Electronics are replacing everything. Machines now check out customers at Walmart, letters are becoming an archaic form of communication and texting is replacing face-to-face conversation.

Since we as a society have some generally accepted rules of etiquette regarding face-to-face conversation, I think it’s high time we lay down some rules for texting.

Number one: Don’t text and drive.

This rule goes without saying, studies have shown that those who text while driving are up to 30 percent more likely to end up in an accident.

According to the University of North Texas’s Health Science Center, texting is responsible for 16,000-plus deaths over the last five years. You can wait to tell your friends the score of the Cowboys game after you get where you’re going.

Number two: Just because they haven’t texted you back after three minutes, don’t think they want another text.

This is the No. 1 pet peeve of 75 percent of ACU students, according to a nonscientific survey conducted by me consisting of my roommates and a few friends.

There exists a few possible explanations if a person doesn’t immediately reply. First, they didn’t get the text because they were sleeping or otherwise occupied. The solution to this problem is not to text them two minutes later asking if they got your previous text. The correct answer is to be patient; they will get around to it. The other possibility is that they don’t want to text you back right then. If you think this might be the case, continuing to text them will only increase their frustration level. Lastly, they were trying to text you back while driving and are unavailable at the moment because they are unconscious in the hospital.

Number three: Use your words please.

Don’t think that because you put the letter “u” in place of the actual word it buys you points. I can’t tell you how many times handwritten papers have included  “r” in place of “are” and “u” in place of “you”. God gave us complete words; it would be an insult to besmirch his gift out of laziness.

Number four: If you receive a phone call from me, don’t text me back.

It is a generally safe assumption that if I took the time to call you instead of text you,  I actually want a call back; not a text saying, “What’s up?” Just because you don’t feel comfortable talking to me over the phone doesn’t mean you don’t need to learn how.

Number five: Please stop over using emoticons :P, okay?

There is really no need to use them after every statement. Your text should be able to communicate whether you’re smiling or sticking your tongue out after you said what you said. If it does not, then try rephrasing your sentence.

If we can all learn to abide by these general texting rules, we can all live in a happier place with less of this “;)” and more actual words.