Allison VanNest ·· 1 month ago for Grammarly.com

Cell phones hit the free market 30 years ago, but Americans still haven’t internalized a complete set of social rules for cell phone usage. If you’re not sure what’s acceptable in the world of cell phone etiquette, check out these five tips in honor of Cell Phone Courtesy Month in July.

Keep Private Conversations Private

When you’re engrossed in a phone conversation, it’s easy to fool yourself into believing that no one can hear you except the person on the other end of the line.

In truth, anyone within 10 feet can hear your half of the conversation, and whether they mean to or not, they’re bound to follow along. It doesn’t matter if you’re wandering the aisles of the grocery store or huddled inside your work cubicle; others’ ears perk up at the hint of a private exchange. If you don’t want the other patrons of Starbucks to hear about your recent dermatological exam, don’t call your mom with the details as you’re waiting for your morning latte.

Avoid Toilet Talk

Data suggests that up to 87 percent of all people have texted or chatted on the phone while sitting on the toilet. While it may be acceptable to do this in the privacy of home, it’s just plain rude to talk on the phone in a public bathroom. People visiting the lavatory expect privacy. Wielding your cell phone while others answer nature’s call is like filming an impromptu movie in a public locker room. You wouldn’t bring a live mic into a bathroom stall. Don’t bring your cell phone, either.

Exercise Caution With Text-Speak

Texting is still a seedling technology, and society hasn’t adopted a definitive consensus as to what’s acceptable yet. However, if you suspect a person might feel annoyed or inconvenienced by your texting language, you might want to mind your p’s and q’s.

If you need to text a boss, coworker, or professional acquaintance, don’t use the same language and abbreviations you would use when texting a friend. Though “text speak” (K, LOL, etc.) is quick and easy, you sacrifice professionalism and credibility when you use it for work purposes.

Though it is occasionally acceptable to throw an “OMW” or “SMH” into your daily texts, you should practice using correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar when texting. After all, you don’t want to confuse Grandma with your trendy text speak or offend anyone when you say “LMFAO.”

Don’t Dial and Drive

In certain areas of the country, driving with a cell phone in hand is illegal. Even if you live in a state where the cops can’t arrest you for it, dialing and driving is considered rude by plenty of people.

Why do some people frown upon dialing and driving? Perhaps it’s due to the fact that distracted driving claims the lives of at least nine people per day in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control. To these folks, talking on the phone while driving is akin to saying, “My phone call is more important than your life.”

Indeed, that’s rather rude.

Don’t Text and Drive

While driving and dialing might fall into a gray area of acceptability, driving and texting is never okay. It doesn’t matter how careful and coordinated you are; texting removes your hands from the wheel, your eyes from the road, and your mind from what you’re doing.

In fact, “driving while intexticated” has grown into a national epidemic. Some claim that it’s a cinch for them to text and drive. However, these people may not realize that texting causes over 1 million crashes per year – and the trend isn’t improving.

In the majority of social situations, norms guide behavior. However, with cell phone usage, norms are still evolving. Are you guilty of breaking any of these rules of cell phone etiquette?

See the original post here  http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/5-cell-phone-etiquette-tips/

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