This table summarizes the types of tweets used on Twitter. It also explains where these tweets appear on Twitter from a sender's and recipient's perspective.

1. Types of Tweets
Type of Tweet Definition Where it Appears for the Sender Where it Appears for the
Recipient
Normal tweet Any message with up to 140 On profile page and Home In the Home timeline of anyone
characters posted to Twitter. timeline. who is following the sender.
Mention A Tweet containing another user's On profile page of public Tweets. In the Mentions and Interactions
Twitter username, preceded by the tabs (only accessible by recipient),
Example: This is very useful "@" symbol. in the Home timeline view (not on
advice on participant recruitment recipient’s profile) if they are
@PRSatCTSI following the sender.
Note: Anyone on Twitter who is
following the sender of a mention
will see the Tweet in their Home
timeline.
@Reply Begins with another user's On the profile page. In the Mentions and Interactions
username and is in reply to one of tabs, in the recipient's Home
Example: @FasterCures "It is no their Tweets. timeline if they are following the
longer sufficient to have a novel sender. Anyone following the
product that’s safe and effective sender and the recipient of an
and gets through @reply will see it in their Home
#FDA"#WhoWillPay? timeline.

2. Direct message A personal message sent directly In the sender's direct messages In the direct messages.
to someone who follows you or folder (accessible by clicking on
sent directly to you from someone the person icon in the top It will disappear if the sender
you follow. navigation bar). deletes it.
A direct message will disappear
completely if either the sender or
the recipient deletes it.
Retweet (RT) Re-posting of someone else's You can see retweets your On the Home timeline and profile
Tweet. They are distinguished by followers have retweeted in your page of anyone who is following
Example: RT @ImSatCTSI: the retweet icon (RT) and the home timeline. the sender.
National Assoc. of Public name of the user who retweeted
#Hospitals & #HealthSystems the Tweet. If you retweet someone you follow,
Annual Meeting San Francisco it will be visible on your
June 20-22 profile timeline.
If you retweet someone you do not
follow, it will be visible on both
Note: If another user's Tweets your home timeline and profile
are protected (lock icon) you will timeline.
not be able to retweet their
content. Your own Tweets that others have
retweeted will appear on your
“Connect” page
(Interactions section) in the top
navigation bar.