For instance, let’s say they ask you, “What did you do last weekend?” Don’t type out a whole paragraph describing every detail. Instead, write something like, “I spent Saturday at the beach, then got margaritas with my friend. Sunday I took my dog to the park. How about you?”

For instance, say something like, “Today was super busy, but I feel like I accomplished a lot” rather than “Today was so draining. " Similarly, avoid saying things like, “I feel like I have no one to talk to,” “I’m worried that I’m never going to find the one,” or “Right now I’m working in marketing, but I hate it. "

They might ask, “What music have you been listening to lately?” Say something like, “I’m really into new music, so I mostly listen to Pandora to sample recent releases. What about you?” Let’s say you asked them, “What was your favorite part about today?” They might reply, “I really enjoyed lunch because I met my friend at a local cafe. ” Don’t immediately ask another question. You might say, “That sounds like a great time. My best moment was closing a sale with a new client. ”

For instance, instead of saying, “I like comedies,” you might say, “I like comedies that have dark humor, like Burn After Reading or Horrible Bosses. What about you?” Similarly, don’t just say, “I have a cat. " Say, “I have a cat named Cacticus Finch. I got him when I was in college and wanted to impress the other English majors. "

You might say, “What did the fish say when it swam into a wall? It said, ‘Dam!’” You could tell a brief story like, “Last week I went to do karaoke with my friend but they mixed up the songs. I was trying to sing “Rainbow” but they played the Beastie Boys. I’m pretty sure my friend is ghosting me now, lol. ”

Say, “What was the last trail you hiked?” “I see you go to a lot of concerts. Who have you seen recently?” or “I also like Harry Potter. Which book is your favorite?” You might also say, “I work in the medical field, too. What got you interested in it?”

For instance, they might have said, “Today has been hectic because I had to take my cat for an emergency vet visit. ” You might send a message saying, “How’s your cat recovering after the vet visit yesterday?” Similarly, let’s say your match talked about a big presentation at work. You might say, “Wasn’t your presentation today? How did it go?”

For instance, “Have you seen any movies lately?” is a yes-or-no question. On the other hand, “What are the last 3 movies you saw?” is open-ended. If they said, “I just saw the latest superhero movie,” you could follow up with, “Do you consider yourself a Marvel or DC person and why?”

Ask something like, “What would you title a movie about your life?” “Which movie would you choose if you had to watch the same movie every day for a week?” “What 5 books would you take with you to a deserted island?” or “What would you do on a dream vacation?”

You might say, “I’m looking for a long-term relationship, but I want to take things slow. How about you?” or “Right now I’m exploring my options. I’m hoping we can have some fun and see if this goes anywhere. ”

For instance, don’t say things like, “It sounds like you’d be fun in the bedroom,” or “I hope I get to see what’s under that outfit. ” Additionally, avoid comments like, “You look so sexy in that picture where you’re dressed up. ”

Try not to get too much into your backstory, the problems in your life, or your hopes for the future. This is information that you’ll share later as you’re getting to know each other in your first few dates.

For instance, “Your smile is so pretty” might creep out some people. However, you could say, “Your job sounds really interesting!”

For example, you might want to include a heart-eyes emoji to indicate that your match said something you like. However, they might interpret that as you trying to be suggestive. Similarly, they might think that you use emojis because you don’t have much to say.

Say, “Would you be interested in continuing this conversation over text? My phone number is 555-5555. What’s yours?”

Say, “I’m really enjoying this conversation. Can we continue it over drinks one night this week?” You might also say, “We really seem to click. Would you be interested in meeting me this Friday at the gelato shop on Acorn Street?”

If you stop chatting with them, they might think that you’ve lost interest. Similarly, they might worry that you’re ghosting them.