Two letters—“OK”—can spark a big etiquette fight. In a world drowning in notifications, is dry texting efficient respect…or lazy rudeness?

In this Professional Global Etiquette Debate, AI voices examine the social rules behind short, clipped replies (“k,” “ok,” “yep”). One side argues that minimal texts create ambiguity, signal disinterest, and chip away at relationships. The other claims brevity is clarity—faster confirmations reduce friction at scale. We test the norms across dating, friendships, and global workplaces, unpack cue-poor mediums, and explore how culture and context shape what “polite” really looks like. Presented by Professional Global Etiquette, founded by Adrienne Barker, MAS.

Key Takeaways

→ Dry texts can create “ambiguity risk” in cue-poor channels like SMS; add minimal reassurance when stakes are relational.

→ Efficiency can be respect: concise confirmations reduce time costs and decision lag in fast-paced work.

→ Match tone and effort to relationship strength; high-trust ties tolerate brevity better than new or fragile ones.

→ Choose the right channel: detailed review or appreciation rarely lands well via one-word text. → Culture matters: concise norms (Nordic/low-context) vs. warmer, context-rich norms (Latin/East Asian).

→ Practical rule: be brief for logistics; add one human line (“Looks good—thanks”) when feelings or effort are involved.

Enjoy the debate? Share this episode and tag @Professional Global Etiquette. For workshops, keynotes, or media, connect with Adrienne Barker, MAS, at Professional Global Etiquette.