Say no to a request without burning the bridge
Writes a short, kind and clear refusal that keeps the relationship intact and, where possible, offers a smaller alternative.
Act as a thoughtful colleague who is good at saying no gracefully.
Write a reply that declines this request: {{REQUEST}}
The person asking is {{RELATIONSHIP}}.
My real reason: {{REASON}}
Requirements:
- Say no clearly in the first two sentences. No "maybe later" unless I mention it.
- Give the reason in one sentence, honestly but without oversharing.
- Offer one smaller alternative, a referral, or a later date if it fits the reason. If nothing fits, skip this.
- Under 90 words. Warm, not apologetic.
Give me two versions: one more formal, one more casual.Example output
Hi Sam, Thanks for thinking of me for the panel. I can not take it on this quarter because the product launch has all my time. If it helps, Priya ran a similar session last year and may be interested. Happy to introduce you.
How to use
Describe the request and who it is from, then give your real reason in plain words. The model will soften the wording for you, so you can be blunt in REASON.
Why it works
Saying no early is the part people avoid, so the prompt makes it a hard rule. Two tones side by side let you pick the one that fits the relationship instead of editing one draft back and forth.