A lot of people have been noticing Terezi’s unusual hesitation and lesser dissent in the last update and have posted relevant quotes from it. I seek to describe its context to the rest of her dialog.

I noticed several features that could be of note: “um”, “what about”, question marks (especially repeated), ellipsis marks (repeated periods), exclamation points, “I say”, “I think”, and single periods. Remember that any punctuation besides for apostrophes or commas for her are marked.

(Rest under the cut because the post is long.)

Uses of “UM” in the update include “SO UM”, “UM, NOT TO M4K3 4 B4D PUN”, and “1 TH1NK, UM”. She says it when trying to introduce a suggestion or statement maybe disagree with.

SO UM

WH4T 4BOUT OUR OTH3R D34D FR13NDS?

Elsewhere in the comic, it shows mild disagreement or discomfort.

KARKAT: YES, AS YOUR LEADER, I AM ORDERING ALL PROSPIT DREAMERS TO STAY AWAKE, NO MATTER HOW TIRED YOU GET.

TEREZI: UM, 4LR1GHT >:/

WH4T 4BOUT is a much rarer phrase that occurs two times outside of the line WH4T 4BOUT OUR OTH3R D34D FR13NDS? In fact, she says it in response to Vriska’s dancestor Aranea talking about friends. This is almost certainly an intentional parallel that could suggest the problems of the meteor crew in parallel to Aranea’s session.

AG: Not that it’s a su8stitute for the previous reality. 8ut the reminders of home are everywhere.

GC: WH4T 4BOUT YOUR FR13NDS? 1 GU3SS YOU ST1LL G3T TO H4NG OUT W1TH TH3M 4LL?

Ellipses are not a very rare thing for Terezi and she uses a number of them in hesitation to Dave’s unexpected responses, but she picks up the heat soon afterwards.

TG: persterchum always knows

GC: OH…

GC: BUT

GC: OK TH1S M1GHT B3 H4RD FOR 4N 34RTH B4BOON TO UND3RST4ND

GC: BUT TROLL 1S 4 V3RB TH4T H4S 4 LOT OF NU4NC3

In comparison, in the recent update, they indicate a genuine hesitation where she doesn’t come back from.

1 TH1NK 1’LL R3V1V3 TH3M… 4 L1TTL3 L4T3R?

Earlier uses of 1 TH1NK were used to show recollection of past events or statements of a firm opinion.

W3LL, YOU 4SK3D WH4T 1 THOUGHT, 4ND TH4TS WH4T 1 TH1NK

In the quote before it, it’s hedging to lessen the force of her opinion. In the next, she uses “mostly” to lessen the strength of her statement, showing how this use of “I think” was strong.

GC: 1 TH1NK YOU 4R3 R1GHT!

GC: MOSTLY



Previous uses of multiple question marks have shown sarcasm, enthusiasm, or large confusion.

D4V3, WHY TR1P OVE3R TH4T RUG…

WH3N YOU C4N CUT 1T?????

WH3N DO3S PR3S3NT D4V3 G3T TO ST3P OUT OF TH3 SH4DOW OF 4LL THOS3 FUTUR3 D4V3’S??

YOU D1DN’T BLOCK M3 OR 4NYTH1NG, D1D YOU?????

1S WHAT 1T??

Her first use of multiple question marks is for greater uncertainty and less confidence.

W3'V3 S33N H1M 4ND CONF1RM3D 1T OURS3LV3S, SO TH3R3’S NO R34SON TO CONS1D3R H1M

4ND 3R1D4N???



Interestingly, her second use is just for a little bit of confusion.

DAVE: is this it

TEREZI: 1S WH4T 1T??

DAVE: the plan you were hatching all along



As for exclamation marks, they are used for similar purposes of emphasis and surprise before the update. Multiples again indicate more intensity.

W41T!!!!!!



D4V3, YOU D1CK!!!



In the update, we find they mark annoyance or dismay more than anything else.

M4YB3 W3 SHOULD B4CK UP 4 B1T!

TH3 G1RLS 4R3 1NNOC3NT

1 S4Y W3 BR1NG TH3M B4CK!

There is one instance where Vriska says she depended on Terezi for the mission and the teal blood uses an ambiguous ellipsis and exclamation point. The ellipsis shows her resignation, while the exclamation point appears to show enthusiasm and support. If Vriska had not used her ::::) emoticon, it could be taken as sarcasm in context with the ellipsis. All together, I take this means Terezi spoke this ambiguous line with a wavering tone that ended with raised inflection.

VRISKA: I couldn’t 8e doing this without you. I wouldn’t even want to!

TEREZI: 4W

TEREZI: Y34H, OK

TEREZI: YOU'R3 R1GHT… 1’M B3H1ND YOU 4LL TH3 W4Y!

VRISKA: ::::)



But probably the most unusual feature we see are single periods at the end of two brief lines.

TEREZI: 1 TH1NK 1’LL R3V1V3 TH3M… 4 L1TTL3 L4T3R?

TEREZI: Y34H.

TEREZI: L4T3R.

VRISKA: Suit yourself!



Two of the rare instances where Terezi uses single full stops is when she is disgusted at Vriska and Gamzee to give a sense of seriousness. This is the same purpose as the recent conversation above.

YOU KNOW YOUR3 JUST GO1NG TO S1T TH3R3 ON TH3 B34CH 4ND SP4C3 OUT 4ND LOS3 TR4CK OF T1M3.

NOBODY C4R3S 4BOUT STOCKP1L1NG M34N1NGL3SS TR34SUR3 OTH3R TH4N YOU.

Considering all the

In general, Terezi is not acting out of character as shown by the use of some old speech habits, but their use is marked by hedging to lessen their apparent threat to Vriska’s opinions.