no ugh

please don't just say ugh in chat

Imagine calling someone on the phone, going ugh! then putting them on hold... 🤦

Don't do this

Alex 2:15 PM

ugh

Taylor 2:19 PM

Alex 2:20 PM

this code isn't working and I'm stuck

Taylor 2:20 PM

What code? Can you share it?

Note that Taylor could have started helping Alex minutes sooner, and wouldn't have been left wondering what was wrong. In fact, Taylor could have started thinking about the problem right away!

People who do this are generally trying to express frustration without providing context - like one would in person or on the phone. But it's 2025 and chat is neither of those things. For most people, typing is much slower than talking. So despite best intentions, you're actually just making the other person wait for you to phrase your actual problem, which is lost productivity (and kinda annoying).

The same goes for:

"Ugh, are you around?"
"Ugh this is so frustrating"
"Ugh I can't believe this"
"Ugh..."
"Ugh this thing again"

What to do instead

Alex 2:15 PM

Hi Taylor, I'm so frustrated right now. Sarah from marketing just sent another passive-aggressive email about the project timeline, and she CC'd literally everyone including the CEO. She's acting like the delays are all on our team when she's the one who keeps changing requirements every other day. Then she had the audacity to suggest we "improve our communication" in the meeting. I can't believe she's trying to throw us under the bus like this. What do you think I should do?

Taylor 2:47 PM

That sounds frustrating. Maybe just focus on documenting the requirement changes and keep doing good work.

While Alex provided full context instead of just saying "ugh", this shows another communication pitfall: dumping workplace drama on colleagues who aren't involved.

Notice how Taylor took 32 minutes to respond with a brief, polite but disengaged reply. Even with context, venting about office politics to uninvolved teammates can make people uncomfortable and less likely to engage meaningfully.