
Common Examples of Tone
- Aggressive
- Appreciative
- Critical
- Defensive
- Depressing
- Evasive
- Formal
- Gullible
- Incredulous
- Ironic
What are the types of tone in writing?
Tone is the overall feeling that a piece of writing conveys. Tone can be positive, negative, or neutral. The selected tone can impact how readers interpret what is written and what they think about the subject. It can also affect how people perceive a writer and their work.
What are some positive tone words?
What are some positive tone words?
- affectionate. having or displaying warmth or affection.
- appreciative. having or showing appreciation or a favorable critical judgment or opinion.
- bemused. Confused; bewildered.
- benevolent.
- blithe.
- comic.
- casual.
- celebratory.
What is the best description of tone?
- Cheerful
- Dry
- Assertive
- Lighthearted
- Regretful
- Humorous
- Pessimistic
- Nostalgic
- Melancholic
- Facetious
What are the different types of speaking tones?
formal vs. casual respectful vs. irreverent enthusiastic vs. matter-of-fact Once you’ve defined your target tone profile, refine your tone strategy by selecting from this list. Create a do list with the words that you want your tone to fit, and also a don’t list with the words that your tone should not match.

What are 5 examples of tone?
If you're drafting a novel, short story, or poem, you might consider your writing tone to be one or more of the following:Cheerful.Dry.Assertive.Lighthearted.Regretful.Humorous.Pessimistic.Nostalgic.More items...•
What are the 3 types of tones?
but here are the basic ones: Formal. Informal. Optimistic.
What is an example of tone in a sentence?
His tone was incredulous. That she doubted, but his tone was confident. Her tone was cautious but respectful. His expression and tone were anything but understanding.
What is an example of a tone word?
We have defined tone and put together this list of 155 words to help you describe an author's tone....155 Words To Describe An Author's Tone.ToneMeaningDepressingsad, melancholic; discouraging; pessimisticDerisivesnide; sarcastic; mocking; dismissive; scornfulDetachedaloof; objective; unfeeling; distantDignifiedserious; respectful; formal; proper151 more rows•Jun 27, 2014
What are 10 examples of tone?
It can be joyful, serious, humorous, sad, threatening, formal, informal, pessimistic, or optimistic.
What are the 4 types of tones?
The tone of any piece of content can be analyzed along 4 dimensions: humor, formality, respectfulness, and enthusiasm.
What are different types of tones?
Types of tone of voiceFormal tone.Informal tone.Humorous tone.Serious tone.Optimistic tone.Motivating tone.Respectful tone.Assertive tone.More items...•
How do you identify tone?
Tone is the author's attitude toward a subject. The tone can be identified by looking at word choices and phrases. Take time to look at the language. An author uses words to create meaning.
What are examples of mood and tone?
Nearly all the words useful for describing tone can also function as mood words: Longing, nostalgia, terror, passion, and excitement all qualify as moods as well as tones. Just as a character in a story can speak in a wrathful or indignant tone, a reader can experience an angry mood when reading about that character.
What are some examples of tone in poetry?
18 Examples of Tone Words in WritingCheerful.Dry.Assertive.Lighthearted.Regretful.Humorous.Pessimistic.Nostalgic.
What is speech tone?
The word "tone" used as a linguistic term describes voice pitch, but the same term used to describe public speaking deals with a complex analysis of the speaker's attitude and how the audience perceives the overall message.
What can be the tone of a story?
Tone in literature refers to the author's attitude toward a certain topic. Through specific word choice, the author reveals their feelings and opinions to the reader, conveying the author's intentions behind the text. The tone of a story is always described using an adjective.
What are three 3 types of tones in communication?
You can mix the following types of tones in your communication to make it more vibrant, impactful, and result-oriented: Formal tone. Informal tone. Factual tone.
How many types of tone are there?
There Are 9 Basic Types of Tone in Writing That makes it a little difficult to begin developing your personal tone as a writing skill, so those infinite tones have been categorized into 9 different types.
What are the types of musical tones?
6 Types of Tone Color in Musicvocal music – music that is sung.a capella – music sung with no instrumental accompaniment.instrumental music – music performed only by instruments.acoustic music – sound that is natural and not amplified electronically.amplified music – making sound louder through electric amplification.More items...
How many tones are there in music?
12 tonesNo music, except modern experimental pieces, uses all 12 tones. Most music uses the 7-tone or diatonic scale to divide octaves, and much of folk music uses five tones. These preferences correspond to the most prevalent formant ratios in speech.
What is tone in writing?
In literature, tone refers to how the author expresses their attitude throughout their writing. Tone might stay the same throughout a piece, or it might change to reflect a shift in the story or mood. An author might also use different tones in various pieces they write.
What is the tone of a written piece?
These choices are known as the tone of a written piece, which is similar to the tone of voice used when communicating orally. Understanding tone and its applications in various writing methods can help you determine how you want ...
What is an uplifting tone?
An uplifting tone seeks to convey a supportive and motivating feeling, providing reassurance to the reader that they can overcome challenging situations or take new steps in their journey. Using an uplifting tone is common among self-help authors and motivational speakers.
What does a tense tone mean in a story?
In most stories, a tense tone will lead to a resolution and the tone will change . Another term for a tense tone is worried, which can make the reader feel anxious or apprehensive about what is to come. Example: “She frantically searched the room for the killer, who she knew was hidden somewhere in the darkness.
Why do authors use tense tone?
An author might use a tense tone when writing a mystery or thriller and they want to convey feelings of worry and concern. In most stories, a tense tone will lead to a resolution and the tone will change.
What is a curious tone?
A curious tone reflects that the author or character wants to learn more about a particular topic or situation or that the reader will continue to uncover important details. Someone might write with a curious tone if they are trying to uncover new information or describing a young child who is learning more about the world around them. Using this tone can keep a reader intrigued as they continue to read the piece.
What factors affect the tone of a story?
Additional factors that impact the tone of a piece include the verbs and adjectives you use and how you utilize imagery to tell the story. Tone also refers to the complexity of the writing, along with the formality of the words used.
What does tone mean?
Tone reveals the author’s attitude about a subject or topic to their reader. It can be delivered in different ways, like through word choice, punctuation, and sentence structure.
What tone should a letter to a business client use?
Your audience can help you narrow down an appropriate tone as you’re writing. A letter to a business client might take a formal tone while a holiday card for your hairstylist might use a playful and casual tone.
Why is it important to use the right tone in writing?
By using the right tone in your writing, your readers can better understand your emotions regarding a topic. It’s a signal to your reader about how your writing should make them feel.
What are the elements of writing?
There are many elements needed to write well. In addition to learning technical skills, like correct spelling and grammar, conveying your intended tone in your writing is equally valuable.
What does deliberate word choice do to your writing?
Although you can decide between a handful of words with a similar meaning, deliberate word choice gives your writing added connotation that informs tone.
What are some examples of tone?
Here are some common examples of tone used by writers to convey feeling: nostalgic. regretful.
What is the meaning of tone in writing?
Definition of Tone. Tone is a literary device that reflects the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter or audience of a literary work. By conveying this attitude through tone, the writer creates a particular relationship with the reader that, in turn, influences the intention and meaning of the written words.
What is the tone of the Old Man's Eye?
The tone of this passage reveals that the narrator fears and is distressed by the old man’s eye. This is conveyed by Poe’s use of a vulture as a figurative comparison and the violent imagery associated with the remaining wording. As a result of this defined tone in describing the old man’s eye, the reader understands the narrator’s simultaneous feelings of revulsion and fascination. This establishes the narrator’s attitude and motive for the reader, which helps to reinforce the actions and events of the story.
What is the difference between tone and mood?
Tone signifies the point of view of the writer , whereas mood serves to convey the atmosphere of a written work and its overall feeling or vibe. Writers rely on figurative language and other literary devices to evoke mood in the reader, whereas dialogue and descriptors are typically used to convey tone.
How is tone conveyed in a narrative?
In a narrative work, a character’s tone is conveyed to the reader through specific dialogue and descriptions of the character’s body language, facial expression , and so on. Mood, however, does not always align with the tone expressed by a writer, narrator, or character.
Why is tone important in literature?
As a literary device, tone is an important aspect of the narrative voice of a literary work. This allows the writer to inform the reader and communicate attitudes and feelings that might otherwise be limited in conveying with just words. Here are some examples of tone in literature:
What are the challenges of tone?
One of the challenges that writers face regarding tone as a literary device is how to ensure that the reader “hears” the narrative voice properly. Without the natural inflection, emphasis, etc., of the human voice, tone can be difficult to convey in writing.
What are some examples of tone?
Examples of tone in a story include just about any adjective you can imagine: 1 Scared 2 Anxious 3 Excited 4 Worried 5 Foolish 6 Smart 7 Depressing
What Is Tone in Writing?
The tone in writing is not really any different than the tone of your voice. You know that sometimes it is not what you say but how you say it. It is the same with writing. Every adjective and adverb you use, your sentence structure and the imagery you use will show your tone. The definition of tone in literature is the way the author expresses their attitude through their writing.
What does the tone of a piece of work mean?
When you look at the tone of a piece of work, it's all about the words. The words that are used will dictate if the tone is happy, somber or all the emotions in between. See how these authors use their words to convey the tone of a piece of literature.
How does tone change in a story?
The tone can change very quickly or may remain the same throughout the story. Tone is expressed by your use of syntax, your point of view, your diction, and the level of formality in your writing. Examples of tone in a story include just about any adjective you can imagine.
What does formal tone mean?
A formal tone makes you want to straighten your back and stand at attention. It reminds you of the tone you might use with a superior or at work.
What is the tone of a tale of two cities?
In A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, the tone could be said to be mysterious, secretive, ominous, or evil through the use of words like "clammy," "followed," and "unwholesome.".
What is the tone of the poem "A River Runs Through It"?
In A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean, loss is addressed with a kind of acceptance. The tone is wistful, yet peaceful and moving towards acceptance.
How to understand tone?
To truly understand types of tone, you must experience them on the page. The way an author uses sentence structure, words, and literary devices all shape the overall mood of a piece. Sometimes tone reveals the attitude of a writer. Other times tone comes from an intentionally affected writing style and reveals little about the writer's attitude. Ultimately tone is less about what an author feels and more about how that author wants the reader to feel. What follows are contrasting tone examples.
What Does Tone Mean in Literature?
In literary terms, tone typically refers to the mood implied by an author’s word choice and the way that the text can make a reader feel.
What is the function of tone in writing?
The function of tone in a piece of creative writing is much like the effect of your tone of voice when you speak or your body language around another person. Honing your prose tone depends on what effect you wish to achieve.
What is the tone of a book?
Yet in fiction, an author’s tone is one of the most defining characteristics that sets one book apart from another. To fully understand how literary work is defined by tone, it’s essential to first understand the actual definition of tone.
What is the tone of Dickens' writing style?
The overall tone in Dickens’ writing style signifies a serious, ornate piece of literature. Dickens favors a level of formality and eschews casual everyday language; this results in a text that has a grand, formal tone befitting its cosmopolitan setting.
What is tone in writing?
So, what is tone and its different types? Tone is the way a writer uses words to convey non-verbal observations about specific subjects.
What should the tone of a speech be?
The tone should emanate a positive outlook on the job, and compel your audience to do their part.
Why do we use specific tone in writing?
Tones are a bit tricky to use though. If you don’t use the right tone, your readers might misunderstand your intent and have a negative perception of you and your writing.
What is the tone of an optimistic story?
Like the pessimistic tone, the optimistic tone is more like a state of mind, rather than being a signifier of the reality within the story. The tone usually takes place in the narrator’s mind and is a reaction to a specific situation within the story.
Why is it important to use tones in writing?
By using these tones in your writing, you will be able to add a whole new facet to your writing.
What is a nostalgic tone?
A nostalgic tone is meant to evoke a fondness for times long past. This is a useful tone if you have your characters reminiscing about their younger days or the way things were when they were younger.
What is the horror tone?
Horror is all about surprise and fear. When you use a horror-filled tone, your main intent should be to shock your readers to the core.
What is the tone in emails?
In emails, tone is the attitude you want to present to the recipient. Your email tone can convey many attitudes, such as professionalism, friendliness or optimism. Choosing the appropriate tone for your email ensures you send a message that reader can interpret easily, which helps you start or maintain a strong relationship.
How to determine tone of email?
The best way to determine what tone to use in your emails is to practice. You can write test emails based on different situations and scenarios to identify which response and tone fits best. Finding a willing friend or colleague to assist you is a great way to get started.
Why is tone important in email?
Why is the tone of emails important? Email tone is important because you can't rely on body language or vocal tones to convey your message. Therefore, when you want to express a specific feeling, focusing on your written tone can help you transmit those emotions.

Definition of Tone
Common Examples of Tone Used by Writers
- Just as tone of voice can express sentiment and emotion in speaking, tone can do the same in writing. Here are some common examples of tone used by writers to convey feeling: 1. nostalgic 2. regretful 3. joyful 4. envious 5. persuasive 6. dry 7. playful 8. assertive 9. pessimistic 10. petulant 11. facetious 12. inspirational 13. sympathetic 14. iro...
Famous Examples of Tone in Movie Lines
- One of the challenges that writers face regarding tone as a literary device is how to ensure that the reader “hears” the narrative voice properly. Without the natural inflection, emphasis, etc., of the human voice, tone can be difficult to convey in writing. In contrast, movie lines allow actors to utilize tone to an extent that it sometimes overshadows the words being spoken. Here are som…
Difference Between Tone and Mood
- As literary devices, tone and mood may seem interchangeable. Though they are similar, they are independent of each other and serve different purposes in a literary work. Tone signifies the point of view of the writer, whereas mood serves to convey the atmosphere of a written work and its overall feeling or vibe. Writers rely on figurative language and other literary devices to evoke mo…
Examples of Tone in Literature
- As a literary device, tone is an important aspect of the narrative voice of a literary work. This allows the writer to inform the reader and communicate attitudes and feelings that might otherwise be limited in conveying with just words. Here are some examples of tone in literature: