How To Establish That You Two Are Just Friends

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Here is my advice.

Unless there is something that prompts you to think that he/she is definitely coming onto you, and you are not interested, for those grey-area unsure situations, it is best to be indirect, slipping it into the conversation without making it seem like such a big deal. Especially if you worry the person of the opposite sex may think you are interested in them when you are not.

So, don't start a conversation about it, but instead add it to an already existing conversation. Don't make it seem like such a big deal either.

Here is a good example (for text messaging):
I bet we can both get into a great relationship by next year.
But not with each other to clarify lol

I don't see why one would be worried about being too direct in establishing that you are just friends. Much more difficult is how to show interest in being more than just friends, when you don't know whether the other person feels similarly.

In other words, if you don't think the other person is hitting on you, then why would it hurt to start a conversation with "let's just be friends"? The only sticky situation is if the other person wanted more--and I've never been in this situation, but having been repeatedly on the other end (the one who wanted more), if anything it would have been better to hear it more definitively, and earlier. It still might not prevent me from developing attraction, and the relationship getting tense, but being more oblique about it could never have helped things.

The point is in uncertain situations:

1. You suspect that the other person wants to be more than just friends, but are not sure. You don't want to offend them by accusing them of something. So just be indirect about it. There's nothing accusational about what I suggested.

2. You suspect they think that you want to be more than friends, even though you aren't. Rather than being defensive or harsh about it, by giving a stern admonition, instead keep it light.