What is the worst way to break up with someone? Of course, there’s really no right way to dump somebody. No matter how nice you are about it, someone is going to end up getting hurt. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some more gentle ways of breaking up with someone.

New research has found that the biggest factor of a bad breakup is, obviously, the way the breakup happens. Researchers discovered that college students were much more concerned over how their breakup happened rather than why it happened. Keeping that in mind, you should maybe try to avoid these terrible ways of dumping someone. Unless you think they deserve to be hurt really badly, try to go the more mature route and stay away from these seven breakup situations:

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Doing It In Public

I've heard breakup advice that actually encourages you to dump someone in a public place. The reasoning behind that logic is usually so that the person you're dumping can't do anything crazy. But here's my thoughts on that: if someone is going to go insane because you dumped them, they're going to do it whether you're alone or not. In the end, breaking up with someone in a restaurant or when you're at a party is embarrassing and just kind of mean. A breakup should be something private, not a huge thing for others to watch. The only time you should dump someone when other people are around is if you're genuinely afraid this person is going to hurt you.

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Being Caught Cheating

It's bad enough to cheat on someone in the first place (I'm sorry, but it is!), but getting yourself caught is even worse. It's one thing to be told that you're being cheated on and it's quite another to watch the person you love cheat on you. This kind of breakup might be the worst kind. If you want to be with other people, break up with your partner before you cheat.

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Doing It Through Facebook

One of the worst ways to break up with someone is by doing it via Facebook, with no warning whatsoever. I've heard horror stories about people who get dumped when their partner abruptly changes their relationship status to single. Finding out you've been dumped along with the rest of your Facebook friends is a major bummer. Don't do this to anyone - all it does it make you look like a coward.

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Dumping Someone Via Text

Another cowardly way of dumping someone is doing it through a text message. Look, I understand that breakups are difficult. Maybe you feel more confident doing it when you can write your words out rather than speaking them. I get it. But there are some points in our life where we have to act mature enough to confront people in person - breakups are one of those times. Texting allows for way too many misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

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Having A Friend Do It For You

Speaking of cowardly ways to dump someone: having a friend do it for you comes right after changing your Facebook relationship status. Unfortunately, I totally did this when I was younger - and I also totally regret it. I know it's tempting to have someone else be the middle man, but it's not cool to involve a third party in something that should be private.

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Actually Kind Of Just Doing... Nothing

Sometimes, when we get scared to actually break up with someone, we try to get them to go ahead and do it for us. And by that I mean we start ignoring the person and acting like a jerk on purpose. That way, that person feels like the breakup is their decision. I get that maybe you think you're doing them a favor, but it's actually really lame. If you don't want to be with someone, end the relationship. Don't wait for your partner to do it for you. That just makes you both unhappy and really makes no sense.

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Dumping Someone Before A Big Event

I have to contradict myself a little here: while I would never advise dragging out a breakup for a long period of time, there are some exceptions. Don't dump someone a few days before a big event you're both supposed to attend, like if he's going to be your date to a wedding or to prom. Chances are that person has already spent a lot of money on something to wear and maybe even changed plans around to go with you. If you want to end things a few weeks before the event, that's fine - go for it. But if it's a week to one day before the event? Try to hold off until it's over... unless the person did something really awful.

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Have you ever broken up with someone in any of these ways? Has anyone ever dumped you in any of these ways? Tell me in the comments.

Would you ever set a breakup date?

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