Relationships EditorBy Francesca BondRelationships EditorFrancesca Bond is mindbodygreen’s relationships editor.Image by Jovo Jovanovic / StocksyMarch 13, 2024We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links.Finding ways to distill our personalities into bite-sized online profiles is only becoming more important, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. We’re complicated people with a range of interests, moods, and desires—how can someone see all of that by just scrolling through our dating profile? They can’t, but that doesn’t mean we can’t use prompts to try our best to convey the things that matter the most to us.Why Hinge prompts matterOn a dating profile, pictures can only say so much.Through words, you can provide a sample of your sense of humor, your interests, and what you’re looking for in a match.According to Hinge’s distraction-free dating guide, developed by behavioral scientist and dating coach Logan Ury (who also happens to be Hinge’s director of relationship science), and licensed therapist Moe Ari Brown, LMFT, you should be clear about the type of connection you seek on your profile and while matching with someone.Prompts provide opportunities for you to share exactly what you’re looking for in your match. If you want a long-term monogamous partner, a casual relationship, or someone interested in ethical nonmonogamy, try to find a way to say that somewhere in your profile. After all, the worst that could happen is someone swipes away from your profile—but if you don’t align on what you’re looking for, then that’s probably for the best.If it’s important for you to have a lot in common with your partner, then open up about your interests and hobbies within your profile. Maybe you love playing board games and are seeking someone who is open to spending a lot of their free time playing Dungeons & Dragons with you—that’s exactly the kind of thing you can find out by using Hinge prompts.Also—don’t be afraid to be yourself in your dating profile. This isn’t the time and place to be diplomatic. You’re looking for your people. Use your Hinge prompts to share your opinions, boundaries, beliefs, and maybe even an embarrassing photo, according to dating coach Samantha Pillsbury.”Your imperfect profile should be perfectly you. It gives you the best chance to meet somebody who is a real fit for you as a person and helps you weed out people you probably would have ended up eliminating on a second or third date anyway,” Pillsbury previously wrote for mindbodygreen.Honest Hinge prompts and answersAsk me anything about…To answer this prompt, just think about topics you actually want to be asked about. For example:Murder mystery booksHip-hop musicBakingGreen flags I look forWhat are you looking for in a partner? Think of green flags as the opposite of red flags—good signs that your match will meet your needs:You spend time with your family every week.You call yourself a feminist.You’re passionate about the outdoors.I feel most supported whenTake this as an opportunity to open up about your needs in a relationship. If someone doesn’t fit the bill, then you probably don’t want them to match with you in the first place:My feelings are heard.You make an effort to make me feel seen.I’m in an equal partnership.I know the best spot in town forHere’s a chance to flex your knowledge and, you guessed it, convey another one of your values. What kind of food do you like eating? Are you a coffee snob? Do you stop by a museum every weekend?Live jazz musicBlack coffeeDim sumMost spontaneous thing I’ve doneMaybe your photos tell one story, but you want your potential match to know that you contain multitudes. You can subvert expectations with this prompt. Share something that people might not expect when looking at you:Hiked to the top of a local mountainMoved to another countrySwitched careersFunny Hinge prompts and answersMy best dad jokeLove them or hate them, dad jokes are useful for an easy laugh. There are no shortage of dad jokes available online, but here are a few ideas to get you started:What did the tree say when spring finally arrived? What a re-leaf!What kind of sandals do frogs wear? Open-toad.Your pupils are the last part to stop working when you die because they dilate.My most irrational fear (is)Not to downplay your fears, but this prompt presents a good opportunity to poke some fun at yourself. Choose a fear that is so irrational that it really is kind of funny:Being one of those people who dies while taking a selfieGoing on a reality game show only to be voted off immediatelyFalling in love with ChatGPTMy friends ask me for advice aboutIt doesn’t matter if you’re actually the go-to advice guru for your friend group or not. You can still answer this prompt in a funny way. Try to take this prompt less seriously, and answer according to your sense of humor:Facetuning photosWhere to start with Taylor Swift conspiracy theoriesHow to boil waterMost popular Hinge prompts and answersThe way to win me over isHere is another opportunity to share something about your values—and help your potential match understand how they could make you happy:Clear and honest communicationDeleting this app if things get seriousShowing me a fun timeMy simple pleasuresUse this prompt to reveal something intimate, but not too vulnerable, about yourself:Going for a walk to a coffee shop each morningLighting a candle and reading a book at the end of the workdayIdentifying bird sounds during hikesI go crazy forThis prompt is open to a lot of interpretation, so get creative with your answer:People who value communication as much as I doGuys who are down for a long night ;)Golden retriever guysTogether, we couldHere’s where you can communicate the kind of relationship you’re seeking, whether that’s a monogamous relationship, a casual fling, or a polyamorous partner:Accomplish our hopes and dreamsRaise happy children one dayKeep each other company for a whilePractice compersion (celebrating each other’s pleasure)Got a date? Here are some things to keep in mind1.Be present during your date (and off your phone)Just because you used your phone to get your date doesn’t mean you should use your phone while on your date. According to Hinge, 78% of Hinge dates feel like their date isn’t interested in them if they spend time on their phone during the date.2.Open up a little bit3.Do something fun togetherSure, you could grab a drink or a coffee, but what if you did something a little more creative? Try going to a flea market and finding unique treasures, or going on a guided tour of your city, or taking a dance class. Your date will be more memorable and, at the very least, will break up the monotony of dating.The takeawayDating apps provide an opportunity to meet people outside of your immediate circle—and start a relationship off on the same page. But making the perfect match isn’t easy, so try opening up about your feelings, needs, and opinions to help find someone compatible with you.
