Inki Tools
Free Tone Checker
Paste a message, email, or post to see how it sounds to the reader, from friendly to blunt or passive-aggressive. Find the phrases behind it and get 2 rewrites.
We never store your text or use it to train AI.
0/800
What it checks
Five things it checks, starting with what readers are most likely to misread
- 1
The overall tone
Names the tone of your text in 1 to 3 words, such as friendly, formal, blunt, passive-aggressive, or unsure, and says how a typical reader would likely react to it.
- 2
Phrases that sound rude or cold
Finds the wording most likely to land harder than you meant: blame ("you forgot"), one-word replies, demands with no reason, and all caps. These come first in the findings.
- 3
Phrases that sound passive-aggressive
Marks lines that say one thing and suggest another, such as "per my last message", "as I already said", or "thanks in advance" on a request the reader has not agreed to.
- 4
Phrases that sound unsure or overly apologetic
Points out stacked hedges ("just wondering if maybe"), repeated apologies, and filler words that make a clear request hard to find. These come after the rude and passive-aggressive findings.
- 5
Two rewrites of the key sentence
Rewrites the sentence that matters most in 2 ways: Warmer and More direct. Both keep your facts. This page shows the one that fits the problem: Warmer for a cold or blunt sentence, More direct for an unsure or over-apologetic one.
Before / After
Examples
Passive-aggressive
Before
Per my last message, the deadline is Friday.
After
Just a reminder that the deadline is Friday.
Blaming
Before
You forgot to update the tracker again.
After
The tracker has not been updated yet. Could you take care of it?
Unsure
Before
I was just wondering if maybe we could possibly move the call?
After
Could we move the call to [new time]?
Over-apologetic
Before
Sorry to bother you again, I know you're super busy, but sorry, did you see my question?
After
Did you get a chance to see my question?
Curt reply
Before
Fine.
After
That works for me, thanks.
Pushy urgency
Before
I need this ASAP.
After
Could you send this by [time]?
Sarcastic
Before
Great, another meeting that could have been an email.
After
Could we handle this one by email instead of a meeting?
Too casual for a client
Before
hey, got ur msg, will look at it l8r
After
Hi, thanks for your message. I'll take a look at it later.
Harsh feedback
Before
This section makes no sense.
After
I had trouble following this section. Could you clarify the main point?
Shouting
Before
PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE POSTING!!!
After
Please read the instructions before posting.
FAQ
How much text can I check at once?
Up to 800 characters per check. You get up to 3 findings, ordered by how likely each phrase is to be misread, and one suggested fix on this page. For a long document, paste the paragraph you are least sure about.
What tones can it detect?
It names the tone in 1 to 3 words, such as friendly, formal, blunt, passive-aggressive, impatient, or unsure. Tone also depends on your relationship with the reader, which the checker cannot see, so treat the result as a second opinion.
Can it tell if my message sounds passive-aggressive?
Yes. Phrases like "per my last message", "as I already said", and "not sure why this keeps happening" are flagged with the reason they can read as a jab, and the rewrite says the same thing plainly.
Can I choose the tone I want?
There is no tone setting. Each check rewrites the key sentence in 2 directions, Warmer and More direct. This page shows the one that fits what the check found: Warmer when the sentence reads cold or blunt, More direct when it reads unsure or over-apologetic.
How is this different from the email tone checker?
The email tone checker is built for work email. This tone checker works on any text written for a reader: a Slack or Teams message, a social post, a comment on a shared document, or a reply to a review.
What kinds of text can I check?
Anything you are about to send or publish: chat messages, emails, LinkedIn or community posts, feedback on a coworker's draft, or one section of a longer document. Text that is not written for a reader, such as a list of numbers or code, returns no result.
Will the rewrite change what I meant?
The rewrites keep your point and your facts and change only how the sentence reads. When a clearer version needs a detail you did not include, it leaves a placeholder such as [time] instead of guessing.
Does it check grammar and spelling?
No. It reports how your wording is likely to come across, not whether it is correct. For grammar and clarity across a full draft, use the Inki editor.
Is my text stored or used to train AI?
We never store your text or use it to train AI. Your text is sent to an AI model to run the check and then discarded. We keep only an anonymous one-way hash to catch abuse, never the text itself.
How many times can I use it for free?
You can run a set number of free checks each day. The count is shared with Inki's other free tools and resets at midnight Japan time (3:00 p.m. UTC).
Inki Learn
Keep reading
Is this email rude? A 7-point checklist
Spot the wording that reads as blunt before you hit send.
Is "ASAP" rude?
Why urgency reads as pressure, and what to write instead.
Is "Sounds Good" too casual for work?
When everyday phrases read as too relaxed, and what to use instead.
Kindly vs. please: which is more polite?
Why "kindly" can sound stiff, and when "please" lands better.
How to say no politely in an email
A four-part structure for declining without sounding cold.
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