Spintax checker and generator: validate, count and preview
Spintax is a way to write several versions of the same text at once: {Hi|Hello|Hey} sends one of the three words, chosen at random for each recipient. This spintax checker finds unbalanced braces and stray pipes with their line and column, counts how many versions the copy can produce, and previews random renders.
Reads classic {a|b} spintax (nesting allowed) and Instantly’s {{RANDOM | a | b}}. Merge fields like {{firstName}} are left alone. Runs in your browser.
Sample result
Your spintax has no errors and makes 12 different versions of the email.
- Possible versions
- 12
- Spin groups
- 3
- Merge fields
- 2
What this means for you
Each prospect gets slightly different wording instead of one identical blast.
- Unclosed braces found by line and column
- Counts every possible version
- Lists merge fields left in the text
- Random previews, or all up to 50
- Spintax
- Syntax
- Variations
By SimpleVerifier Team · Last updated · Runs in your browser; nothing you paste is sent to us
How do I check and preview spintax?
- Paste the email or message containing your spintax, merge fields included.
- Press Check spintax. Errors (unclosed or extra braces) are listed first, with line and column, then warnings such as empty or duplicate options.
- Read the version count and the random previews; press Spin again to see more.
- Fix anything flagged, check the previews read naturally, then paste the copy back into your sequencer.
Example
- You enter
- An email opening with
{Hi|Hello|Hey} {{first_name}},and two more spin groups, plus a{{company}}merge field. - You get
- No errors, 3 spin groups making 12 possible versions, and 2 merge fields listed, with random previews.
- Limits
- No input limit; every version is listed only when there are 50 or fewer, and the first 50 issues are shown. Runs in your browser.
What is spintax in cold email?
Spintax (spin syntax) lets one email template produce many slightly different emails. Each {option one|option two} group is replaced by one option at send time, so a sequence going to 2,000 people doesn't send 2,000 identical bodies. Groups can nest: {Hi|Hello} {there|{friend|team}}.
The idea is that thousands of identical bodies look like bulk mail. Variation alone doesn't keep mail out of spam, though; authentication, sending volume, complaint rate and bounces matter more. Treat spintax as polish, not a deliverability fix.
How do I use spintax in Instantly?
Instantly uses its own format, {{RANDOM | Hi | Hello | Hey}}, with a pipe between options. Its help article on spintax warns that variables inside a spintax block can cause a Liquid syntax error, so keep {{firstName}} outside the RANDOM block. This checker reads that syntax and flags braces placed inside one.
Smartlead's guide to spintax uses the classic format, {Hi|Hello|Hey} {{first_name}}. Other tools differ (some use spin tags rather than braces), so check your tool's help docs before relying on a syntax; this checker covers the two above.
How do I check spintax for errors?
Run it through a parser that matches every brace, like this one. The usual mistakes are a group that's never closed, an extra }, a pipe outside any group (which prints a literal "|"), an empty option from ||, and the same option twice, which doesn't break anything but makes that option twice as likely.
Depending on the tool, broken spintax may be rejected or, worse, sent as written, braces and all. A single unclosed brace near the top can swallow the rest of the email into one giant option, which is why errors here show the line and column of the opening brace.
How many spintax variations do I need?
Enough that recipients rarely get the same email, and few enough that every version still reads well. The count multiplies: three greetings × two openers × two sign-offs is 12 versions; add two more groups of two and it's 48. The checker counts this for you, including nested groups.
Read the previews rather than chasing a big number. A version count in the millions is easy to reach with synonyms that make the copy worse; spin whole phrases that each sound like you.
Classic spintax or Instantly's RANDOM syntax?
| Classic {a|b} | Instantly {{RANDOM | a | b}} | |
|---|---|---|
| Nesting | Yes | No |
| Variables inside a group | Depends on the tool | Instantly advises against |
| Example | {Hi|Hello} {{first_name}} | {{RANDOM | Hi | Hello}} {{firstName}} |
Who uses this tool, and for what?
- Cold emailers
- Validate a sequence before it goes live, so no prospect receives raw braces.
- Agencies
- Check spintax written by several copywriters in one pass, with exact error locations.
- SMS and WhatsApp teams
- Preview message variations and confirm the merge fields survive untouched.
- Copywriters
- See how many versions a template makes and read random renders to catch awkward combinations.
What can’t this tool tell you?
- It reads classic {a|b} and Instantly's {{RANDOM}} formats only; other tools' spin tags aren't parsed.
- The version count assumes every option is different text; duplicate wording reduces the real number.
- It can't tell whether a mailbox provider treats your versions as different; variation is not a deliverability guarantee.
- It doesn't check grammar across combinations; read several previews.
Common questions
- What is spintax?
- A syntax for writing text variations: {Hi|Hello|Hey} is replaced by one of the options each time the text is used. Cold email tools use it so each recipient gets a slightly different email.
- How to use spintax in Instantly?
- Write {{RANDOM | option one | option two}} in the email body, with pipes between options, and keep merge variables like {{firstName}} outside the RANDOM block, as Instantly's help article advises.
- How to use spintax in Smartlead?
- Smartlead's own guide shows the classic format: {Hi|Hello|Hey} {{first_name}}. Check it here first, since an unclosed brace can break the whole email.
- What is spintax in email?
- Text written as {option|option} groups so that an email tool can send each recipient a different combination of phrases from one template.
- What is a spintax greeting?
- A greeting written with spintax, such as {Hi|Hello|Hey} {{firstName}}, so recipients don't all see the same opening line.
Sources
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