Why I Prefer Texting Over Calling

A new study shows around 73% of adults prefer to use their phones for texting rather than calling.

I happen to one of those adults, for several reasons.

Source: Wikipedia

1. Written conversations are clearer than verbal conversations.
If you need to give me instructions, such as what you want from the local fast-food joint, please text it. I don't have to worry about forgetting that you don't like pickles, or grilled onions, or that I needed to pick up the milk before I got home. Furthermore, people tend to think about bit more about what they want to say when they have to write it down, so any communication that is being attempted is more likely to be successful.

The exception: Tone of voice, and other forms of nonverbal communication. Unfortunately, text messaging isn't the best medium for joking around. Non-verbal communication that signals sarcasm will come off as completely serious in a texting format. If the conversation is getting that involved, wait until you can at least call the other person.

2. Texting gives both parties the freedom to multitask.
This is really important in today's "fly by the seat of your pants" job market. Sometimes the difference between having a job and not having a job is as thin as how much time you spend on the phone. Texting gives the sender and receiver the freedom to continue working on a project while waiting for the message to arrive. I've known very few people who can talk on the phone and type at the same time (I'm not one of them!), so a phone conversation would require too much attention from the task at hand. If the situation requires an immediate answer before progress can continue, a phone call may be warranted. By reserving phone calls for such a situation, it also helps the person being called determine if the call is important enough to answer. My fiance and I will often answer the phone because we know the person who is calling only calls if it's important or immediate, instead of letting the call go to voicemail. Speaking of which. . .

3. There is no calling or password necessary to access a text message.
I can read a text, type a response, and send a text in less than 5 seconds in some cases. Checking my voicemail requires dialing voicemail, waiting for the connection, waiting for the voice to come on the line, entering my password, waiting for "You have 1 new message. First new message: ," delete message. . . okay I think you get my point. The other problem with voicemails; they are almost always from people you have no interest in talking to, like a doctor, a lawyer, or your boss. If you don't want people to assume you're someone they would rather avoid, send a text or continue calling until they answer the phone.

On redialing:
You've called me, I haven't answered, but you don't want to leave a voicemail. What do you do? Depends. In my family, the saying goes, "If it's important, they'll call back." We know that if something serious is going down, the family member will call, hang up at the voicemail, and then almost immediately call back. It's the familial equivalent of a fire alarm or rallying the troops. If it's somewhat less important than that but still requiring a phone call, text a request for a callback. This allows me to finish whatever I may be doing and get to a place where I can dedicate the time and attention to your phone call.

4. Texting prevents the awkward social situations where you've said "Hi" to someone you didn't realize was on the phone.
And who of us a) hasn't done it and b) felt uncomfortable as hell afterwards? Okay, so maybe I am the only one that does it, but it's gotta be awkward even for the person on the phone. Plus, it's not a very private way to talk to someone; everyone around you can hear half the conversation. Imagine:

Woman on phone: Did you hear about the results?
(3 seconds)
Woman on phone: I know. She'll have to call everyone!
(4 seconds)
Woman on phone: It'll be contagious. They'll all get it!
(1 seconds)
Woman on phone: Okay, great. Tell her I said congratulations!

Okay. Was the woman talking about a girl who tested positive for an STI but was cured, a girl who is announcing a pregnancy, or a girl who just got accepted to college? It's not what you know, but what you don't know that can get you into trouble.

5. Texting saves your cell phone's battery.
Texting doesn't require as much as juice as talking. You'll get more time between charges if you text, saving you from having to scrounge for the nearest wall outlet you can swipe electricity from.

Ultimately, most of these are about respecting what the other person has going on in their lives. If you show them respect by not wasting their time with unnecessary phone calls, you can ensure both that they can get the important things done that they need to do, while still reserving the ability to get in contact with the person in an emergency. This is not meant to be a complete list; feel free to comment on why you prefer to call or text.