What 'I'm fine' and 'I'm busy' REALLY mean: Website reveals the emotions behind those awkward text messages

Texting can often be a minefield as messages are misinterpreted and lead to confusion and even arguments.

Many people try to make head or tail of a particular text by screen-shotting messages and sending them to friends for translation.

But thanks to a new website that promises to uncover the real emotions behind a cryptic note, those misreading moments could be a thing of the past.

Tone Analyzer uses linguistic analysis to detect and interpret emotions, social tendencies, and language style cues found in texts. 

All you need to do is enter your text into the website and all will be revealed. And it's not just texts it works for - emails can by deciphered too.

If your boss is secretly thinking of firing you - this website will let you know, or at least give you a little helpful insight.

Each message is given a score, in which a figure below 0.25 indicates a lack of that particular emotion, while one above 0.75 shows that it's present in abundance.

FEMAIL put the tool to the test to see how it could interpret messages from various everyday scenarios - to see exactly what the sender really meant.

The declined party invitation

Take a typical declined party invitation.

The two arrange to meet up soon, but are their hearts really in it?

'Sender: I'm having a gathering on Saturday. Are you free?

'Recipient: I can't make it that night, I'm away.

'Sender: Yeah that's fine. Want to meet the next weekend then?

'Recipient: Okay maybe.

'Sender: Okay well I'll keep that weekend free and we can do something

'Recipient:Okay'

In this situation, Tone Analyzer suggests that the sender is feeling a score of 0.49 joy when they ask the recipient to their party.

However the recipient replies that they cannot attend, which gets a score of 0.41 on the  sadness scale.

They are also indicating low levels of fear at 0.39 and almost no anger, with a score of 0.16.

Although the sender appears to take this news well, replying 'Yeah, that's fine,' the Tone Analyzer reveals a different story.

The web tool suggests they are really feeling small amounts (0.22) of sadness and even a touch of disgust (0.29) at the revelation. Regardless they persevere and ask to see the person who turned down their invitation another time.

The tool analyses the social tendencies of the phrases, including openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and emotional range.

The graphic shows, with the turquoise colour, that the sender is showing a lot on conscientiousness towards the recipient.

Both are being tentative towards the end of the message, in which they rearrange their plans, indicated by the dark blue colour.

THE 'I'M BUSY' TEXT 

This text can seem very cold, and for good reason.

The Tone Analyzer predicts that this is message is underpinned by negative subtext.

'Sender: Do you want to hang out this week?

'Recipient: Sorry, I'm busy.'

The sender is feeling a medley of emotions asking to spend time with the recipient.

The Tone Analyzer suggests that they are sadness is dominant with a score of 0.42, fear is less so (0.34) but there's next to no joy either (0.23).

The recipient is a little more exercised, feeling sadness (0.34) and a little more anger (0.37).

CANCELLING A WORK ENGAGEMENT

Cancelling on a friend is one thing, but how about cancelling a work engagement?

The colleague who as been turned down for a work event says:

'What a bummer!

'It would have been so much fun.

'If anything changes, or if someone else would like to cover our event, please let me know.

'I'm happy to add you to the guest list.

'Have a wonderful week!'

It appears this is actually a most happy exchange - without much negativity.

At the beginning the person who has been let down seems to be feeling disgust, fear and anger - without much joy.

However, the end of the message is very upbeat and positive, with the highest rating of joy at 0.87. Anger, disgust, fear and sadness are all at a minimum.

Agreeableness, indicated by a turquoise colour, is very strong in the message.

THE BOSS'S EMAIL

Being late is okay once in a while - do it on a regular occasion and you might get an angry email like the one below.

It reads: 'Hello Sandra

'It has been noted that you were late for work today.

'This has been the case on a number of occasions.

'Please ensure this does not happen again.

'Many thanks

Jim'

Jim's message is a little mixed - or the tool can't quite unpick the subtleties of the exchange.

At first the Tone Analyzer suggests that Jim is feeling mostly joy (0.59) at the fact Sandra has been late.

However, that quickly turns to sadness and disgust in equal measure. However, according to the tool Jim is also feeling a fair amount of fear.

When he asks Sandra to ensure she is no longer later, Jim is feeling mostly disgust.

THE 'I'M FINE' MESSAGE

When it comes to confusing messages, this could be the worst. 

You are not sure whether to keep pushing the issue or to believe the other party.

In this case the sender texts the recipient and asks: 'Are you sure you are okay?'

They reply, 'Yes, I'm fine.'

The analyser found that the initial message is a even mix of fear, disgust, anger and sadness.

The reply is almost as confusing but can mostly be interpreted at face value - as a positive message.

It is mostly joy at 0.45, with sadness at 0.31, disgust at 0.21 and anger at 0.17.

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