Lauryn Hill said it best: "Miscommunication leads to complication." Being able to verbalize your thoughts and feelings is key to any healthy relationship. However, as Ms. Hill has pointed out, words lost in translation can cause major issues in a relationship.
That's why it's important to express yourself as honestly and openly as possible to keep your partner from making assumptions or drawing the wrong conclusions. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being direct, as long as you're tactful. You cannot expect a person to be clear and concise if you are not doing the same.
Some people believe that most problems occur because men and women exchange and express information and ideas differently, however I believe this is only partially true. Sure, at times it seems men speak cryptically, but the same can easily be said about women. To help you navigate the dating world a bit better, Black Voices has taken the liberty of breaking down a few commonly misunderstood phrases and expressions used my men and their female counterparts.