Text messaging is subject to preferences and interpretations based on personal knowledge of basic etiquette, common courtesy, proper decorum and behaviours that are commonly acceptable in society. Keep in mind some people do not follow proper etiquette therefor, the rules may not be used by the people needing them the most. This list of acceptable texting behaviours is primarily a reference tool for those already acquainted with proper etiquette. For all the other people in your life that need to learn, just pass them a link to this page. Never text and drive Never text while angry, upset or distraught Don't substitute texting for real relationships. No one can maintain an entire relationship in 140 characters or less. "Don't rely on text messaging. It's a great medium for communicating to others, but it's not enough to sustain a relationship." (¹) Keep messages simple. No one wants to read endless paragraphs or numerous pages of texts Respond to text messages as soon as you have a chance either by text, phone call or email. Remember that common courtesy still rules. Sending texts while you're face to face with someone else, is rude. If sending a text to someone who doesn't have your number, identify yourself first in the message: "Hi, this is Nancy (from work) ... followed by the message ..." It's difficult to discern tone in text messages. "What seems to you to be a completely innocuous message may be grossly misinterpreted by the recipient, causing certain discomfort or irreparable harm." (²) Don't replace all communication with texts. Texting does not communicate subtle nuances that can be conveyed in person or in phone conversations. Text are informal communications and should not be used for formal invitations. You should not break up with your partner, send important information or bad news through texts. Never send confidential, embarrassing or private information for several reasons. 1. Someone may be looking over the recipients shoulder 2. It may get sent to the wrong person 3. It may get accidentally forwarded 4. Even if deleted, your messages can come back to haunt you (³) (³ª) Don't send time sensitive messages. It may not arrive soon after you hit 'send'. Sometimes the texts never arrive at all. Time sensitive matters should be handled with a phone call. Do not send texts during class, while on a date, in church, during meetings, in court, at the movies etc. It's rude, annoying and may disturb others. Be mindful of time differences. No one wants to wake up in the middle of the night or be disturbed at work because their phone won't stop beeping. Spell correctly. There are text/SMS cheats (shortcuts and abbreviations) but overdoing it becomes annoying and can create confusion and misunderstandings. Do not use cheats at all or keep them to a minimum. Double check the number before you send. It's easy to dial the wrong number or select the wrong address book contact. Respond to messages received by mistake. Simply state that you are not the intended recipient without addressing anything else in the message. Tweet

Definition of Etiquette et·i·quette [et-i-kit, -ket] noun 1. conventional requirements as to social behavior; proprieties of conduct as established in any class or community or for any occasion. 2. a prescribed or accepted code of usage in matters of ceremony, as at a court or in official or other formal observances. 3. the code of ethical behavior regarding professional practice or action among the members of a profession in their dealings with each other: medical etiquette.   Deleted Messages (³ª) "even if your deleted text messages are off your carrier's server, they may not be gone forever. When you press the delete button on your phone, the data that make up your message don't disappear in an instant. Instead, the code is marked with a sort of tombstone that indicates which data can be overwritten. But until enough new information is added to fill that memory, your old text message will remain on your device. If you used a SIM card to store your text messages before you erased them, then there might be space for the remains of 30 or so deleted messages; if the messages are downloaded directly to your phone, several hundred deleted messages could stick around on your device. Eventually, of course, the deleted messages will disappear as memory is filled with new messages, photos, or videos."

Source & Reference (¹) (²). www.textetiquette.com (³) (³ª) http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2008/05/do_text_messages_live_forever.html