Abstract: An apparatus and method for including emotional context in textual electronic communication transmissions. The emotional context is conveyed symbolically through standardized alternations in the manner in which the text is displayed without the inclusion of additional graphics, thereby increasing the communicative value of textual electronic communication. An important advantage of this method of embedding emotional context is that the recipient is made aware of the mental and emotional state of to the originator while the textual electronic message is being received and interpreted and therefore is able to interpret the message in light of the emotional context.