You spend time crafting the perfect cold email, but does it actually reach the inbox of the right recipient?
Or worse, does it land in spam before anyone even sees it?
That’s the problem with sending the same message over and over without making any changes. Spam filters notice repetitions, and prospects can spot a generic email from a mile away.
If your emails aren’t getting opened, it’s not always the subject line that is the main culprit. The content itself might be the issue. Repetitive messages get ignored, while personalized ones stand out. But writing every email from scratch isn’t realistic.
That’s where spintax lends a helping hand.
It helps you generate unique emails without writing them manually – keeping outreach messages fresh, natural, and, most importantly, seen. Read on to find out more about spintax.
What is spintax?
Spintax, short for “spinning syntax,” is an AI methodology creates different versions of the same body of text. It helps avoid repetition by swapping out words or phrases, which makes content feel fresh each time. It’s super useful for emails, where personalization can make all the difference.
Most commonly, it uses curly brackets {} and pipe separators | to list multiple word choices.
For example, instead of writing the same greeting every time, you can use spintax like this:
“{{Hi | Hello | Hey}} John.”
Each time the message is sent, the artificial intelligence system randomly picks one of the options. It keeps emails from looking automated and helps them sound more natural.
Spintax isn’t only for greetings. It can be used throughout an email – introductions, subject lines, email body, and calls to action.
A single template can turn into dozens (or even hundreds!) of unique messages, making emails feel more personal without much effort. For businesses sending outreach emails or newsletters, this keeps things engaging while saving time.
Why spintax matters for cold emails
Cold emails work best when they get read. The problem? Spam filters search for patterns.
If emails look too similar, they often appear in the junk folder. Spintax helps by making each message slightly different. That reduces the risk of getting flagged and increases the chances of reaching the prospects’ inboxes.
Sender reputation also plays a big role. Email service providers track engagement – opens, replies, and spam reports.
Repetitive emails tend to get ignored, which can lower deliverability over time. When each message feels unique, engagement improves, and that helps maintain a strong sender score. Higher engagement means a better chance of landing in the primary inbox.
Cold email outreach works best when emails feel personal. Automation often makes messages sound robotic, but spintax helps keep them fresh.
A small change in wording can make a big difference in how an email is received. People are more likely to reply when a message doesn’t feel like part of a mass send.
How to use spintax in cold emails
Spintax helps personalize cold emails while keeping them unique enough to bypass spam filters. Emails sound more natural and improve engagement by adding variations to key parts of your message.
Basic spintax
You don’t have to write every email from scratch to make it sound unique.
Instead of sending the same cold email to every prospect, you can introduce small changes that make each one feel more natural.
For example:
- Greetings: {{Hi | Hello | Hey}} [First Name]
- Adjectives: {{great | amazing | fantastic}}
- Calls to action: Would you {{like to learn more | be interested in hearing about}} our solution?
The more variations you add, the more unique each email becomes.
You don’t need to do it manually, though. Woodpecker has a built-in spintax editor that will help you prepare the perfect variations.
Where to apply spintax
Spintax works well in different parts of a cold email:
- Opening lines: “I came across your {{work | profile | company}} and was really impressed.”
- Personalization elements: “I saw that you’re {{leading | growing | building}} [Company Name] into something exciting.”
- Pain points: “Many [Industry] professionals struggle with {{time-consuming processes | scattered data | outdated tools}}.”
- Value statements: “Our tool helps {{automate tasks | save time | organize workflows}} without extra effort.”
- Engagement questions: “Does that sound like something {{you’d like to explore | you might find useful | that could help your team}}?”
- Closing lines: “Looking forward to {{hearing your thoughts | chatting more | connecting soon}}.”
- Sign-offs: “Best, {{[Your Name] | [Your Name] from [Company] | [Your Name], [Title]}}.”
Cold emails should feel personal, even when sent at scale. Spintax helps create that effect while keeping automation efficient.
Advanced spintax techniques
Spintax is more than swapping words. Advanced techniques help cold emails feel even more natural.
Nested spintax
Nested spintax layers versions within versions, creating more unique combinations. Instead of a basic spin like {Hi | Hello} John, you can go deeper with your spintax blocks:
{Hey | Hello | Hi} {{First_Name}}, I saw {your {recent post | latest update} on LinkedIn | the work you’re doing at {{Company}}} and {was impressed | found it really interesting}.
Now, this could produce:
- Hey Sarah, I saw your recent post on LinkedIn and was impressed.
- Hello Tom, I saw the work you’re doing at Acme Corp and found it really interesting.
- Hi Alex, I saw your latest update on LinkedIn and was impressed.
…and fifteen more variations through the use of different words and phrases.
You create multiple sentence variations while keeping the message smooth. The more spintax layers you add, the harder it is for spam filters to detect patterns.
Combining spintax with variables
Adding variables like {{First_Name}} or {{Company}} makes emails feel personal without extra work.
Example:
{Hi | Hello | Hey} {{First_Name}}, I came across {{Company}} and {was impressed | really liked} what you’re doing.
Each email sounds unique while pulling in real recipient data.
A/B testing with spintax
Spintax makes testing different variations easy. Instead of setting up separate campaigns, you can spin elements inside a single email template:
{Quick question | Quick idea} about {your team | lead generation} at {{Company}}?
You can see what works best by tracking open and reply rates without sending separate emails.
For more information, visit our guide on how to run an A/B test.
Best practices for using spintax
Spintax makes emails feel natural, but it can turn them into a confusing mess if done poorly. The goal isn’t only variety – it’s readability. If a spun sentence doesn’t make sense, it won’t matter how personalized it looks.
- Keep it clear and natural – Test different combinations before sending. Read them out loud. If something feels off, adjust the phrasing. A good rule of thumb: If you wouldn’t say it in a real conversation, don’t put it in an email.
- Avoid overcomplication – Too many variations can lead to awkward results. Stick to simple but valuable changes. For instance, this would be too complex:
{Hey | Hello | Greetings} {{First_Name}}, I {recently | just} {came across | stumbled upon} {your {most recent | latest} {article | post} | the {work | projects} you’re managing at {{Company}}} and {was {genuinely | truly} {impressed | amazed} | found it to be {quite | very} {insightful | engaging}}. - Test before sending – Preview multiple variations. Some cold email tools like Woodpecker let you see sample outputs before launching a campaign. Check that every version flows well and doesn’t create broken sentences.
Spintax works best with solid email hygiene:
- Warm up your email account – Sending bulk emails too fast can hurt email deliverability. Start slow and increase volume gradually. Or, you can use Woodpecker’s email warm-up service.
- Use verified email addresses – A high bounce rate gets emails flagged as spam. Clean your list before sending.
- Limit daily sends per account – Blasting too many messages from one email address can trigger spam filters. Stay within safe sending limits.
A well-structured spintax setup paired with good sending habits keeps your emails personalized and, most importantly, out of the spam folder.
Stop sending the same email – make every message unique with spintax
Sending the same cold email to hundreds of people rarely works. Spam filters catch on, and prospects can tell when they’re just another name on a list. Spintax fixes that. It keeps emails fresh, personal, and unpredictable – exactly what you need to land in the inbox and get more replies.
But setting up spintax manually can be a hassle. That’s why Woodpecker comes with spintax capabilities built in.
The easy-to-use editor lets you create variations without second-guessing the format. You can tweak greetings, introductions, body text, and calls to action in just a few clicks.
You can also add short text snippets to each spin, like a compliment or a question, to make emails feel even more personal and varied.
The result? Cold emails that sound organic and get better responses – without extra work.
If you’re serious about cold outreach, it’s time to stop sending copy-paste emails. Try Woodpecker and see how spintax can change the game for you.