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How emoji use at work can determine how competent your colleagues think you are

Phys · · 827 words · By Erin Leigh Courtice
Workplace Communication Norms

A study published in Collabra: Psychology found that the use of emojis in workplace instant messages can affect how competent and appropriate a message is perceived. The research indicated that messages with no emoji generally received the highest ratings, and when emojis were used, they needed to match the message's emotional tone to avoid appearing passive-aggressive or insincere.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-04-emoji-colleagues.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning
Loaded Language 60% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

14 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 6
schedule Pending 4
info Single Source 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
info
“Instant messaging now dominates workplace communication, with 91% of businesses using two or more chat platforms.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results discuss the general use and benefits of instant messaging in the workplace, but none of the provided sources confirm the specific statistic that '91% of businesses use two or more chat platforms.'
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Social media are new media technologies that facilitate the creation, sharing and aggregation of content (such as ideas, interests, and other forms of expression) amongst virtual communities and netwo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Aberdeen is an international marketing intelligence company. Aberdeen's headquarters is based in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States, with an additional US office location in Wilton, CT, as well as …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen_Strategy_and_Research
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Microsoft Bing (also known simply as Bing) is a search engine owned and operated by Microsoft, and developed by Microsoft AI. The service traces its roots back to Microsoft's earlier search engines, i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bing
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“My recent study, conducted with colleagues at the University of Ottawa and published in Collabra: Psychology, reveals that emoji choice matters.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results cite a study from the University of Ottawa published in Collabra: Psychology regarding how emoji choice impacts perceptions of competence and appropriateness in workplace communication.
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web search NEUTRAL — In a study appearing in Collabra: Psychology, researchers from the University of Ottawa have examined how emojis impact perceptions of competence and appropriateness for those who utilize them in prof…
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-emojis-workplace-communication…
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web search NEUTRAL — Researchers from the University of Ottawa examined how emojis impact perceptions of competence and appropriateness for those who utilize them in professional settings. For this small-scale study, part…
https://www.uottawa.ca/about-us/news-all/should-emojis-be-us…
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web search NEUTRAL — The study also says women taking part in the study “perceived negative emojis sent by women senders more negatively than those sent by men.” Lead author Erin L. Courtice says the study shows you shoul…
https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/should-you-add-an-angr…
info
“We asked 243 research participants to read short workplace instant messages from a hypothetical co-worker.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence confirms that research studies exist regarding workplace instant messaging, but none of the provided sources confirm the specific methodology detail that '243 research participants were asked to read short workplace instant messages from a hypothetical co-worker.' The number 243 appears in unrelated Wikipedia entries.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The .243 Winchester (6×52mm) is a popular sporting rifle cartridge. Developed as a versatile short action cartridge to hunt both medium game and small game alike, it "took whitetail hunting by storm" …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.243_Winchester
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Year 243 (CCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known in Rome as the Year of the Consulship of Arrianus and Papus (or, less frequently, year 996 Ab …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/243
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Flight 243 may refer to: Listed chronologically Aloha Airlines Flight 243, suffered an explosive decompression on 28 April 1988 Windjet Flight 243, landed short of runway on 24 September 2010 RusAir …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_243
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“The messages varied on three dimensions: the emotional tone (positive, negative or neutral), the emoji attached (a grinning face 😀, an angry face 😠 or none) and whether the sender was described as a woman or a man.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results describe the study's variables, confirming that the messages varied based on emotional tone (positive, negative, or neutral), attached emoji (😀, 😠, or none), and sender gender (woman or man).
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web search NEUTRAL — The messages varied on three dimensions: the emotional tone (positive, negative or neutral), the emoji attached (a grinning face 😀, an angry face 😠 or none) and whether the sender was described as a w…
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-emoji-colleagues.html
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web search NEUTRAL — As instant messaging in the workplace continues to grow in popularity, make sure you’re aware of the rules for professional IM interaction. By following these IM dos and don’ts, you’ll be a real IM pr…
https://www.emazzanti.net/7-instant-messaging-rules-for-the-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Current perceptions of Instant Messaging (IM) use are based primarily on self-report studies.This study mainly employed naturally-occurring data by collecting the authentic discourse of instant messag…
https://www.academia.edu/8190919/Humor_small_talk_and_the_co…
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“Overall, messages with no emoji received the highest ratings for competence and appropriateness.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results state that messages with no emoji received the highest ratings for competence and appropriateness.
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web search NEUTRAL — Overalls were originally made of denim, but they can also be made of other materials such as corduroy, chino cloth, or leather. Overalls were invented in the mid to late 1890s by Grace Howard and Jaco…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overalls
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web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of OVERALL is all over. How to use overall in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overall
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web search NEUTRAL — OVERALL definition: 1. in general rather than in particular, or including all the people or things in a particular…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/overall
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“When the sender added a 😀 to either message, the ratings held steady.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results indicate that adding a grinning face emoji (😀) did not significantly change the competence or appropriateness ratings, suggesting the ratings held steady.
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web search NEUTRAL — Add a grinning face emoji to a negative message, and you may come across as passive-aggressive or insincere. (Unsplash/Arlington Research). No emoji is often the safest bet. Overall, messages with no …
https://theconversation.com/how-emoji-use-at-work-can-determ…
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web search NEUTRAL — The 😀 (smiley face) emoji seems pretty straightforward—just look at the grin on that little face! But what about 😆? Or 😊? And what the heck is the 🙃 (upside down face) emoji trying to say? If you’re c…
https://www.wikihow.com/Smiley-Face-Emoji-Meaning
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web search NEUTRAL — 😀 Grinning Face Emoji Emoji Meaning A yellow face with simple, open...
https://emojipedia.org/grinning-face
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“On the other hand, when the sender added a 😠, competence and appropriateness ratings dropped.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that adding an angry face emoji (😠) caused competence and appropriateness ratings to drop.
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web search NEUTRAL — Add a grinning face emoji to a negative message, and you may come across as passive-aggressive or insincere. (Unsplash/Arlington Research). No emoji is often the safest bet.On the other hand, when the…
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/emoji-determine-competent-colleagu…
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web search NEUTRAL — Angry face emojis consistently lowered how competent and professional a sender appeared, regardless of what the message actually said. Positive emojis helped perceptions when paired with positive or n…
https://studyfinds.com/work-emojis-harm-reputation/
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web search NEUTRAL — Adding an angry face or a similar negative emoji to a workplace email or text message are “considered inappropriate” for professional communications, as they make the sender “seem less competent,” acc…
https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/should-you-add-an-angr…
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“This finding was remarkably consistent: across positive, neutral and negative sentence content, the no-emoji version was either the top-rated option or statistically tied for first place.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that the no-emoji version was consistently rated as the top option or tied for first place across positive, neutral, and negative sentence content.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — This finding was remarkably consistent: across positive, neutral and negative sentence content, the no-emoji version was either the top-rated option or statistically tied for first place. Match emoji …
https://theconversation.com/how-emoji-use-at-work-can-determ…
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web search NEUTRAL — No-emoji version: This version contained the same subject lines as the emoji version, but the emojis were removed.The no-emoji version of the big-box inbox. Procedure. Participants were shown 2 inboxe…
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/emojis-email/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — cocoktanamabg.baby is an online platform created to link you to the realm of viral content. From funny videos to current news, to popular lifestyle advice, you'll discover everything here. Featuring a…
https://cocoktanamabg.baby/top-10-tutorial-wiwik-lc-karaoke-…
help
“A grinning face 😀 attached to 'Someone broke the printer again' came across as less competent and less appropriate than either a negative emoji or no emoji at all.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or cross-references to evaluate this specific claim regarding the combination of a grinning face emoji (😀) with the phrase 'Someone broke the printer again' and comparing it to other emoji/no emoji options.
help
“Notably, an angry face 😠 paired with a negative message fared better than one tacked onto a positive or neutral one.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or cross-references to evaluate this specific claim regarding the comparison of an angry face emoji (😠) paired with negative vs. positive/neutral messages.
schedule
“However, sending that same negative message with no emoji still outperformed the congruent but angry version.”
PENDING
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“For negative messages, emojis that fit the emotional tone of the text don't really help. Those that clash actively hurt.”
PENDING
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“For competence, they [gender] didn't [change the ratings]—which is notable given evidence that women are judged more harshly for expressing negative emotion in face-to-face workplace settings.”
PENDING
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“For appropriateness, we found a small but significant effect: women rated negative emojis from women senders as less appropriate than men did.”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.