fraidycat Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 wtf do you mean? :lol: I wouldn't type that, but I'd be thinking it. I have texted "are you drunk?" 2 Quote
marbel Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 I take the blame for not understanding, saying something like "sorry, I must be extra dense today, but I'm not following you." Repeat as needed. 3 Quote
Guest Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 You lost me. Can you explain again more clearly please? I'd be secretly thinking "huh?!" Quote
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 19, 2016 Author Posted February 19, 2016 With the clarification I understood enough to know that I'm not required to do anything. I don't understand what the others are doing but hey, as long as I don't have to do anything I'm ok with that! 8 Quote
Tsuga Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 My mom is super sensitive to things like this. I ask her to explain more simply because I'm having a slow day. That takes the onus off her and puts it on me. Also makes her explain in detail, LOL. 2 Quote
Ailaena Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 Generally, it's "um, wut?" I've been known to ask, "Are you having a stroke??" Of course, I have no casual friends or slight acquaintances ever text me, just people who know me well :p 2 Quote
Guest Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 The talk-to-text choices are the best. DH does this all the time and some of the sentences are totally incomprehensible, especially when there are names involved. One client's name sounds like Pen Sick...you should see some of the interpretations Iphone comes up with on that. Quote
Liz CA Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 I always blame my phone and would probably say: "You know I got this cheap phone. Your text came over garbled. Can you call me?" Quote
dirty ethel rackham Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 If I'm nice, I would say, "Sorry, not sure what you mean." Snarky me would say "Huh??" Quote
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