How many times has this happened to you?
> Hey
(insert pause here)
Starting a message with a single word “hey”, “hi”, “hello” is frustrating, as the introduction is simply a ping that there will be more content coming. Instead of pinging and leaving the reader hanging, why not write the thing you wanted to say instead?
This also applies to writing multiple short sentences:
> hey I thought you should know
> i went to the supermarket
> they were out of potatoes
> i got chocolate instead
In this case, the reader may think that enough information has been transmitted at the end of each line, and may already be building a mental response, which changes the conversation significantly based on subsequent line.
It also sends a notification (icon bounce, notification message, audible ping) for each line, which is pretty annoying.
So next time you feel the urge to type like you’ve got Shatner Pause, don’t.