Regardless of where you fall along the emoji spectrum (avoid at all costs vs each text is 98% emojis and 2% words), it’s rather difficult to avoid these little icons in modern life.
So, why not debate the finer points of our favourites? For this version of Top Five/Bottom Five, I’m going to go with my most-used emojis, not necessarily the ones I think are the cutest. But you do you! If you aspire toward using more cat emojis, more power to you.
TOP FIVE
I have to admit I don’t necessarily love receiving emojis, but I like using them. Is that weird? I find it so natural to incorporate certain emojis into regular texts.
As always, these are in no particular order.
- Red heart. I use this a lot in texts, but if I want to show emotion regarding a text I’ve received without responding with words, I will almost always “apply” a heart, or text a full-sized heart with no accompanying words.
- Thumbs up. It can be very difficult to close a text loop. How do I confirm I’ve received a text without continuing the narrative? I give it a thumbs up!
- Laugh-crying (sideways version). I use this all. the. time. It can be difficult to express tone in text exchanges, so I use laugh-crying to represent my mood/reaction.
- Face palm. I use this a lot with my sister (who has four kids)! We trade parenting notes back and forth and will often combine the laugh-crying emoji alongside a face palm.
- Grimace. I use this face quasi-regularly to express shock or concern.
Bonus. The shrug. I’ll often include a birthday cake emoji along with Happy Birthday wishes. The bandaged heart occasionally really suits the moment.
BOTTOM FIVE
- Poop. I know it has a cult following, but in general I don’t feel the need to text someone a visual representation of excrement.
- Thank you/praying hands. Not a big fan, but it seems to be very popular!
- The “scream”. Looks creepy to me.
- Vomit face. Ditto poop. If someone is vomiting in my household, I don’t need to memorialize that with an illustrated re-enactment.
- Flowers. I know some people who regularly use flower emojis. I’m not sure why I avoid them, they just feel superfluous to me?
Bonus: Food. I’m not a big fan of sending food emojis. I don’t actively dislike them, I just never feel drawn to using them. Ditto most holiday-themed emojis.
Your turn. How do you feel about the use of emojis? What are you top five/bottom five?
Header photo by Farhat Altaf on Unsplash
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mbmom11
Some of my Skype chats are 100% emotions, so I’m pro -emoji. My sister and I joke about how we’re going back to hieroglyphics.
However , mostly one or two at a time.
I like hearts ( color dependent on whom I’m texting), cats, eye-rolling, upside-down, stars.
No gross ones , ugly ones, or hard to read ones.
Elisabeth
Wow! 100% emoji conversations. You’re an emoji wizard.
I basically only use red hearts. I don’t know if I’ve ever used an eye roll?
Michelle G.
I love emojis! ❤️ 🤣 😊 😂 👌 are my most used. The check mark ☑️ is what my husband and I use for “checking in”.
My least favorites are 🤮 💩 😱 🤡 👺There are so many emojis that I don’t understand and can’t even tell what they are. Have you ever accidentally sent the wrong emoji to someone?
Elisabeth
I am quite certain I’ve never used a check mark! I think I’d use thumbs up for that?
We have some overlap in our least favourite emojis – and your creepy clown and mask ones…I’ve NEVER seen!
Yes, I have definitely send the wrong emoji before 🙁
Nicole MacPherson
I HATE THE POOP EMOJI. Why does it even exist? I hate it hate it hate it. Sometimes I’ll see a poop emoji stuffy or balloon or something and I will want to burn the whole world down.
Heart emoji is always my number one, and the other ones that I use a lot are birthday cake, glass of wine, music notes, smiling/ laughing/ crying emoji.
Elisabeth
I can’t say I want to burn the whole world down, but it is everywhere. Last year the poop emoji was a popular Halloween costume. What’s more fun than walking around looking like a turd.
I think heart and sideways laughing are probably tied for me? I do a lot of laughing while texting with certain people.
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Wait, the praying hands mean thank you?? I just thought it meant “I hope so!!” Or “God willing.”
I am not a big emoji person, as you may know, or have guessed from my comment above. I don’t like that people can interpret them differently. I don’t speak emoji, so I can only guess what you are trying to say! It’s bad communication in some cases. I do think a thumbs up is good. I don’t need to to like/heart every photo I send.
I guess my most used are probably 👍🏻👎🏼☺️😉😁. What can I say, I’m old school (remember when it was just agree choices?) oh I also use this one for “yay!” 🥳
I don’t really dislike any one emoji that I know of, but I do have an issue with people who use too many. My aunt regularly sends texts that look like this 🎉💯♥️💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼🌈🌈🦄🦄 but never has a real thing to say and I don’t get it.
Elisabeth
I think it can mean both things; but the standard is thanks. “🙏 may be added to a thankful message to show appreciation. This symbol of hope says “please” or “thank you” in Japanese culture or “namaste” in Indian cultures. Because of this, 🙏 can be used when expressing everyday gratitude”
I use the yay one sometimes if I’m feeling extra festive it’s someone’s birthday. I’ll send a cake AND the yay!
I have a family member that sends texts where like every other word is an emoji (like for write she’ll have the fingers w/ pen emoji; if she’s walking the dog she’ll replace walk with paws and dog with an emoji of a dog). It feels like it would take forever?? But I suppose it’s a form of expression and could be really fun for some people? I just chuckle.
And I have also had people that send 2-3 lines full of just emojis…I also don’t get it.
Jenny
Ha- my most used emojis are the eye roll, the angry face, and the grimace. There must be something wrong with me! I do use the heart and a smiley face as well, so I’m not always mad or sarcastic.
Elisabeth
Ha! Perhaps that means everyone reads everything you’re texting as universally positive UNLESS you tack on something more sour (eye roll, angry, grimace)!
Birchie
My favorite/most used emoji is a wink;-) The only thing is that I don’t use the emoji, I literally write out 😉
2nd fav? The cat heart eyes emoji.
Least fav: poop! The first time that Hubs and I ever needed to talk about poop as a couple was when we got the puppy and we needed a system to keep each other up to date. We quickly learned that texting the poop emoji to each other just didn’t feel right. An old fashioned paper notebook that we kept near the back door and noted times and #1 or #2 was a much better solution.
Elisabeth
Ha! I love the lengths to which you and your husband have gone to avoid using the poop emoji!! That’s commitment.
I never use the cat heart eyes emoji. Like…ever?
I do use the wink, but not regularly. It’s a great emoji for certain settings. I’m like you. I write out that emoji (and often the heart one as well – it’s faster than looking through the emojis).
Alexandra
I am so with you on the bottom five, I really really but really hate the poo emoji. As for the top five? I would add 😉😛 to replace grimace and face palm. It seems I do a lot of winking! 😉
Elisabeth
I don’t use winking that much – maybe I’m too on the nose with my texts?
It sounds like the poop emoji is a firm “bottom” for most people!
Alexandra
I tend to be very droll in some of my replies so use the wink to indicate gentle ribbing or humour. And does anyone actually like the poo emoji over the age of 12?
Elisabeth
Good point…!
Ernie
I’m not a big emoji user. I’m partial to the smiling, winking face. When I wish a niece or nephew happy bday, I insert the appropriate bday emojis in a long line, but always with a typed out message. Since I got my new phone (iphone, so not the same as my android), I haven’t figured out how to insert an emoji and I’m surviving just fine. I feel like using an emoji helps keeps things light in case that might not be clear. I am sort of bothered by the emoji response ‘ok’ or ‘thumbs up’, because I don’t necessarily need that ending to a text exchange. I can live without an additional text. Ya know? I guess that counts as my least favorite emoji – the ‘got it’ emoji. I assume my text reached someone and I’m done. Usually. 😉
Elisabeth
“I haven’t figured out how to insert an emoji and I’m surviving just fine.” Hahaha. We didn’t have emojis 20 years ago and somehow we managed to all communicate and get our points acorss.
I really do like emojis to convey tone and I find some text chains are VERY hard to close without an emoji. (Usually a thumbs up). I do like that you can apply that emoji to a text bubble, so it doesn’t have to be its own thing.
NGS
Huh. I just looked. The only emojis I’ve ever used in my texts are the thumbs up (by far the most popular), smiley face, crying with laughter face, and a dog. Four. I do not communicate visually, I guess! Words mean things, you know?
As an Android user, I find in INREDIBLY annoying when non-Android people put an emoji on a text because I will get another whole text that says “Elisabeth hearted the entire text all over again” and it drives me batty.
Elisabeth
Ohhh…it does that? I text predominantly iPhone users it seems, but good to know that hearting an SMS will be VERY ANNOYING FOR ANDROID USERS.
I get you on the words. I find myself using them without thinking, but maybe I should write more and emoji less?
Sophie
Ooh this is fun! I love emojis! My favourites are 🤩👌❤️🎉😂🤣🙄🥰💪🤦♀️👏🫠😁
For thank you I prefer 🙌 I also enjoy the ✅
Totally agree the poop emoji does not need to exist! Other least favourite are 😹💋😪🤮😤
Elisabeth
Wow – you really do like emojis!!
I never, ever use a checkmark (not sure why, just always gravitate to thumbs up).
I don’t think I’ve ever used the muscle before, either! I’m very boring and stick to just a handful…
Elinoora
🤷🙈💕😂🫂🤔
A whole line with no text *lol* I use emojis but I also still use things between stars to indicate an action. Old-school, what can I say? *shrug*
Elisabeth
I do that too with the asterisks.
Joy
Love this!
My top emojis: 😁🤣😉👍😬
My least favorite: praying hands- I wish there was a better one for thank you
Poop and vomit emojis -why?!
Devil face
I really want one for the “chef’s kiss”. I was trying to express my love of a favorite type of salad today and was sad there isn’t one.
Elisabeth
I didn’t even know there was a devil’s face…?!
Ohhh – it would be great for “chef’s kiss” – I think I’d use the thumb and index finger one for that…but it’s not really the right fit.
Gigi
I use them so sparingly that I can honestly say I don’t have a top five/bottom five. But, if I had to hazard a guess, I would say the ones I use the most are either cake or streamers when I’m sending a happy birthday text.
Elisabeth
I use the cake for almost every birthday, too!
But I definitely use more emojis than you; lots of sideways laughing especially.
iHanna
😈👿😈😈
Elisabeth
Ahh! The devil faces (re. Joy’s comment above)! Apparently in a variety of forms. Um…no thanks!
Tobia | craftaliciousme
oooohhhh this is so good.
I wish I knew my five top emojis but I can’t. Handing 4 social media accounts all with a set of brand emjoies messes it up.
But I think the white heart, snow, kiss emoji, star and peek emoji are sent regularly.
I agree with the S*** emoji. When does anyone use it? Also not a fan of the skull face or the cat emojis.
Elisabeth
I do use the kiss emoji! I forgot about it. I only ever use it with my husband!
Lisa’s Yarns
My most used:
😂🤷🏻♀️🤞😱😭
So I use one of your hated ones – the 2nd to last one. But I use it to describe parenting moments – like oh my god! Or my travel schedule. I use the crossed fingers emoji a lot, too.
I don’t like the poop one either. I do use the vomiting one to express extreme displeasure about something.
Elisabeth
I don’t know if I’ve ever used the vomit emoji when it’s not literal (that said, I’m usually the one dealing with said vomit and want to discuss it in as sparing a detail as possible!
The shrug can be a really helpful one; I use the face palm more, but do love a good shrug 🙂
iHanna
Surprisingly engaging topic! My favorites include
🌈🇸🇪😎💕😬
But least liked? Hmm, that’s harder. There are so many ugly ones. I don’t mind 💩 really, but wouldn’t interpret it literary either but more “today i feel like 💩” on a shitty day…
Maybe 🤕🤒🤧 because that means someone is not feeling well. 🤤 is kind of gross.
Cheers! 💐
Elisabeth
I don’t tend to use any health/wellness ones, I guess. I think I knew there was one for nose blowing…but I can’t recall ever using it? Now I need to do a deep dive into all the different types of emojis!
Cattis
I even use emojis for work! Embrace the times we live in! Heh
My most used are probably 😅😍😘🤑🌟 I also use 😹🙏✨❤️😇 a lot but the last emoji I used was actually 💩 my least favourites 👺🫃🛬 I always think that plane is crashing down for some reason and it triggers my superstition, I don’t like to use it.
Elisabeth
I’m not judging…I just straightened up my son’s desk and he has a poop emoji pen (*facepalm*)
I’ve never seen the plane crashing one and as someone with a husband that travels on a plane REGULARLY, I won’t be sending it any time soon!
Grateful Kae
Oh yeah I’m definitely team emoji! I don’t think of it as “replacing” words, but more so supplementing the facial expressions/tone that can’t as easily be shared in written form! It does the trick!
Let’s see, most used would be: 😂😆😅😜🤣 I’m like you, and I do lot of laughing while texting!
I also use these often: 😬🙄😩😁😳🤦♀️🤷♀️🤔🤩😁🥰😉
And the one that I often think is the best for showing that facial expression that’s hard to put into words is: 🥴. I feel like it’s so perfect for like an “oh crap THAT did not go well…” situation… or when admitting that you screwed something up, eg “omg I totally forgot to send that to you!! 🥴 sending now….” Haha! I also may or may not use it often with a coworker after certain things are announced in meetings. LOL.
Elisabeth
Sideways laugh emoji for the win!
I like the facepalm one (and shrug) too. Isn’t it interesting how we gravitate toward “favourites”.
Stephany
What a fun topic!
Favorites: ♥️🤣🫠🙃😆 I love a good face reaction!
I’m not sure about my least favorites, though! I don’t have strong opinions on other emojis, lol.
San
Ha ha, that was fun! I hate emojis and email, but I’m totally OK with it in chats! It can really get a point across
I also love the sideways laugh emoji over the regular one. And I like the eye roll emoji. I’ve not been in the situation where I needed to have a poop emoji though.
I think the grimace emoji is the most controversial because I use it as a cheeky grin.
My favorite/most used emojis are probably ❤️☺️🤣🙄🤷🏻♀️
And is this one is this one to check in with Jon 🙋🏻♀️
My mother-in-law usesMy mother-in-law uses flower emojis a lot. I have no idea why. 🤣
Elisabeth
I rarely use emojis in e-mail (if I do, it would only be a heart or a smiley face).
It is always surprising – and hilarious – to me how many older people use emojis. I have an aunt that writes text messages that are 50% words and 50% emojis and my father-in-law (who does not seem like “the emoji type”) also uses them frequently.
Steve
Oh, what a fun topic! I will typically use a few all the time: thumbs-up to agree with whatever the person wants to do, eyeballs to indicate that I saw their message and will get back to them later when I’ve had a chance to deal with it in more depth, and a check-mark when I’ve done that (usually removing the eyeballs when I do that). Sometimes a +1 to agree with someone else.
I know people who use the praying emoji and for some reason I never quite know how to interpret it. Are they praying that whatever they were talking about turns out ok, or they’re afraid it won’t and are praying for hope or divine intervention? Or doing the Wayne’s World “we’re not worthy” bit? (kidding!)
I don’t think I’ve ever used the poop emoji in my life.
What I never get is when people put emoji (emoji is the plural of emoji, right?) together into a rebus so I have to figure out what the combination of three or four of them in sequence “spell out” somehow as a compound idea.
Smilies with different expressions including eyerolls are good at expression emotions, and a heart can mark a cute cat picture or something my wife sent me (which could, as appropriate get multiple hearts).
Elisabeth
Aww. Love the idea of multiple hearts. Emojis can seem silly at times, but they can be quite powerful when used “properly” or if there is a certain inside connection. Hearts back-and-forth with a spouse are a great use for them.
Melissa
I don’t use a lot of emojis, except the like or a heart to acknowledge a message someone else has sent. I just looked through my messages and apart from like and heart reactions my last five emojis were love face, red-faced swearing face, birthday cake, winking face and french flag and that took me back to September! I am not a big texter or emoji user.
Elisabeth
Wow. I use more emojis than that in the run of the day. But I tend to hate talking on the phone, so manage quite a few conversations via text.
Link Love for the Weekend: Encouragement - iHannas Blog
[…] Top Five/Bottom Five: The Emoji Edition by Elisabeth – quick and fun idea, and the comments are also worth reading. Here’s my quick reply: […]
Suzanne
I don’t mind getting or sending emojis, and I have a few that I use regularly, and generally, they don’t involve bodily functions.
My top ones are: 😏🥰🤪😎❤️