Whether you knew from the first two minutes of your first date or came to the conclusion after a few weeks of seeing each other, deciding how to tell someone that you don't want to go out with them again is difficult and uncomfortable. You want to be firm about how you feel, but you don't want to hurt his feelings or seem insensitive. How can you let him down gently without bruising his ego, while still making sure he won't keep texting you?

When it comes to ending a relationship, no matter how early, honesty is the best policy. Is there someone else you're seeing? Are you not over your ex? Let him know, so he won't feel like he's done something wrong. (Unless, of course, he actually did something wrong - then tell him what you didn't like, so he won't make the same mistake with his next date.)

Of course, there's such a thing as being too truthful. Phrases like "I see us more as friends" or "I'm not in the right place for a relationship right now" are well-known euphemisms for "I don't want to be with you" - they're firm enough to get your point across, but gentle enough to prevent an across-the-table meltdown on his part.

Once you've ended things, eliminate the temptation for a late-night text or later regrets by deleting his number from your phone. It's better for both of you to move onto the next thing, so you won't dwell on what never would have worked.

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