What are the modern texting rules for guys?

Reply when you see the message (no games), ask genuine questions, don't send unsolicited photos, and suggest meeting up within the first week of texting.

How long should a guy wait to text back?

Don't play the waiting game. Reply when it's natural — whether that's 5 minutes or a few hours. Intentional delays are obvious and immature.

What should guys avoid texting on dating apps?

Avoid generic openers like 'hey beautiful,' overly sexual messages early on, one-word replies, and double/triple texting when they haven't responded.

Modern Texting Rules for Guys on Dating Apps

The old “wait 3 days to text back” advice is dead. Modern dating runs on messaging, and the rules have completely changed. Here’s what actually works for guys in 2025. Need better opening lines? Check out our 37 opening lines that get replies.

Forget the games

Let’s start with what NOT to do:

Don’t wait hours on purpose. Intentional slow responses don’t create mystery — they create frustration.
Don’t “neg” anyone. Backhacked compliments aren’t clever. They’re disrespectful.
Don’t send “hey” as your opener. It’s the text equivalent of a blank stare.
Don’t double-text in a panic. If they haven’t replied, one message is enough. Wait it out. Read our double texting rules to know when it’s okay.

What actually works

Be genuinely curious

The #1 thing that makes you stand out: actually being interested in who they are. Not their body, not what they can do for you — who they are as a person.

Ask about their passions, their opinions, their stories. Then listen (read) and respond thoughtfully.

Keep it casual

Formal texting reads as stiff and awkward. Write how you’d talk to a friend:

Use contractions (you’re, it’s, don’t)
Keep messages to 1-2 sentences
Skip the periods at the end of casual messages (they can read as passive-aggressive in texts)
Use emojis sparingly — one or two is fine, a wall of them isn’t

Show personality

Your matches are having dozens of conversations simultaneously. What makes yours different? Personality.

Share opinions. Be a little bold. Tell short stories. Have takes on things. A person with opinions is infinitely more interesting than someone just asking “wbu?”

Compliment specifically

“You’re beautiful” is generic. “Your energy in that travel photo is incredible” is specific and memorable. Specific compliments show you actually looked at their profile, not just their first picture.

Suggest plans naturally

Don’t wait weeks to ask someone out. If the conversation is flowing:

“This is going to sound forward, but I think we’d have a great time getting coffee. Want to try that place on 5th this weekend?”

Direct, specific, and gives them an easy yes or no. Need more tips? Here’s exactly how to ask someone out over text.

Common mistakes to avoid

Sending paragraphs — Long messages early on feel intense. Save the deep conversations for in person.
Only talking about yourself — Conversation is a back-and-forth. If you realize you’ve sent 3 messages about yourself in a row, ask them something.
Getting sexual too fast — Even if the vibe is flirty, let things escalate naturally. Read the room.
Being too available — Respond when you can, but you don’t need to be glued to your phone. Having a life is attractive.

When you’re stuck

Sometimes you genuinely don’t know what to say — and that’s fine. TextVibe was built for exactly this. Paste their message, pick a tone (confident, witty, playful — whatever fits your style), and get 4 natural-sounding replies.

The suggestions are casual and human — no corporate robot energy. And each one comes with an explanation of why it works, so you actually learn better texting patterns over time.

Download TextVibe free and stop second-guessing every text.