31 Best Ways to Respond to “TFTI”

Though text messaging is now one of the most-used forms of communication, it hasn’t been around very long.

The first text message was sent in the United Kingdom on December 3, 1992,^[1] and texting didn’t become popular until many years after that.

Before the days of “unlimited talk and text,” sending text messages could get expensive. Character limits (usually 160 characters per message) and 12-key telephone keypads made crafting the right message difficult.^[1][2]

These challenges led to popular abbreviations, such as “LOL” (“laugh out loud”), “BRB” (“be right back”), and “TFTI” (“thanks for the invite,” generally used sarcastically).^[1][2]

The sting of being left out is always unpleasant, but so is receiving a TFTI message as a response.

Whether you’re looking for a way to reply with humor, compassion, an apology, or a simple explanation, you’ll find the list of ways to respond to “TFTI” below.

We also offer tips for choosing the best response.

1. You didn’t miss anything, trust me.
2. I didn’t think you’d be interested.
3. Next time.
4. You’re welcome.
5. Hey, it wasn’t my call.
6. It was a last-minute thing. I didn’t plan it.
7. No need to thank me.
8. I wish I had. It was no fun without you.
9. I’ll make it up to you, I promise!
10. OMG! Sorry!
11. Oh no–total oversight!
12. I could have sworn I invited you — seriously!
13. Sure thing, drama [queen/king].
14. Last time you were a no-show.
15. I wasn’t in charge of invites.
16. My bad.
17. Consider yourself lucky. It was a total bust.
18. Simple mistake.
19. 2 B honest, I didn’t think you’d want 2 c [person’s name].
20. Sorry, we only had room for [number] people.
21. Tell me how to make it right.
22. I feel terrible. Is this a good time to talk?
23. I invited you weeks ago. Didn’t you get it?
24. U didn’t invite me last time.
25. Any time, lol.
26. I’m so sorry I forgot to invite you! How can I make it up to you?
27. Seriously?! After you [reason they weren’t invited]?
28. No problem.
29. I totally regret it.
30. Any chance you’ll forgive me?
31. If it makes you feel any better, I feel horrible about it.

How to Choose the Best Response to “TFTI”

Responding to a sarcastic text can be risky territory, depending on the sender. You may want to defuse the situation when hurt feelings are involved.

Keep these tips in mind when choosing a message:

• Take a minute before responding if you’re upset. It’s best not to answer if you’re feeling emotional. You’re not thinking clearly.^[3] So take a minute, calm down, then choose a response.
• Decide on the tone you want to convey. This is a quick, easy way to narrow down your choices. If you want to return the sarcasm, pick something meant to be humorous like “You’re welcome,” or “Sure thing, drama queen.” If you want them to know you’re genuinely sorry, go for a message that will come across as heartfelt and add an explanation for why the person wasn’t invited.
• Consider how the message will be received. Text messages are easily misinterpreted. If you’re responding to someone who’s overly sensitive, take your time in considering how best to respond and imagine how each one will be received at the other end. If you and your friends often speak sarcastically toward each other, you might choose something more snarky or lighthearted.