Tell it who is unwell and what you know about it, and Hemmingway writes a short get well message: a text, a line for the card going round the office, or something to send with flowers.
It will not guess a diagnosis, a date they will be back or how they are feeling, and it gives no advice about treatment. It is a card message, not a medical opinion.
What makes it work
Someone who is ill has little energy for reading. The kindest message is short, asks for nothing and does not tell them how to feel.
- Fit the message to how serious it is. A broken ankle can take a joke. A long illness cannot, and "get well soon" is wrong for someone who may not.
- Leave out advice and comparisons. No remedies, no "my uncle had the same thing", no "at least it was caught early".
- Tell them not to reply. "No need to answer this" lifts a job off a tired person.
- Offer one real thing. A lift to an appointment, a meal on Thursday, the dog walked. Only if you will do it.
An example
Asked for a light, friendly message to a colleague called Marguerite who broke her ankle and will be off work for six weeks, with the offer to post her the crossword from the office paper every Friday, a message along these lines is what to expect:
Marguerite, I'm sorry about the ankle. Six weeks is a long time to sit still.
I'll post you the crossword from the office paper every Friday so you don't get out of practice.
No need to write back. Look after yourself.
It does not say when she will be better, because nobody told it. You send it yourself once it reads right.
When it is serious
If the person is facing a long illness, or one they may not recover from, write that in the second box. The message then drops "get well soon" and "speedy recovery" and says that you are thinking of them. For more on what to say and what to leave out, read what to write in a get well card. For someone who is worn down rather than ill, the encouragement message generator fits better, and there is a guide to comforting someone over text.
Common questions
Is the get well message 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 can I write instead of "get well soon"?
Try "thinking of you", "I'm sorry you're going through this" or "I hope today is an easier day". These work when recovery will be slow or is not certain, because they do not promise anything.
Is it OK to joke in a get well message?
Only if the illness is minor and the person would joke about it themselves. When in doubt, be warm and leave the joke out.
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.