diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/ChatMessage.as b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/ChatMessage.as
index e9219807a..985df4a5a 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/ChatMessage.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/ChatMessage.as
@@ -67,6 +67,14 @@ public /*abstract*/ class ChatMessage
         timestamp = getTimer();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Get the appropriate message format for this message.
+     */
+    public function getFormat () :String
+    {
+        return null;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Generates a string representation of this instance.
      */
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/TellFeedbackMessage.as b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/TellFeedbackMessage.as
index 5e2982833..95ccee725 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/TellFeedbackMessage.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/TellFeedbackMessage.as
@@ -36,5 +36,10 @@ public class TellFeedbackMessage extends UserMessage
         super(target, null, message);
         setClientInfo(message, ChatCodes.PLACE_CHAT_TYPE);
     }
+
+    override public function getFormat () :String
+    {
+        return "m.told_format";
+    }
 }
 }
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/UserMessage.as b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/UserMessage.as
index 9bb385efd..c5e5ca9eb 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/UserMessage.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/UserMessage.as
@@ -59,6 +59,21 @@ public class UserMessage extends ChatMessage
         return speaker;
     }
 
+    override public function getFormat () :String
+    {
+        switch (mode) {
+        case ChatCodes.THINK_MODE: return "m.think_format";
+        case ChatCodes.EMOTE_MODE: return "m.emote_format";
+        case ChatCodes.SHOUT_MODE: return "m.shout_format";
+        case ChatCodes.BROADCAST_MODE: return "m.broadcast_format";
+        }
+
+        if (ChatCodes.USER_CHAT_TYPE === localtype) {
+            return "m.tell_format";
+        }
+        return "m.speak_format";
+    }
+
     // from interface Streamable
     override public function readObject (ins :ObjectInputStream) :void
     {
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/ChatMessage.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/ChatMessage.java
index e49444637..c5023ea10 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/ChatMessage.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/ChatMessage.java
@@ -72,6 +72,14 @@ public abstract class ChatMessage
         timestamp = System.currentTimeMillis();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Get the appropriate message format for this message.
+     */
+    public String getFormat ()
+    {
+        return null;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Generates a string representation of this instance.
      */
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/TellFeedbackMessage.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/TellFeedbackMessage.java
index e14b2ef03..3af626174 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/TellFeedbackMessage.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/TellFeedbackMessage.java
@@ -36,4 +36,10 @@ public class TellFeedbackMessage extends UserMessage
         super(target, null, message, ChatCodes.DEFAULT_MODE);
         setClientInfo(message, ChatCodes.PLACE_CHAT_TYPE);
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public String getFormat ()
+    {
+        return "m.told_format";
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/UserMessage.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/UserMessage.java
index e83e54e37..0d2d82349 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/UserMessage.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/UserMessage.java
@@ -71,4 +71,20 @@ public class UserMessage extends ChatMessage
     {
         return speaker;
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public String getFormat ()
+    {
+        switch (mode) {
+        case ChatCodes.THINK_MODE: return "m.think_format";
+        case ChatCodes.EMOTE_MODE: return "m.emote_format";
+        case ChatCodes.SHOUT_MODE: return "m.shout_format";
+        case ChatCodes.BROADCAST_MODE: return "m.broadcast_format";
+        }
+
+        if (ChatCodes.USER_CHAT_TYPE.equals(localtype)) {
+            return "m.tell_format";
+        }
+        return "m.speak_format";
+    }
 }