How to respond when a girl apologizes for a delayed reply

It can be really annoying when a fun conversation suddenly comes to an abrupt end with no clear reason, only for the other person to later apologize with a vague excuse. If this becomes a recurring issue, it should be addressed. However, some people simply forget, and many amazing girls out there aren’t constantly glued to their phones. So, it’s best not to jump to conclusions and assume the worst. If you’re looking for advice on how to respond to the dreaded ‘Sorry for the late reply!’ message, we’ve got you covered.

Usually, it just means she forgot or something came up unexpectedly. Unless you two are in a back-and-forth conversation, it’s best to assume she simply put her phone down and forgot about it, or something urgent happened. If it doesn’t happen often, try not to overthink it. You don’t know what’s going on in her life. Maybe she had to answer a call from her mom or went to check the doorbell and forgot to get back to her phone. She could also be texting while stuck on homework. Think the best of her unless you have a reason to think otherwise.

If this happens frequently, it might mean she’s not that interested. If this situation happens often, it’s a sign that she doesn’t prioritize you. While it’s still possible that she simply isn’t holding her phone, you should trust your instincts at this point. If she’s not eager to text you, if you’re always the one initiating conversations, and her apologies seem insincere, it might be time to stop reaching out.

Though rare, there are situations where the opposite occurs. If she seems anxious when replying to you, it could be that she overthinks every message she sends.

It’s understandable to be frustrated, but it’s best to let it go. If this isn’t a frequent issue, don’t make a big deal out of it. Sometimes people forget to reply or get distracted by something else, and that’s just normal. If it happens often, you have every right to feel bothered, and you can address it if you want, but if everything else is fine, don’t overthink it.

• Maybe you’re overthinking it. If she apologizes and says she just put her phone down and forgot or something similar, she’s probably telling the truth.
• In recent years, more and more people are taking their time to respond to messages.

If this isn’t a frequent occurrence, accept her apology and move on. Yes, slow replies can be rude, but it’s not the end of the world. If she realizes her mistake and this doesn’t happen often, just let it go. You could reply with:

• “It’s not the end of the world.” This response is lighthearted but still acknowledges that she made a mistake. It also encourages her to keep talking.
• “It’s fine. What’s up?” This response is a good way to let it slide and keep the conversation going.
• “Alright.” This is a suitable response if you want to gently let her know you’re slightly bothered.
• “No worries.” This response shows you’re calm! It suggests you didn’t dwell on it – meaning you really didn’t mind.

If she does this frequently, you should let her know that you feel hurt. If she often forgets to reply, cancels plans to talk, or takes several days to respond, she might just be a bit thoughtless. If you care about this relationship, it’s important to tell her how this makes you feel. Maybe she doesn’t do it on purpose and will try to change. You could say:

• “I feel really hurt when you do this. Sometimes it feels like I’m being ignored.”
• “Do you not want to talk to me, or is something else going on? Why do you keep forgetting to reply?”
• “I don’t like it when you never reply to me.”
• “Can you try not to forget to reply? I know it happens sometimes, but lately, it’s becoming strange.”

You can retaliate if she’s playing the ‘cat and mouse’ game. If you feel like she’s doing this intentionally, you can play the same game. Although it may seem childish, giving her a taste of her own medicine could help you address the issue. The next time she does this, wait a few hours or days before replying. You can say:

• “Oh, sorry, I’ve been really busy, haha.”
• “Sorry for replying late, I tend to forget!”
• “Everything’s fine, I had some things to do.”
• “It’s nothing important,” or “It’s okay.” This is a passive-aggressive response because you don’t even apologize. Be ready for a possibly confrontational reply if you use this approach.

It might mean she’s not interested in talking. As harsh as it sounds, it might be better to accept this rather than chase a relationship that’s unlikely to work out. If this girl forgets to respond often enough to bother you, she may not be worth pursuing. There are plenty of opportunities out there for you!

She might be hesitant to open up. Pay attention to when she tends to ‘forget’ to text. If it always happens when you ask personal or intimate questions, she might not be ready for something serious. You could avoid deep topics and keep things lighthearted; maybe eventually, she’ll open up to you!

In most cases, no, it’s probably not a good idea. Unless she’s deliberately ignoring you (and if that’s the case, you wouldn’t want to message her anyway), she will eventually reply, so try to be patient. Sending multiple messages in a row might overwhelm her. Also, if you’re feeling frustrated by her behavior, it may be harder to resist sending negative messages.

• If you must send a message, only send one more (and just one). Keep it friendly and unrelated to the previous conversation. Something like “Oh my gosh, I just heard the weirdest song ever,” or “I just saw the strangest thing in my backyard…”