“I spoke to Mary” Am I not supposed to say “spoke” if it’s communication via text message or email?

[Anonymous]

I've learned to say: I texted with Mary. Or emailed with Mary., to avoid confusion. Actually speaking to someone can make a difference in terms of depth of understanding of a situation or issue. It also implies an actual conversation. Too many times things are misconstrued or not that clear via text and to a lesser degree with email.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've learned to say: I texted with Mary. Or emailed with Mary., to avoid confusion. Actually speaking to someone can make a difference in terms of depth of understanding of a situation or issue. It also implies an actual conversation. Too many times things are misconstrued or not that clear via text and to a lesser degree with email.

Would you then say something like “she said” or does that imply a spoken conversation? Or would you always say “she typed” or “she also texted,” etc?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t say spoke for email, texts or chats. I would say communicated or checked or similar.

[Anonymous]

Just say, "we emailed: or "we texted,"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t say spoke for email, texts or chats. I would say communicated or checked or similar.

That’s a bulky conversation.

You speaking with a neighbor in person about Betty and her ailing husband.

Yeah, so Betty texted that Phil is going to be in the hospital for a while. She communicated that he’s going to be okay but it’s going to be a long road. I asked if she needed anything and she responded with milk and bread. She also communicated that her brother in law will be visiting and parking in her driveway.
***
That would take too much thought. I’m going with “said” and not worrying about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've learned to say: I texted with Mary. Or emailed with Mary., to avoid confusion. Actually speaking to someone can make a difference in terms of depth of understanding of a situation or issue. It also implies an actual conversation. Too many times things are misconstrued or not that clear via text and to a lesser degree with email.

Would you then say something like “she said” or does that imply a spoken conversation? Or would you always say “she typed” or “she also texted,” etc?

Good question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've learned to say: I texted with Mary. Or emailed with Mary., to avoid confusion. Actually speaking to someone can make a difference in terms of depth of understanding of a situation or issue. It also implies an actual conversation. Too many times things are misconstrued or not that clear via text and to a lesser degree with email.

Would you then say something like “she said” or does that imply a spoken conversation? Or would you always say “she typed” or “she also texted,” etc?

I'm the PP. I generally say: I texted with Mary and she said X. I simply establish up front that I didn't actually speak to her on the phone or in person or on Teams video or wherever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t say spoke for email, texts or chats. I would say communicated or checked or similar.

That’s a bulky conversation.

You speaking with a neighbor in person about Betty and her ailing husband.

Yeah, so Betty texted that Phil is going to be in the hospital for a while. She communicated that he’s going to be okay but it’s going to be a long road. I asked if she needed anything and she responded with milk and bread. She also communicated that her brother in law will be visiting and parking in her driveway.
***
That would take too much thought. I’m going with “said” and not worrying about it.

If it's a personal communication, I doubt it matters. I think here we are talking about (or at least I am) work communications. Actually speaking to the person frequently provides more context and greater understanding of a matter than texting. And that additionally understanding can make a difference in work related matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't use spoke unless it was verbal.

How about sign language?

🖕

[Anonymous]

Why can’t you just say “I emailed Mary”. Or “ Mary responded via email that…”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've learned to say: I texted with Mary. Or emailed with Mary., to avoid confusion. Actually speaking to someone can make a difference in terms of depth of understanding of a situation or issue. It also implies an actual conversation. Too many times things are misconstrued or not that clear via text and to a lesser degree with email.

Would you then say something like “she said” or does that imply a spoken conversation? Or would you always say “she typed” or “she also texted,” etc?

I agree with the first quoted person above. To answer your question if you established that it was an email communication and you said “she said” it is established that it was via email. So in that case context matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't use spoke unless it was verbal.

How about sign language?

🖕

I hear you.

[Anonymous]

Super literal people are exhausting. We get it.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you contacted me / texted me / chatted on this but not “spoken”.

[Anonymous]

Just say you responded or she responded. How difficult is this?