Who would have thought punctuation could cause offence but there is a real generational divide over the ellipsis? Those three little dots have become a surprising battleground between Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Gen Z.

For those over 45, the ellipsis usually signals a pause, a moment to reflect or invite further conversation. It mirrors their conversational style, where pauses are natural and thought-out. But for Gen Z, who have grown up with the immediacy of texts and social media, the ellipsis can feel passive-aggressive, awkward, or even confusing. This generation favours brevity and clarity, where each message is direct and to the point, leaving no room for ambiguity. 

Much as the ellipsis can be misinterpreted by the younger generation, their brief and to the point messages are often misinterpreted by older generations. This clash is not just about punctuation, it’s about understanding different communication styles. If we want to connect effectively with those around us, we need to be aware of these generational preferences. 

Organisations need to appreciate communication preferences because miscommunication can create friction in the workplace, leading to lower productivity and higher attrition rates. The good news is that it appears many organisations are aware of these differences judging by the results of our survey last year, which revealed over 50% of HR professionals thought their organisation would benefit from implementing strategies to foster intergenerational collaboration and teamwork. 

They just need to take action.

So, whether it’s an ellipsis or an emoji, small nuances can create big misunderstandings. By taking the time to understand how different generations communicate, we can foster clearer, more empathetic conversations and that will benefit an organisations bottom line.