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Excuse generator

A free excuse generator. Say what you want to get out of and roughly why, and Hemmingway writes a short, kind way out with no made-up story to remember.

Opens Hemmingway with this filled in. Free to try, no card needed.

You said yes to something and now you want out, or you are already there and would like to go home. Tell this tool what it is and, roughly, the real reason. Hemmingway writes a short, kind message that gets you out without a story you would have to remember later. It only writes the message; the sending is left to you.

It will not make up a cover story. It takes a true reason, even a thin one like "I am worn out", and words it so it is polite, brief and hard to argue with.

What makes a good excuse

  • Short is more convincing than detailed. Three sentences of reason starts to sound like a defence.
  • True but vague is enough. "I've got nothing left this week" needs no backstory.
  • Send it early. A no on Wednesday is polite. A no at six on Saturday is a let-down.
  • Be kind about the plan. You are turning down an evening, not the person.
  • Never put it on someone else. Blaming your partner, your child or your boss tends to travel back to them.

An example

Asked for a warm, slightly funny text to a cousin, getting out of her housewarming on Saturday night, the real reason being three weekends in a row of having people round and being worn out, a message along these lines is what to expect:

I'm so sorry, but I'm going to miss Saturday. I've had people round three weekends running and I've got nothing left. I'd be asleep on your sofa by nine. Have a brilliant night.

What it is not for

It is for social plans: parties, dinners, drinks, a weekend away. It is not for getting out of work, school or anything official with a false reason. If you are ill, the sick day email generator writes an honest note.

If you would rather give a straight no with no excuse at all, use the decline message generator or read how to say no politely. And if you already cancelled badly, there is the apology message generator.

Common questions

Is the excuse generator free?

Yes. Hemmingway has a free trial with no card needed, and this tool opens it with your answers filled in. You sign up once, and the message is written in the chat.

What is a good excuse to get out of plans?

A short, true one. "I'm worn out and I need a night in" is honest, and it leaves you with nothing to keep track of afterwards.

How do you leave a party early without being rude?

Tell the host when you arrive what time you need to go, then leave at that time with a thank you. For the wording, put "leave the party by ten" in the first box.

Will it make up a fake illness or emergency?

No. It is told to use only the reason you give and not to invent an illness, an emergency or a family event. Made-up stories are the ones people get caught in.

Will it sound like AI?

It is built not to. Hemmingway-1, the model behind it, came first on sounding like a person in our own blind test, Human-Likeness. It still helps to read it aloud and change any word you would not use.

Read next

  • Decline message generatorA free decline message generator. Say what you were asked and why you are saying no, and Hemmingway writes a polite, clear no that sounds like you.
  • How to say no politelyHow to decline politely by email or text: turning down an invitation, a request, a job offer or a client, with a simple structure, short examples and AI tips.
  • Apology message generatorA free apology message generator. Say who it is for and what happened, and Hemmingway writes a short, specific apology that sounds like you, not a card.
  • Sick day email generatorA free sick day email generator. Say who you are telling and which days you are off, and Hemmingway writes a short sick leave email with no oversharing.