Talking Stage
- “we're talking but not officially dating”
- “how long should the talking stage last”
- “the phase before you're actually together”
- “are we dating or just talking”
01 · Side by side
Side by side
Comparison sheet
| Aspect | Talking stage | Situationship |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | Heading somewhere | Stalled |
| Time | Weeks | Months or longer |
| Expectation | It will be defined | It won't be |
| Ends with | The DTR | A fade, or a reckoning |
02 · Which one you meant
Which one did you mean?
In shortReaders who land here meaning Talking Stage rather than Situationship are usually searching for phrases like “we're talking but not officially dating”, “how long should the talking stage last”, “the phase before you're actually together”.
Situationship
- “more than friends but not officially together”
- “we act like a couple but never talked about what we are”
- “the word for a relationship with no label”
- “what do you call dating someone without commitment”
03 · Which came first
Which came first
In shortSituationship. 2008 — Merriam-Webster's first known use of the word, some years before it spread.
- 2008
Situationship. Merriam-Webster's first known use of the word, some years before it spread.
- late 2010s–2020s
Talking Stage. Dating apps stretch it from 'pre-meeting chat' to the whole span between first message and defining things.
04 · Read either one