You’re texting a guy you like and he starts sending one-word texts, takes forever to respond, or doesn’t respond at all. All three of those things are classic signs of dry texting. Dry texting can mean that he’s not super into you, but it could also mean you just have to change up your texting strategy a bit to get him interested enough to text back. We’ll walk you through texts you can send to fix a dry text conversation, check his interest, and know when to leave the conversation. Read on for a list of ways you can respond when a guy sends you a dry text!

This article is based on an interview with our professional dating coach and licensed social worker, Julianne Cantarella. Check out the full interview here.

1

Pinpoint the reason behind his dry texting.

  1. He might be busy, he might not like texting, or he might not be into you. Dry texting is incredibly frustrating, but try to be patient for the first couple of short texts or long response times. If he starts the conversation up again or starts sending more detailed messages, he was probably just busy. However, if you notice a pattern of dry texts, ask yourself these questions:
    • How often does he initiate the conversation? If you’re the one consistently sending the first message, he may not be interested in you. That’s his loss!
    • How does he communicate in real life? Is he a chatty guy or more reserved? He might be a shy guy or an introvert who doesn’t feel like engaging in small talk. Try out a few of the conversation starters below to see if you can pique his interest.
    • Has he ever sent longer texts? He might be having a bad day if his texts have gone dry. Think back to the last time you interacted, too, and ask yourself if you did anything to upset him. If not, give him some space and see if he starts texting again.
    • When do his texts usually go dry? For instance, do his texts get shorter when you bring up a certain subject? He might prefer talking at a certain time of day or about certain subjects. Shake up the conversation, and see if you can get him to text back with better responses.
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2

Restart the conversation by bringing up his interests.

  1. He might dry text you if he’s not feeling the conversation topic. Send the ball back into his court by getting him talking about his interests. Use an open-ended question, and keep it pretty broad, especially if you don’t know him well. It’s even better if you can find a common interest and start a conversation from there![1]
    • “If you had 48 hours to do whatever you wanted, what would you do?”
    • “What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t?”[2]
4

Mention a fun memory to remind him of your connection.

  1. Start a text with something like “Remember that time when we…?” If you’ve met in person or have been on a few dates, use that common experience or an inside joke to reignite the spark. When you go without seeing each other for a bit, it’s normal for a text conversation to dry up because you’re not actively creating new memories together. While you wait for your next date, keep him reminded about the good times you had IRL.[4] Here are some texts for inspiration:
    • “Just passed that diner we like and thought of you! Remember when we ordered that massive milkshake?”
    • “I was just thinking about the way that woman stared at us when we burst out laughing in the movie theater the other night. What was the line that made you totally lose it?”
6

Gauge his interest with a little flirting.

  1. If he responds positively, you don’t have anything to worry about. Plus, once the positive vibes are flowing, he’ll be more likely to respond with longer, more interesting texts. You could send a flirty emoji and tell him you’re looking forward to seeing him, or send a compliment text. If he’s interested in you, he’ll probably flirt back or at least respond with something fun.[6] Check out these examples:
    • “You looked really cute last night.”
    • “You’ve got the best sense of humor. I’m still thinking about that joke you made at Madison’s party.”
    • “Hey, handsome! What are you up to?”
7

Check in with his feelings about texting.

10

Prevent dry texting by sending more specific questions.

  1. Try “What was the highlight of your day?” as an alternative to “How’s it going?” Steer clear of “yes”/“no” questions that let him respond with a one-word answer. By getting specific and changing up a pretty standard question, you’ll get a better answer from him.[10] Plus, by asking about the highlight from his day, you get a sense of what matters to him and what his passions are. From there, you can build deeper conversations.
    • People pick up their phones an average of 58 times a day.[11] If he doesn’t respond after several hours, he’s likely seen your text but isn’t interested.
11

Coach a bad texter by telling him what kinds of texts you like.

  1. Use this approach for a guy you’re already dating. He might not realize that his dry texts bother you! If you’re just getting to know each other, you’re both figuring out what makes the other person happy. Give him compliments when he responds with longer texts, and tell him what you’d prefer when it comes to his texting style. See if you can find a way to communicate that makes you both comfortable.[12]
    • “I always smile when I get a notification from you.”
    • “I like getting texts from you! It’s always fun to talk.”
    • “I really appreciate it when you text me to check in before you go to sleep.”
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About This Article

Julianne Cantarella
Written by:
Dating & Relationship Coach
This article was written by Julianne Cantarella and by wikiHow staff writer, Kira Jan. Julianne Cantarella is a Dating Coach, Certified Life Coach, Licensed Social Worker, and the CEO and President of New Jersey's Matchmaker. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in helping women heal from a heartbreak and create healthy long-term relationships. Julianne created a comprehensive transformational date coaching program From First Date to Soulmate™ that has helped hundreds of women find love. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Ramapo College of New Jersey and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Fordham University. Julianne has contributed to numerous media such as Your Tango Online Magazine, 24Seven Wellness Magazine, and Talk of The Town Magazine. She has also been featured as a relationship expert on CBS, iHeartRadio, and PBS “This Emotional Life Project.” This article has been viewed 241,621 times.
45 votes - 79%
Co-authors: 12
Updated: March 20, 2023
Views: 241,621
Categories: Relationships
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