definition of speech tone

Tone Definition

What is tone? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance, an editorial in a newspaper that described its subject as "not even having the guts to do the job himself," has a tone that is both informal and critical.

Some additional key details about tone:

• All pieces of writing, even letters and official documents, have a tone. A neutral, official tone is still a tone.
• The tone of a piece of writing may change over the course of a text to produce different effects.
• Tone and mood are not the same. Tone has to do with the attitude of the author or the person speaking, whereas mood is how the work makes the reader feel.
• The author's intentions, emotions, and personal ideas about the theme or subject matter often reveal themselves in the piece's tone.

How to Pronounce Tone

Here's how to pronounce tone:  tohn

Tone Explained

It is always possible to describe the way that a writer uses language. Therefore, every piece of writing has a tone. Even when a writer's aim is to use completely neutral language—as is often the case in scientific papers or investigative journalism—the language still sounds a certain way, whether it's "scientific," "journalistic," "formal," "professional," or even "mechanical." The way a writer makes use of tone can tell you a lot about the writer's attitude or relationship toward their subject matter and what they are trying to say about it, as well as the effect they are trying to create for their reader.

Here's just a partial list of words that are commonly used to talk about tone, with examples of the types of writing they might be used to describe:

• A particularly stirring campaign speech
• The Declaration of Independence
• Maya Angelou's famous poem, "Still I Rise"
• A sappy love poem
• An over-the-top television sermon
• A wordy letter of apology
• A know-it-all at a cocktail party
• The comments section of almost any YouTube video
• A speech made by a boastful or proud character
• A speech at a funeral
• A murder mystery
• A novel about someone's struggles with depression
• An article in the newspaper The Onion
• A work of  parody  like Don Quixote
• A  satire , like many skits on SNL
• A stand-up comedy routine
• A play like Shakespeare's As You Like It
• A TV show like Seinfeld or Friends
• A Dr. Seuss Book
• A wedding speech
• A friendly joke
• An essay you'd write for school
• A dense work of political theory
• An article analyzing a political event
• A letter from the IRS
• A scientific paper
• Instructions on how to assemble furniture

The tone of a piece of writing depends on a confluence of different factors, including:

• The connotation  of the words used: Are they positive or negative? What associations do the words bring to mind?
• The diction , or word choice: Are there lots of thou's and thine's? Does the writer use slang? Are the words long and technical, or short and childish?
• The use of figurative language :  Is there a lot of metaphor, hyperbole, or alliteration? Does the language sound lofty and poetic?
• The mood : How does the language make you feel as the reader? This can reveal a lot about the tone of the piece.

All of these things work together to determine the tone of a piece of writing.

The Difference Between Tone and Mood

The words "tone" and " mood " are often used interchangeably, but the two terms actually have different meanings.

• Tone is the attitude or general character of a piece of writing and is often related to the attitude of the writer or speaker.
• Mood refers specifically to the effect a piece of writing has on the reader .  Mood is how a piece of writing makes you feel. 

While tone and mood are distinct literary devices, they are often closely related. For example, it wouldn't be unusual for a poem with a somber tone to also have a somber mood—i.e., to make the reader feel somber as well. And as we explained above, a journalist who makes a jab at a politician might be conveying how they feel about their subject (using a critical tone) while also trying to influence their readers to feel similarly—i.e., to create a  mood of anger or outrage.

Tone Examples

Since every text has a tone, there are essentially endless examples of tone. The examples below illustrate different types of tone. 

Tone in U.A. Fanthorpe's "Not my Best Side"

The poem "Not my Best Side" by U.A. Fanthorpe has a lighthearted and ironic   tone. The poem concerns the painting  Saint George and the Dragon  by Paolo Uccello, and pokes fun at the way the various characters are portrayed in the painting—the dragon, the maiden, and the knight who is supposedly rescuing her. Fanthorpe creates a contrast between her modern, colloquial way of speaking and the medieval subject matter of her poem. Using colloquial words like "sexy" and phrases like "if you know what I mean," Fanthorpe creates a lighthearted, conversational tone. But this conversational tone also has the effect of imbuing the poem with a tone of  irony  because it is used to describe the unlikely scenario of a maiden falling in love with a dragon.

It's hard for a girl to be sure if She wants to be rescued. I mean, I quite Took to the dragon. It's nice to be Liked, if you know what I mean. He was So nicely physical, with his claws And lovely green skin, and that sexy tail

Tone in Milton's "Lycidas"

The poem "Lycidas" by John Milton has a mournful   tone. The poem was inspired by the untimely death of Milton's friend, who drowned. To express his grief, and set the sorrowful and mournful tone, Milton uses words and phrases with negative  connotations , like, "watery bier" (or "tomb"), "parching wind" and "melodious tear."

For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime, Young lycidas, and hath not left his peer. Who would not sing for Lycidas? he knew Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme He must not float upon his watery bier Unwept, and welter to the parching wind, Without the meed of some melodious tear.

Tone in Flaubert's  Madame Bovary

In many passages in Gustave Flaubert's  Madame Bovary , Flaubert's own cynicism about romance shines through the third-person narration to imbue the work with a tone of cynicism. Bored by her husband and desperate for a passionate love affair like the sort she reads about in romance novels, Emma Bovary gets involved with a notorious womanizer. Flaubert highlights Emma's foolishness for falling for such an obvious hack, who sees her as no different from any other mistress:

Emma was just like any other mistress; and the charm of novelty, falling down slowly like a dress, exposed only the eternal monotony of passion, always the same forms and the same language. He did not distinguish, this man of such great expertise, the differences of sentiment beneath the sameness of their expression.

Flaubert sets the cynical tone in part by describing, using figurative language , how the charm of novelty, for Madame Bovary's lover, fell down "slowly like a dress," suggesting that what she experiences as romance, her lover experiences only as an extended prelude to sex.

What's the Function of Tone in Literature?

First and foremost, tone clues readers into the essence and the purpose of what they're reading. It wouldn't make sense to use a wordy, poetic tone to write a simple set of directions, just like it wouldn't make sense to use a dry, unfeeling tone when writing a love poem. Rather, writers set the tone of their work to match not only the content of their writing, but also to suit the purpose they intend for it to serve, whether that is to convey information clearly, to make people laugh, to lavish praises on someone, or something else. Additionally, tone can serve the following purposes:

• For example, a biography of Bill Clinton might have a critical tone if the author has critical views of the former president and what he stood for, or it might have an admiring tone if the author was a staunch Clinton supporter.
• If a writer wants their readers to feel upset, he or she might use words with certain connotations to create a gloomy tone.
• Likewise, if a writer wants to create an informal tone, he or she might make use of colloquialisms , slang terms, and everyday language to make the reader feel like their familiar or their equal.

Simply put, establishing the tone of a work is important because it helps writers show readers what the work is trying to accomplish, and what attitude the work takes toward its own subject matter.

Other Helpful Tone Resources

• Wikipedia Page on Tone in Literature : A helpful overview of tone and its usage.
• A Definition of Tone : A definition of tone that includes a short overview of the difference between tone and mood.
• List of Poetic Tones : A handy chart listing a slew of tones commonly found in poetry, and all other types of literature.

• PDFs for all 136 Lit Terms we cover
• Downloads of 1902 LitCharts Lit Guides
• Teacher Editions for every Lit Guide
• Explanations and citation info for 40,034 quotes across 1902 books
• Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play
• Colloquialism
• Connotation
• Figurative Language
• Anadiplosis
• Personification
• Understatement
• Slant Rhyme
• Foreshadowing
• Alliteration
• Rhyme Scheme
• Climax (Figure of Speech)
• Static Character
• Epanalepsis
• Juxtaposition

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. However, though the writer’s tone may reflect their personal attitude or opinion, this literary device may also strictly apply to convey the attitudes and feelings of a certain character or narrator . Therefore, it’s essential for readers to look closely at the literary choices made by the writer so as not to unfairly assign a tone to them and to interpret tone judiciously.

Writers use several techniques to convey tone, including word choice, figurative language , punctuation , and even sentence structure. This helps to establish a narrative voice so that the reader not only understands the words as they are presented in a work but also their meanings, as intended by the writer, character, or narrator. A defined tone allows readers to connect with the writer and/or their narrators and characters.

For example, in his short story “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Edgar Allan Poe utilizes tone as a literary device to convey the way the narrator feels about the old man and his eye.

His eye was like the eye of a vulture, the eye of one of those terrible birds that watch and wait while an animal dies, and then fall upon the dead body and pull it to pieces to eat it.

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 .

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:

• pessimistic
• inspirational
• sympathetic
• anticipating

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 some examples of tone in lines from famous movies:

• “Go ahead, make my day.”  Sudden Impac t
• “That is so fetch.”  Mean Girls
• “May the Force be with you.”  Star Wars
• “Just keep swimming.”  Finding Nemo
• “I still believe in heroes .”  Avengers
• “There’s no place like home.”  The Wizard of Oz
• “You can’t handle the truth!”  A Few Good Men
• “I’m the king of the world!”  Titanic
• “To infinity and beyond!”  Toy Story
• “What’s the most you ever lost on a coin toss?”  No Country for Old Men

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 mood in the reader, whereas dialogue and descriptors are typically used to convey tone.

Many of the words used to describe a literary work’s tone can also be used to describe mood, such as passionate, wistful, nostalgic, etc. In 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. For example, a writer may set a mournful mood through a work’s genre , setting , context clues, and plot details; yet, certain characters may be unaware of the sad circumstances and their dialogue may reflect a completely different tone.

Three Types of Tone: Non-assertive, Aggressive, and Assertive

When a literary piece just presents facts and does not show any information using persuasive or convincing word choice, it is a nonassertive tone. However, when it attacks the position of the other party or persons, using words, showing aggression and anger, it means the tone is aggressive. And if there is no sign of anger, and the expression is calm, peaceful, and somewhat pacifist, it means the tone is assertive. Even such tones could be non-assertive aggressive, confused, assertive aggressive, and so on. In short, it depends on the word choice and the readers’ perception.

Use of Tone in Sentences

• You are a terrible liar! (Aggressive tone)
• If you don’t do what I say, I’ll beat you to the pulp. (Aggressive tone)
• You have to pick your legos from the floor and put them in the basket. So, when I come back, I don’t want to see anything lying around. (Assertive tone)
• I don’t really like the way you talk to me. I’ll thank you for your manners. (Assertive tone)
• I’m sorry you lost your ticket. Kindly get off the bus and get another one. (Non-assertive tone)
• Thanks for not answering my call. I was at the hospital for your sister and she needed you. A great brother you are! (non-assertive tone)

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:

Example 1: A Modest Proposal  by Jonathan Swift

A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone , the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter .

Swift’s “proposal” that poverty in early 18th century Ireland could be mitigated by butchering the children of poor Irish families and selling them as food to wealthy English citizens is intended as satire , and the narrator’s tone reflects this. Swift presents his satire as an economic treatise with the appearance of a formal, distant, and systematic tone. However, the underlying tone of Swift’s writing reflects that of disillusionment, irony , and even provocation toward the reader.

In this literary work, the emotionally distant and acerbic wording of Swift serves to enhance the writer’s intense criticism regarding the legal and economic exploitation of Ireland by England. In this way, Swift’s “proposal” is meant to evoke strong emotion among readers and thereby invoke a call to action as a result. As a literary device, the tone is effective in this work in its impact on the reader of shock and discomfort as a means of bringing about societal awareness and change.

Example 2: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.

In this passage from  The Alchemist , Coelho utilizes descriptive and figurative language to establish a tone of wonder and awe at the metaphysical relationships in the universe. By asserting to the reader that “we” are metaphorical travelers that are all part of the infinite cosmos, Coelho is able to convey the connection humans have to all that has existed and all that will exist. This allows the reader to feel connections with the writer’s words, their meanings, and the universe itself through the literary work. In addition, the inclusion of the image that human interaction is a momentary and temporary encounter “to meet, to love, to share” implies that people’s lives are brief and precious against the scope of the universe and a parenthetical interruption of a larger narrative. This calls for the reader to reflect on how they choose to impact, even briefly, the people and world around them.

Writers often find it challenging to express universal meaning in a literary work with denotative and connotative wording. In this passage, Coelho utilizes tone as a literary device to convey a universality to human existence as it relates to time and space. This is appealing to the reader in the sense that it conveys belonging and connection to all things while also acknowledging the existence and importance of the individual at momentary points along the continuum.

Example 3: Beloved by Toni Morrison

And in all those escapes he could not help being astonished by the beauty of this land that was not his. He hid in its breast, fingered its earth for food, clung to its banks to lap water and tried not to love it. On nights when the sky was personal, weak with the weight of its own stars, he made himself not love it. Its graveyards and its low-lying rivers. Or just a house – solitary under a chinaberry tree; maybe a mule tethered and the light hitting its hide just so. Anything could stir him and he tried hard not to love it.

In this passage of Morrison’s novel , the narrator’s description of Paul D’s conflicting feelings towards the American landscape in which he lives sets a significant tone for the reader that reflects his inner pain. Paul D is a former slave, and readers of the novel would not expect his character to feel anything but animosity towards the people and land that have enslaved him. However, as the narrator informs the reader, Paul D internally struggles to “not love” America for its beauty and, essentially, its broken promises of freedom, liberty, and equality .

By incorporating a maternal image in this passage of Paul D hiding, fingering, and clinging to America for survival, Morrison evokes in the reader the feeling that America has “birthed” Paul D and wants to care for him. However, the reason he can’t embrace and love America as a motherland is because of the hypocrisy in its treatment and rejection of him. The tone of Morrison’s words conveys Paul D’s deep conflict and struggle between his simultaneous attachment to the American landscape and what it claims to represent and resentment of the reality and hypocrisy of slavery. By using this literary device, Morrison is able to connect through the narrative voice with readers who may not be able to otherwise understand the complexity and anguish of Paul D’s feelings.

 Example 4: The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini

“She would have suffered. My family would have never accepted her as an equal. You don’t order someone to polish your shoes one day and call them ‘sister’ the next.” He looked at me. “You know, you can tell me anything you want, Amir jan. Anytime.”

These lines from the novel of Khalid Hosseini, an Afghani, show its tone serious yet biased. The narrator is clear that his family is biased toward the Hazara, a minority Shia community in Afghanistan.

Example 5: The Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed; and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken, to ease the nation of so grievous an incumbrance. But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known, that they are every day dying, and rotting, by cold and famine, and filth, and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected.

These lines show the satiric tone of Jonathan Swift . Although it seems a simple suggestion, the choice of the word shows that he thinks that the aged, diseased, and the maimed are just an “incumbrance.”

Synonyms of Tone

  Tone does not have close synonyms used in literature. However, generally, mood, quality, feel, style , air, note, attitude, spirit, character, temper, flavor, and tenor could be interchangeably used.

Related posts:

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• Alas, Poor Yorick!
• Miles to Go Before I Sleep
• All the World’s a Stage
• Neither a Borrower Nor a Lender Be
• My Kingdom for a Horse
• Once More unto the Breach
• To Sleep, Perchance to Dream
• Hamlet Act-I, Scene-I Study Guide
• Curiosity Killed the Cat
• Raining Cats and Dogs

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Understanding Tone of Voice in Communication: Definition and Examples

Have you ever considered the power of your tone of voice? How we communicate, verbally and non-verbally, significantly impacts our personal and professional relationships. In today’s fast-paced world, mastering the art of effective communication is essential.

This blog post will offer a fresh perspective on understanding the “tone of voice in communication definition,” delve into the various types of tone and provide practical tips for mastering tone in various contexts.

By the end of this post, you’ll be equipped with valuable insights to enhance your communication skills and leave a lasting impression on your listeners.

Key Takeaways

• The tone of voice is an important factor in communication, consisting of pitch, volume, and speed.
• It can be adapted to suit personal relationships and professional settings to foster trust or encourage listeners.
• Body language, such as facial expressions and gestures, should also be considered for effective communication.

Defining Tone of Voice in Communication

The tone of voice, a crucial aspect of communication, is a potent tool in expressing sentiments, emotions, disposition, and objectives, including a positive tone. In spoken communication, the components of tone of voice include:

• Word choice
• Sentence structure
• Level of formality
• All other elements are discernible in a script or a print advertisement.

However, distinguishing between written tone and spoken word raises a question. The distinction between written and spoken tone of voice lies in their focus.

While written tone pertains to the attitude and emotional context conveyed through writing, spoken tone refers to how someone sounds when they speak, encompassing their personality and mood.

For example, Giancarlo Esposito’s voice in Sonos Voice Control exhibits a natural, consistent, and friendly style, showcasing a perfect blend of tone and speaking style.

Components of Tone of Voice

The elements that makeup tone of voice include pitch, volume, and speed, which are crucial in conveying the intended message and avoiding miscommunication.

For instance, a high-pitched voice may suggest immaturity and childishness, while a low pitch can convey authority or seriousness. The volume of speech can be employed to stress certain words or phrases, thereby aiding in the expression of emotion.

Regulating the pace of speech holds equal significance in shaping the tone of voice. Consciously moderating the speed can aid in achieving a more informative tone and help control emotional tones in communication.

Slow speech can impart a commanding presence yet may also demonstrate a lack of interest and lead to disengagement. On the other hand, fast speech can suggest nervousness or enthusiasm, significantly impacting the tone of voice and how a person is perceived.

Written vs. Spoken Tone of Voice

In contrasting written and speaking tones, one should consider the differences in their execution.

While written tone requires careful word choice, punctuation, and sentence structure to convey the intended message and emotion, spoken tone relies on the speaker’s ability to adjust their tone of voice, pitch, volume, and speed to achieve the desired effect.

In certain situations, an informal tone of voice may be more appropriate. This tone is more casual, and includes slang expressions, and shorter words, helping to convey emotions and individual opinions.

However, if not used appropriately, an informal tone can create confusion in communication. Therefore, understanding the nuances of both written and spoken tones of voice is crucial for successful communication.

The Importance of Tone of Voice in Communication

The significance of tone of voice in communication is undeniable. It contributes to a more congenial work environment, fosters understanding and respect for colleagues, and results in more effective communication and collaboration.

The way a person speaks can significantly influence how their message is interpreted and perceived while also expressing feelings, emotions, attitudes, and intentions. This makes the choice of voice important in various situations, including personal relationships and professional settings.

Any business fundamentally requires an effective tone of voice that employs voice computing to interact with customers. It provides listeners with an indication of who the speaker is and conveys brand personality.

For example, utilizing Giancarlo Esposito’s voice in Sonos Voice Control lets users recognize the brand immediately. Furthermore, adopting a clear and concise communication style helps ensure the intended message is conveyed accurately and prevents potential misinterpretations.

The tone of Voice in Personal Relationships

The tone of voice is significant in personal relationships, fostering trust, demonstrating understanding, and establishing a bond.

Employing a tone that the other individual perceives as being pleasant and agreeable can aid us in establishing trust and creating a favorable relationship.

Moreover, utilizing a tone of voice that expresses understanding and sympathy can assist us in demonstrating empathy and forming a firmer connection with the other individual.

By adopting a welcoming and open tone of voice, we can establish a connection with the other individual. This is especially important during difficult conversations or when trying to resolve conflicts, as a soft and empathetic tone can help to defuse tension and promote understanding.

The tone of Voice in Professional Settings

The tone of voice holds similar importance in professional settings, as it can impact communication by conveying different meanings and subtleties. In addition, mastering the appropriate tone of voice can help leaders:

• Demonstrate assurance
• Augment respect

Incorrect tone of voice can detrimentally affect relationships with other team members, making it essential to maintain the right tone in professional communication and avoid using the wrong tone.

You can adapt your tone of voice according to different situations in professional settings. For example:

• Adopting a positive and courteous tone is advisable when conversing with one’s superior.
• When delivering knowledge or data, a formal and informative tone of voice should be employed.
• Adopting a more humorous tone and expressing one’s personality can be suitable in informal settings with clients or colleagues with a good rapport.

Common Types of Tone of Voice

Numerous types of tone of voice exist that can be employed in different situations, such as:

• motivational
• informational

Understanding these different tones and their appropriate use can significantly enhance communication in personal and professional contexts.

By understanding the varied tones and adjusting them suitably, one can convey their message more effectively and leave a lasting impression on their audience.

Each tone of voice has its unique characteristics and can be used to achieve specific outcomes. For example, a motivational tone can inspire and encourage, whereas a respectful tone can demonstrate politeness and consideration. Let’s explore some common types of tone of voice and their applications.

Motivating Tone of Voice

A motivating tone of voice inspires and encourages individuals to draw upon their capabilities and strive for success.

This tone effectively maintains engagement and motivation in both personal and professional contexts. By employing a motivating tone, leaders can inspire their teams to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

Utilizing positive language, speaking enthusiastically, and employing a confident and authoritative tone are examples of a motivating tone of voice. This tone can be especially effective when one needs to instill confidence, boost morale, or persuade others to take action.

Informative Tone of Voice

An informative tone of voice imparts knowledge, conveys facts, and encourages personal development. It provides clear and concise explanations and instructions, typically in educational or instructional content, to impart valuable information to the audience.

In professional settings, an informative tone of voice can showcase authority and expertise, making it an essential tool for leaders and educators alike.

To achieve an informative tone, one must focus on clarity and conciseness in their speech, avoiding industry jargon or technical language that is difficult to comprehend. By employing a clear and informative tone, the speaker can ensure that their message is effectively communicated and understood by their audience.

Soft Tone of Voice

A soft tone of voice is employed for intimate dialogues, conveying sympathy and kindness during difficult dialogues. In personal relationships, a soft tone of voice can foster an atmosphere of intimacy and understanding, allowing the other person to feel secure and encouraging them to pay close attention.

Employing softer words and speaking at a lower volume can assist in conveying a soft tone of voice. A soft tone of voice can be crucial in building trust and maintaining harmony in situations requiring empathy and understanding, such as comforting a friend or resolving a conflict.

Humorous Tone of Voice

A humorous tone of voice is utilized to maintain the audience’s cheerful disposition with amusing anecdotes or quotations.

This tone can enliven the atmosphere and captivate the audience, making it an excellent tool for engaging listeners and fostering a positive mood. However, it is essential to employ a humorous tone of voice appropriately so as not to cause offense or miscommunication.

Examples of humorous tone of voice include making jokes, utilizing puns, and narrating funny stories. By adding humor to a conversation or presentation, speakers can create a more enjoyable and memorable experience for their audience.

Respectful Tone of Voice

Kindness, humility, and truthfulness characterize a respectful tone of voice. It is particularly important in professional settings, where demonstrating respect for the rights, opinions, and feelings of the listener or audience is essential. Utilizing a respectful tone of voice can enhance communication by fostering a sense of trust and rapport between the speaker and the listener.

Examples of respectful tone of voice include speaking tranquility and courteously, utilizing appropriate language, and abstaining from sarcasm or censure. Speakers can create a positive impression and build strong connections with their audience by adopting a respectful tone.

Tips for Mastering Tone of Voice in Communication

Mastering tone of voice in communication requires focusing on three key elements: matching tone to message, adapting tone for different audiences, and practicing active listening.

Developing proficiency in these areas can significantly improve the effectiveness of one’s communication in both personal and professional settings.

Subsequent sections will detail these elements and provide practical tips for improving your tone of voice in communication.

Matching Tone to Message

Ensuring a match between tone and message means the inflection of the communication is in accordance with the desired meaning and context of the communication. This is crucial to guarantee that the message is communicated precisely and proficiently.

For example, a solemn tone of voice should be employed when conveying a solemn message, while a jocular tone of voice should be employed when communicating a jocular message.

By aligning tone with the conveyed message, speakers can ensure that their communication is clear, accurate, and effective. This skill is particularly important in professional settings, where misunderstandings can have significant consequences.

Adapting Tone for Different Audiences

It’s imperative to adapt your tone for diverse audiences, as it enables the successful communication of ideas, taking into account cultural background, age, and professional status.

When altering one’s tone for different audiences, it is imperative to factor in cultural background, age, and professional standing and assess the context of the discourse and the relationship between the speaker and the audience.

Examples of tone adjustment for varied audiences include:

• Adopting a more casual and amicable tone for a younger audience
• Employing a more formal and deferential tone for an older audience
• Utilizing a more authoritative and educational tone for a professional audience

Speakers can ensure their message is well-received and understood by adapting tone to suit different audiences.

Practicing Active Listening

Active listening practice includes attentively observing the speaker’s voice and responding appropriately.

This skill is essential for fostering better communication and strengthening relationships, as it demonstrates respect and empathy towards the speaker, increases comprehension, and lessens misapprehensions.

Additionally, active listening allows for improved problem-solving and decision-making, as it allows one to acquire accurate information and perspectives.

To practice active listening, one can:

• Refrain from interrupting
• Inquire with clarifying questions
• Reiterate what the speaker has said
• Provide feedback

By honing active listening skills, individuals can become more effective communicators and enhance their personal and professional relationships.

The Connection Between Body Language and Tone of Voice

Facial expressions and gestures, components of body language, can significantly correlate with tone of voice.

These nonverbal cues can express emotions such as tension or anger and signify confidence or distrust, thereby influencing the tone of voice and the overall impression of the speaker.

Grasping the link between body language and tone of voice can help individuals to communicate more effectively and avoid misunderstandings. The forthcoming sections will delve into the function of facial expressions and gestures in conveying meaning and emotion in communication.

Facial Expressions

Facial expressions hold supreme importance when discussing tone of voice, as they reinforce the intended message and illustrate emotions and attitudes.

Facial expressions can reinforce the tone of voice by exhibiting the same emotions and attitudes as the tone of voice, such as a smile indicating happiness or a scowl indicating anger. Conversely, facial expressions can also contradict the tone of voice, generating confusion and transmitting mixed messages.

By being aware of the facial expressions that accompany their tone of voice, speakers can ensure that their communication is consistent and effectively conveys their intended message. This can lead to more successful communication and stronger connections with their audience.

Gestures and Posture

With regard to tone of voice, gestures and posture carry substantial weight, as they are nonverbal behaviors that can effectively convey messages and reinforce or emphasize the verbal content of speech.

Utilizing appropriate gestures and maintaining an open posture can contribute to the overall impression of the speaker, making their communication more engaging and persuasive.

By being mindful of the gestures and posture accompanying their tone of voice, speakers can enhance their overall communication and leave a lasting impression on their audience. This can lead to more effective communication and stronger connections in both personal and professional settings.

In conclusion, understanding and mastering tone of voice in communication is essential for success in both personal and professional relationships.

By exploring the different types of tone, learning to match tone to message, adapting tone for various audiences, and practicing active listening, individuals can enhance their communication skills and leave a lasting impression on their listeners.

Remember, the power of your tone of voice can significantly impact the way your message is received and perceived. So, make every word count, and let your tone of voice be the key to unlocking effective communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does tone of voice affect communication.

The tone of voice is essential in communication as it changes the meaning of words and affects how people perceive and interact with you.

It can influence their willingness to listen and create confusion or misinterpretation if your tone isn’t aligned with your words.

Good copywriting should be easy to read. Splitting your text into paragraphs is a key to better readability. Start a new paragraph whenever you introduce a new idea or change the direction of your argument. This will

What are the 4 essential types of tone of voice in communication?

Motivator, Educator, Coach, and Colleague are the four essential types of tone of voice in communication.

What is a positive tone of voice?

A positive tone of voice is friendly , professional, and sincere while using words and tones that are appropriate, respectful, and supportive. It should be genuine and cheerful, not mocking or sarcastic, to keep the audience engaged and to encourage people to buy into your ideas.

What is the tone of voice in face-to-face communication?

When communicating face to face, tone of voice is essential to consider as it conveys the character of your business through your words.

It is not only about what is said, but also how it is said and the impression it leaves on those who read or hear you.

What does tone of voice mean?

The tone of voice is how you communicate your brand’s character in words, spoken or written, and the impression it leaves on your audience. According to Merriam-Webster, it refers to how someone speaks to someone else. It can be confused with written tone when used to describe a brand’s writing.

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• Literary Terms
• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Create Tone

I. What is Tone?

Tone does not mean quite the same thing in literature as it does for the way people speak, but it’s pretty close; it refers to the “feel” of a piece of writing. It’s a more complex and general quality than, say, an “angry tone of voice”; instead it is closer to the meaning of “style” or “voice” in writing, possibly referring to any or all of the stylistic qualities the writing, such as formality, dialect, and atmosphere.

II. Examples of Tone

I’ll just swing by your office at 4 tomorrow! I will meet you in your office tomorrow at 4:00.

These two sentences convey exactly the same ideas, but one does it in a highly informal tone while the other uses a formal tone. The tone is set by many different features: contractions (such as “I’ll”) are key indicators of informal tone. And there’s also a colloquialism (“swing by”) and an informal punctuation mark (!).  In contrast, the more formal sentence uses perfect grammar, no idioms , and higher level vocabulary.

In addition to style , tone can also be set by content . That is, your tone is mostly about how you express your ideas, but it’s also partially about what you express. For example, if you’re writing a philosophy paper on ethics and you use a case study as an example, your selection of the example will help set the tone. A silly example will set a humorous, informal tone, while a more serious example will have the opposite effect.

III. Types of Tone

There are an infinite number of different tones, all composed of different qualities such as dark, humorous, serious, emotional, objective, chaotic, etc. Perhaps the most important aspect of tone, though, is the formal / informal distinction. Every piece of writing falls somewhere along the sliding scale between extremely formal (appropriate for business letters, academic publications, etc.) and extremely informal (appropriate for text messages between close friends). For the sake of simplicity, this article will focus primarily on the difference between formal and informal tone.

IV. The Importance of Tone

Tone affects how readers will respond to your writing. Although its effects can be very subtle, they are profound, in much the same way as a person’s body language and overall personality. You may not be able to put your finger on exactly why , but different people have a remarkably different kind of presence, and the same thing is true of writing.

Thus, tone is important in writing the same way personality is important in any situation. In theory , it should be less important than the substance of what you’re saying; but in practice that’s just not how it works. People are persuaded by tone and personality much more than they are by logical arguments , so it’s absolutely crucial to set your tone correctly. If you are writing a legal brief, for example, and the tone is too informal, then it won’t matter how brilliant your arguments are. Similarly, if you’re writing the script for a radio ad and the tone is too stiff and formal, then it won’t matter how useful the information is!

V. Examples of Tone in Literature

Great novelists are easy to recognize from their tones. Often, the tone of the narration matches the tone that the major characters use in their everyday speech. For example, Jane Austen’s novels are about wealthy families in the English countryside and the social conventions that rule their lifestyles; accordingly, the tone of her novels tends to be formal and grammatically precise (though certainly not without humor)! On the other hand, J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye is about a bitter, lonely teenage boy, and so the tone is much more informal, biting, and sarcastic.

And the trees all died. They were orange trees. I don’t know why they died, they just died. (Donald Barthelme, The School )

Children’s speech has a unique tone to it. In this passage, a childlike tone is created through short, choppy sentences and simple vocabulary (diction). Each sentence is grammatically simple, without frills or detail. But notice how the bleak mood of the passage is in direct contrast to its childlike tone ; in this case, the author’s tone helps him undermine the clichés about the innocence and joy of childhood.

VI. Examples of Tone in Pop Culture

There are many differences between Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter , even though both are popular high fantasy series. One of the most important differences is tone, and this applies to both the books and the films. Whereas Lord of the Rings has an epic, mythological tone to its writing, Harry Potter is more casual and straightforward in tone. Although neither series is exactly what you would call “formal,” Lord of the Rings is certainly closer to formal, or “high style.”

You may dance if you fancy it; you may take leave of your companions. For your friends do not partake in the dance, and if they shall not partake in the dance then they shan’t be among my companions. ( Joseph Ducreaux meme )

This is one of the oldest games around: take the lyrics of a popular song, and translate them into an archaic and overly formal tone. These days, the game is often played on the internet, and the results are layered on top of an image of Joseph Ducreaux. In this example, the lyrics come from “Safety Dance” by Men At Work.

VII. Related Terms

One aspect of tone is diction , or the particular words and sentence structures used by a given author. If your diction emphasizes slang terms, for example, then the tone of the writing will inevitably be informal. Conversely, complex and sophisticated diction will create a more formal tone.

Tone can play a role in crafting an author’s “persona,” or the personality that they take on as an author. Persona is mostly a feature of fiction, where the narrator plays an important role in the story. For example, if your story is in first person (using “I”), then your persona as author is the main character who’s narrating the story. But a third-person narrator can also have a persona – for example, does your narrator crack jokes about the characters, or is he/she completely serious about the story? Similarly, in nonfiction it’s important to decide what kind of “character” you want to paint yourself as in your writing. In formal writing, convention states that the persona should be a detached, objective observer – but this is still a kind of persona!

Tone is very closely related to “mood,” or the overall emotional color of a piece. Indeed, these two terms are almost synonymous. The only difference is that mood refers to an emotional quality, whereas tone can refer to emotional and non-emotional qualities alike. So, a “sad tone” is the same thing as a “sad mood”; but you could only say that a piece has a “formal tone,” not a “formal mood,” because formality is not an emotion.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
• Essay Guide
• Cite This Website

Table of Contents

Collaboration, information literacy, writing process.

• © 2023 by Joseph M. Moxley - University of South Florida

Tone in writing and communication captures the mood or emotion the author intends to convey. Rooted in linguistic choices, contextual cues, and author's perspective, tone can vary from formal to playful, or objective to emotional. By understanding its nuances, readers can better interpret texts, writers can enhance their connection with audiences , and effective communication is achieved across various mediums .

What is Tone?

Tone in writing and communication irefers to the mood or emotional character conveyed through a text . Specifically, e.g., tone refer to

• Emotional Resonance Tone can evoke specific emotions in readers, from elation and inspiration to melancholy and irritation. The way a writer crafts sentences, structures arguments, or even the stories they recount can impact how a reader feels while engaging with the text.
• Authorial Intent The writer’s intent, their specific purpose behind writing, largely shapes tone. For instance, an author aiming to persuade might employ a confident and assertive tone, while one seeking to entertain may opt for a lighter, humorous one.
• Consistency Maintaining a consistent tone is vital for coherence and reader engagement. While tonal shifts can be employed for effect, they should be intentional and not jarring.
• Contextual Adaptability Recognizing and adjusting tone based on the situation or audience is a skill. An op-ed in a newspaper might have a formal and earnest tone, while a blog post on the same topic could be informal and conversational. The words we choose, and the manner in which they are arranged, heavily influence tone. A statement framed as “The event was satisfactory” carries a different tone than saying “The event was outstanding.”
• Cultural Sensitivity Tone isn’t universal. What might be a neutral tone in one culture could be perceived as aggressive or overly casual in another. Being attuned to cultural nuances is essential, especially in global communication.
• Linguistic Nuance The specific word choices and structures that generate particular tonal effects.
• Reader Feedback The tone of a text can sometimes be best assessed through reader feedback. Readers’ interpretations and reactions can offer insights into whether the intended tone was achieved.
• Reflection of Subject Matter The subject often dictates the tone. A piece on a solemn topic, like a memorial, will naturally have a different tone than an article about a festive holiday celebration.

Examples on the Importance of Tone

Have you ever gotten mad about something someone told you just because of the way they said it to you? Maybe it was criticism you needed to hear, but still, they took so much pleasure bringing you down that you lost your temper. Well, then, you know all about tone!

Writers, speakers, knowledge workers . . . should consider the tone (and voice and persona) of their discourse. Otherwise, they risk being ignored.  When the goal is to persuade an audience with an opposing view, writers think carefully need to think about how their tone and voice will affect their readers.

Consider the difference between these two sentences:

Ex: I bought a car.

   Ex: I effected a transaction to advance my transportational needs.

The first is simple and direct. The second is pretentious to the point of gibberish. But tone is often more than this. Consider these sentences:

Ex: You should probably get a haircut.

   Ex: I know you don’t really want to, but you should consider a haircut in the near future.

  Ex: Your hair is a bit shaggy. Have you considered a haircut?

The first sentence is direct and informal—you  might say this to someone you know well. The second sentence is also informal, but adds some consideration for the audience’s feelings. By doing this, the speaker has shown concern for any doubts the audience may have—in certain situations, this kind of consideration may be the key to persuading the reader to agree with you! The final sentence puts the burden of action on the audience. The speaker has made an observation and a subtle suggestion. For some situations, this may be effective. For others, it may not work at all.

Tone also reveals how the writer feels about the topic at hand. Consider these sentences:

Ex: The police should be respected at all times.

Ex: The cops should be respected accordingly. 

The first sentence is formal and suggests admiration for law enforcement. The second sentence says the same thing, but in a subtly different way. The replacement of the formal “police” with the less formal “cops” reveals  not a lack of respect, but less respect for law enforcement. The phrase “should be respected accordingly” may suggest that law enforcement deserve respect, but the addition of “accordingly” suggests that respect given is respect returned— that the speaker is not automatically respectful— only if the “cops” are first respectful in turn. Tone can be subtle like this. What does your word choice say about your attitudes?

How can I improve my tone?

If someone has commented on your tone, you should step back and consider the assignment again. What is your purpose? Who is your audience? What message are you trying to communicate? Tone may be a matter of formality. It may be a question of your feelings about the topic. Or it may be that you are addressing the wrong audience for the assignment.

When revising your tone, picture your audience in front of you. What words will they respond to? What words will they understand and appreciate? When in doubt, go back to the beginning: what is the assignment?

Why does tone matter?

Tone — the way you say something — can have a profound impact on whether an audience is willing to listen to you and consider your observations and opinions. When speaking, tone is evident in the way you pronounce your words, the syllables you emphasize, the way you slow down and speed up over each sound. Spoken tone is also enhanced by your facial expression and hand gesture. When writing, you can’t lean on body language or spoken voice. Instead, you need to use the elements of style , especially diction , syntax, and appeals to pathos , ethos , and logos .

How does word choice effect tone?

The words writers choose reflect the formality or informality of the rhetorical situation. Academic writing often calls for the use of formal diction, in contrast to the less formal language of everyday conversation. The use of conversational language and informal tone—writing as we speak—in academic papers is often too casual and may weaken the credibility of the writer. On the other hand, the use of language that is pompous or stuffy can make the writing sound overly complex. Utilizing language appropriate to the academic context can help to create balanced communication between writer and reader.

How can informal or overly formal language be revised?

• Replace slang or colloquial (conversational) terms with precise, conventional language.
• Replace informal conversational language with academically-focused language; the use of third-person point of view and appropriate terminology can often help with this process.
• Simplify language that may come across as pompous or stuffy.

Let’s look at an example:

• Informal: When he talked about the BP Oil Spill, President Obama dropped names to impress his audience. (casual, conversational language)
• Pompous: Communicating with the municipal group concerning the petrol company’s misfortunate escape of emollient, President Obama alludes to erudite scientific scholars and research communities so as to institute a sense of trust amongst his supporters. (pompous, stuffy)
• Formal: In his speech regarding the BP Oil Spill, President Obama referenced knowledgeable scientists and research groups in order to establish credibility with his audience. (appropriate academic language) 

Recommended Readings

Marcus, Ezra. (2020, December 9)  Tone is hard to grasp online. Can tone indicators help?   New York Times . https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/style/tone-indicators-online.html 

Brevity - Say More with Less

Clarity (in Speech and Writing)

Coherence - How to Achieve Coherence in Writing

Flow - How to Create Flow in Writing

Inclusivity - Inclusive Language

The Elements of Style - The DNA of Powerful Writing

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Chapter 3: Phonetics

3.12 Tone and intonation

During voicing, the vocal folds vibrate at some rate, which is normally called the fundamental frequency (typically abbreviated f 0  or F0 ) when talking specifically about the actual physical vibration and pitch when talking about our auditory perception of that vibration. For the purposes of this discussion, we will use the term pitch , since we are concerned with the more abstract, cognitive categorization rather than the actual physical implementation, which can vary quite a bit from speaker to speaker.

Pitch is often intertwined with duration and intensity for stress systems in spoken languages, but it can also be manipulated separately as part of its own distinct system. Roughly speaking, if pitch is manipulated at the level of syllables or entire words to make completely different meanings, it is called tone , whereas if pitch is manipulated at combinations of words (phrases and sentences) to have different kinds of conversational functions (statements versus questions, for example), it is called intonation . A language with a tone system is often called a tone language  or tonal language , while a language with an intonation system is called an intonational language . There are some interesting cases that are not easily classified in either category or seem to be a mixture of both, but tone and intonation are useful basic categories for describing the two main ways that spoken languages can manipulate pitch.

Tone notation

Many tone languages have only two tones, normally identified as a high tone (often abbreviated as H ) and a low tone (often abbreviated as L ). High tones have a higher pitch (with the vocal folds vibrating faster), and low tones have a lower pitch (with the vocal folds vibrating slower). Note that there is no single consistent rate of vibration for high and low tones. A high tone in one language may consistently have faster vocal fold vibration than a high tone in a different language, and even within the same language, different speakers may have different rates of vibration for the same tone.

The IPA has two different systems for notating tone: tone diacritics placed above the relevant phone and separate tone letters placed after the entire syllable.

For languages with simple tone systems, the tone diacritics are normally used, with the acute accent [ ˊ ] representing a high tone and the grave accent [ ˋ ] representing a low tone. Tone letters iconically represent the height of the tone with a horizontal line connected to a vertical supporting base, with [˥] representing a high tone and [˩] representing a low tone.

In addition, non-IPA superscript numbers on a 1–5 scale are sometimes used instead, with the highest number [⁵] representing a high tone and the lowest number [¹] representing a low tone.

All three of these notation systems are shown in Table 3.2 for the example words [lúk] ‘vomit’ (with a high tone) and [lùk] ‘weave’ (with a low tone) from Bemba, a southern Bantoid language of the Niger-Congo family, spoken in Zambia and nearby areas (Hamann and Kula 2015).

The choice of notation depends on a combination of factors, including legibility, the complexity of the language’s tone system, the intended purpose of the transcription, and historical tradition.

Each system has problems. Tone numbers are problematic because they may be confused for the numbers used in other traditional tone numbering systems that differ from the system presented here. For example, the high tone in Mandarin is traditionally called 一声 yīshēng  ‘first sound’, and this traditional numbering is used in some romanizations of Chinese, such as the Wade-Giles system, in which 媽/妈 [ma⁵] ‘mother’ with a high tone is written as ma¹ or ma1 . If you are familiar only with the 1–5 tone numbers presented here, you could be confused by seeing Wade-Giles ma¹ , since the superscript [¹] makes this word look like it has a low tone rather than a high tone.

Diacritics can also be problematic for similar reasons, since [má] ‘mother’ is written mā in a different romanization of Chinese called pinyin. This is not the IPA diacritic [ˊ] for a high tone, so again, if you know the IPA system but not pinyin, you could be confused into thinking this word does not have a high tone. Furthermore, recall from Section 3.11 that the diacritics [ˊ] and [ˋ] are also sometimes used to represent primary and secondary stress rather than tone, which creates the potential for a completely different kind of confusion!

Tone letters are generally more reliably unambiguous in how they represent tone, since they are not normally used with any other meaning. However, tone letters do not have widespread font support, so just as we saw with the signed language notation systems, it can be difficult to get access to the relevant characters, and we cannot be guaranteed that the symbols will be readable by someone using a different device to view the symbols.

Thus, different linguists use different systems for notating tone, and it is important to understand all three of the notation systems presented here, since you may encounter any of them in the linguistics literature.

Tone as a phonemic property

In many tone languages, each syllable can in principle have its own independent tone, as in the various tone patterns seen in the Bemba words in Table 3.3.

Here, we see that the first syllable of a word could have either a high tone, as in [βúːlá] ‘take’, or a low tone, as in [ùkúwà] ‘fall’. Then, regardless of what tone the first syllable has, the second syllable could also have a high tone, as in [βúːlá] ‘take’ and [ùkúwà] ‘fall’, or a low tone, as in [péːlà] ‘give’ and [ìnùmá] ‘back’, and so on. While not all tone languages behave this way, in general, they often allow for a wide range of possible tone combinations across syllables.

One of the ways that tones can be more complex is that they are often not simply binary, with just a high versus low distinction. Many tone languages have a mid tone (M) that is intermediate between high and low, such as Igala, a Yoruboid language of the Niger-Congo family, spoken in Nigeria, which has minimal triplets like those in Table 3.4, which all have a low tone on the first syllable but then one of three different tones on the second (Welmers 1973). Mid tones are represented with an IPA diacritic, the macron accent [ ˉ ] , with the IPA tone letter [˧] , or with a superscript number between [¹] and [⁵], usually [³] .

Other intermediate tones are also possible, especially when describing more fine-grained details in how a given language’s tone system works. The numbers 1–5 seem to provide enough options to cover known tone systems.

Contour tones

So far, we have only looked at level tones (high, mid, low), which have relatively stable pitch from beginning to end. However, many tone languages also have contour tones , which change in pitch during the course of the syllable. For example, Awa (a Kainantu-Goroka language of the Trans-New Guinea family, spoken in Papua New Guinea) has two level tones (H and L) plus two contour tones, a falling tone (F) that starts high and ends low, and a rising tone (R) that starts low and ends high (Loving 1966), as shown in the data in Table 3.5.

Falling tones are represented with an IPA diacritic, the caret accent [ ˆ ] , with a sequence of a high IPA tone letter followed by a low tone letter (usually [˥‌˩] ), or with a sequence of superscript numbers that starts high and goes low (usually [⁵¹] ). Similarly, rising tones are represented with an IPA diacritic, the haček accent [ ˇ ] , with a sequence of a low IPA tone letter followed by a high tone letter (usually [˩‌˥] ), or with a sequence of superscript numbers that starts low and goes high (usually [¹⁵] ). More complicated tones are possible, including using more intermediate tones and more than two component tones in a contour, but they are beyond the scope of this textbook.

Tone letters for contour tones are sometimes displayed as a single combined character rather than a sequence of separate tone letters, as shown in Figure 3.40. However, this requires a font with the combined characters properly encoded, and this is not always available.

​​Finally, we can also see changes in pitch over entire sentences as intonation, with the purpose of conveying information about the function of the sentences rather than information of which word is being used. For example, the English sentence this is vegetarian chili has many different possible intonation patterns, as in the examples in sentences 1–8. These intonation patterns depend on whether the sentence is being used as a declarative statement (1–4) or a question (5–8), and whether there is emphasis on a particular word (indicated with italicized capitals in 1–8). Each of these sentences is appropriate in different contexts; a sample context is provided in parentheses for each sentence.

• (What are you eating?) This is vegetarian chili.
• THIS is vegetarian chili (and THAT is shrimp étouffée).
• This is VEGETARIAN chili (not BEEF chili).
• This is vegetarian CHILI (not vegetarian STEW ).
• This is vegetarian chili? (I didn’t hear exactly what you said.)
• THIS is vegetarian chili? (It tastes like shrimp étouffée!)
• This is VEGETARIAN chili? (I’m sure I tasted meat in it!)
• This is vegetarian CHILI ? (It seems more like a stew.)

Intonation is very complex, as it depends on the syntactic structure of what is being said, as well as the function of the sentence in the larger conversation. It can also interact with word-level stress or tone in various interesting ways. Intonation lies at the intersection of many different aspects of language, and a proper analysis requires a solid understanding of phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.

Check your understanding

Hamann, Silke and Nancy C. Kula. 2015. Bemba. Journal of the International Phonetic Association 45(1): 61–68.

Loving, Rochard E. 1966. Awa phonemes, tonemes, and tonally differentiated allomorphs. Papers in New Guinea Linguistics A-7: 23–32.

Welmers, William E. 1973. African language structures . Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press.

Essentials of Linguistics, 2nd edition Copyright © 2022 by Catherine Anderson; Bronwyn Bjorkman; Derek Denis; Julianne Doner; Margaret Grant; Nathan Sanders; and Ai Taniguchi is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Tone is a literary device that conveys the author’s attitude toward the subject, speaker, or audience of a poem. Tone is sometimes referred to as the “mood” of the poem, and can be established through figurative language and imagery. 

All forms of writing have a tone. Tone in poetry can range from formal to informal, aggressive to defensive, sentimental to critical, and more. Tone allows the reader to better understand, and even relate to, the speaker’s attitude toward the subject of a poem. 

In “ Elegy for a Gopher ,” Ellen Bass establishes a tone of reverence and regret for a creature the speaker must kill:

“The pads of your paws scrabble as I drag you from the tunnel clamped to the shiny green trap, a baby, hell-bent on saving your twist of life, spun from the same cells as I am”

The speaker describes the gopher as a baby, “spun / from the same cells,” implying a tenderness toward the gopher, and a feeling of commonality.

“I hate that I can salvage nothing. I can’t skin and eat you, stuff or display your fur on the mantel. I won’t carve a needle from your bone. Bit of breath I bury under a stone.”

In describing what she can’t do with the dead gopher, she cultivates a tone of regret and guilt.  

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Finding The Right Tone Of Voice In Communication

Remember the baritone of Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan? With the help of his tone of voice, coupled with power-packed dialogues,…

Remember the baritone of Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan? With the help of his tone of voice, coupled with power-packed dialogues, he successfully created the persona of the “angry young man” in the 1970s. ( Modafinil )

On the other hand, former US president Barack Obama’s assuring and friendly tone of voice won hearts and votes for him.

The tone of voice is an integral part of communication and an effective tool in public speaking. When Kaushik Roy spoke, everyone listened. As a highly revered CEO, he communicated in a way that commanded attentiveness, trust, and respect. His tone of voice conveyed his power as well as position.

What is tone of voice?

The tone of voice in communication is defined as ‘the way a person speaks to someone’. It is how you use your voice to get your point across. If you don’t do it right, there is a risk of your point getting lost or misinterpreted.

An optimistic and positive tone of voice is always welcome. If you use a pessimistic or accusatory tone of voice in communication, the results may be negative. One of the examples of tones is humor. Genuine humor creates trust and hope and makes your speech memorable.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle said that you can persuade others in three ways, by appealing to reason, emotion, or to character. Great Greek orators used a persuasive tone of voice in communication, which was based on a problem-solution structure. This almost always resulted in the desired results.

Importance of tone of voice

Raj was a master communicator and much loved by his peers. He knew exactly what needed to be said at what occasion. He became soft-spoken and sounded concerned when asking about a stressed colleague. He was firm and authoritative with his juniors. He spoke respectfully to his seniors. His presentations were motivating. His negotiations were persuasive. Raj used various types of tone expertly.

Your tone of voice conveys your feelings and has an impact on how people react to you. In a business scenario, the tone of voice has a direct effect on team dynamics and productivity.

Types of tone of voice

You can train yourself to use the apt tone for different situations and occasions perfectly. Let’s explore some types of tone:

Motivating tone of voice

Motivational speaker Chris Gardner, who inspired the film The Pursuit of Happyness , speaks with conviction and motivates people to tap into their potential and plan for success. A motivational tone keeps people engaged and inspires their personal as well as professional lives.

Informative tone of voice

Why are some teachers highly popular with the students and leave a lasting impression on their lives? One of the many reasons is their tone of voice. An informative tone of voice enhances knowledge, imparts information, and inspires personal growth.

Soft tone of voice

Soft types of tone are used for intimate conversations. A soft helps form a bond and nurture a relationship. It also helps express empathy and gentleness during difficult conversations. Soft tones, as opposed to harsh or angry tones, make people feel safe. This is why people tend to use a soft tone while talking to a child.

Humorous tone of voice

Keeping your speech humorous with funny anecdotes or quotes keeps the audience in a positive mood. But you should be aware of keeping your tone cheerful and genuine, not mocking or sarcastic.

Respectful tone of voice

One of the important examples of tones is the respectful tone of voice. A respectful tone enhances the quality of your communication. It conveys your kindness, humility , and truthfulness.

More examples of tone

A monotonous tone could be boring and cause disinterest. 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
• Directive tone
• Assertive tone
• Friendly tone
• Questioning tone
• Conversational tone

Speaking with the correct tone of voice indicates your decisiveness and intelligence.

Harappa Education’s Speaking Effectively course teaches you to communicate effectively by using the PAM Framework, which suggests the speaker focuses on the Purpose, Audience, and Message when framing their piece of communication. Using this framework helps you prepare and organize thoughts before any speaking engagement.

After completing this course, you will be able to communicate convincingly, speak concisely, and exhibit confidence. It will go a long way in making your personal and professional life a success.

Explore topics such as  The Art of Public Speaking ,  Audience Analysis ,  Rule of 3 ,  Seven C’s of communication , and the  Elements of Communication Process from our Harappa Diaries blog section to ace your soft skills.

Tone in Writing: 42 Examples of Tone For All Types of Writing

by Joe Bunting | 0 comments

What is tone in writing and why does it matter?

Tone is key to all communication. Think of the mother telling her disrespectful child, “Watch your tone, young man.” Or the sarcastic, humorous tone of a comedian performing stand up. Or the awe filled way people speak about their favorite musician, author, or actor. Or the careful, soft tones that people use with each other when they first fall in love.

Tone  is  communication, sometimes more than the words being used themselves.

So then how do you use tone in writing, and how does tone influence the meaning of a writing piece?

In this article, you'll learn everything you need to know about how to use tone in all types of writing, from creative writing to academic and even business writing. You'll learn what tone actually  is  in writing and how it's conveyed. You'll learn the forty-two types of tone in writing, plus even have a chance to test your tone recognition with a practice exercise. 

Ready to become a tone master? Let's get started.

Why You Should Listen To Me?

I've been a professional writer for more than a decade, writing in various different formats and styles. I've written formal nonfiction books, descriptive novels, humorous memoir chapters, and conversational but informative online articles (like this one!).

Which is all to say, I earn a living in part by matching the right tone to each type of writing I work on. I hope you find the tips on tone below useful!

Table of Contents

Definition of Tone in Writing Why Tone Matters in Writing 42 Types of Tone Plus Tone Examples How to Choose the Right Tone for Your Writing Piece Tone Writing Identification Exercise Tone Vs. Voice in Writing The Role of Tone in Different Types of Writing

Tone in Creative Writing Tone in Academic Writing Tone in Business Writing Tone in Online Writing

Conclusion: How to Master Tone Practice Exercise

Definition of Tone in Writing

Examples of tone can be formal, informal, serious, humorous, sarcastic, optimistic, pessimistic, and many more (see below for all forty-two examples)

Why Does Tone Matter in Writing

I once saw a version of Shakespeare's  A Midsummer Night's Dream in which the dialogue had been completely translated into various Indian dialects, including Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, and more. And yet, despite not knowing any of those languages, I was amazed to find that I could follow the story perfectly, infinitely better than the average Shakespeare in the park play.

How could I understand the story so well despite the fact that it was in another language? In part, it was the skill of the actors and their body language. But one of the biggest ways that the actors communicated meaning was one thing.

Their tone of voice.

Tone is one of the most important ways we grasp the meaning of what someone is saying. If someone says, “I love you,” in an angry, sneering way, it doesn't matter what their words are saying, the meaning will be completely changed by their tone.

In the same way, tone is crucial in writing because it significantly influences how readers interpret and react to the text. Here are a few reasons why tone is important:

• Tone conveys feeling. The tone reflects the writer's attitude toward the subject and the audience, helping to shape readers' perceptions and emotional responses.
• Tone can help readers understand the meaning of the text. A well-chosen tone can clarify meaning, making it easier for readers to understand the writer's intent and message.
• Tone is engaging! As humans, we are designed to respond to emotion and feeling! Tone can help to engage or disengage readers. A relatable or compelling tone can draw readers in, while an off-putting tone can push them away.
• Tone sets the mood. Tone can set the mood or atmosphere of a piece of writing, influencing how readers feel as they go through the text.
• Tone persuades. In persuasive writing, tone plays a significant role in influencing how convincing or compelling your arguments are.
• Tone reflects professionalism. In professional or academic contexts, maintaining an appropriate tone is crucial to uphold the writer's authority.

42 Types of Tone in Writing Plus Examples of Tone

Tone is about feeling—the feeling of a writer toward the topic and audience. Which means that nearly any attitude or feeling can be a type of tone, not just the forty-two listed below.

However, you have to start somewhere, so here a list of common tones that can be used in writing, with an example for each type:

• Example : “Upon analysis of the data, it's evident that the proposed hypothesis is substantiated.”
• Example : “Hey folks, today we'll be chatting about the latest trends in tech.”
• Example : “The implications of climate change on our future generations cannot be overstated.”
• Example : “Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything!”
• Example : “Oh great, another diet plan. Just what I needed!”
• Example : “Despite the setbacks, we remain confident in our ability to achieve our goals.”
• Example : “Given the declining economy, it's doubtful if small businesses can survive.”
• Example : “We must act now! Every moment we waste increases the danger.”
• Example : “The experiment concluded with the subject showing a 25% increase in performance.”
• Example : “I've always found the taste of coffee absolutely heavenly.”
• Example : “We owe our success to the ceaseless efforts of our esteemed team.”
• Example : “So much for their ‘revolutionary' product. It's as exciting as watching paint dry.”
• Example : “The film's plot was so predictable it felt like a tiresome déjà vu.”
• Example : “Every setback is a setup for a comeback. Believe in your potential.”
• Example : “A politician making promises? Now there's something new.”
• Example : “We must fight to protect our planet—it's the only home we have.”
• Example : “Whether it rains or shines tomorrow, it makes little difference to me.”
• Example : “As the doors creaked open, a chilling wind swept through the abandoned mansion.”
• Example : “She gazed at the fading photograph, lost in the echoes of a time long past.”
• Example : “The fire station caught on fire—it's almost poetic, isn't it?”
• Example : “I can understand how challenging this period has been for you.”
• Example : “His excuse for being late was as pathetic as it was predictable.”
• Example : “Our feline companion has gone to pursue interests in a different locale” (meaning: the cat ran away).
• Example : “Your report is due by 5 PM tomorrow, no exceptions.”
• Example : “So, you've got a hankering to learn about star constellations—well, you're in the right place!”
• Example : “She tiptoed down the dim hallway, every shadow pulsating with the mysteries of her childhood home.”
• Example : “With the approaching footsteps echoing in his ears, he quickly hid in the dark alcove, heart pounding.”
• Example : “His eyes were a stormy sea, and in their depths, she found an anchor for her love.”
• Example : “In the heart of the mystical forest, nestled between radiant will-o'-the-wisps, was a castle spun from dreams and starlight.”
• Example : “The quantum mechanical model posits that electrons reside in orbitals, probabilistic regions around the nucleus, rather than fixed paths.”
• Example : “When constructing a thesis statement, it's crucial to present a clear, concise argument that your paper will substantiate.”
• Example : “The juxtaposition of light and dark imagery in the novel serves to illustrate the dichotomy between knowledge and ignorance.”
• Example : “Upon deconstructing the narrative, one can discern the recurrent themes of loss and redemption.”
• Example : “One must remember, however, that the epistemological underpinnings of such an argument necessitate a comprehensive understanding of Kantian philosophy.”
• Example : “The ephemeral nature of existence prompts us to contemplate the purpose of our pursuits and the value of our accomplishments.”
• Example : “She left the room.”
• Example : “Global warming is a major issue that needs immediate attention.”
• Example : “Maybe she’ll come tomorrow, I thought, watching the cars pass by, headlights blurring in the rain—oh, to be somewhere else, anywhere, the beach maybe, sand between my toes, the smell of the sea…”
• Example : “In the quiet solitude of the night, I grappled with my fears, my hopes, my dreams—how little I understood myself.”
• Example : “The autumn leaves crunched underfoot, their vibrant hues of scarlet and gold painting a brilliant tapestry against the crisp, cerulean sky.”
• Example : “Looking back on my childhood, I see a time of joy and innocence, a time when the world was a playground of endless possibilities.”
• Example : “Gazing up at the star-studded sky, I was struck by a sense of awe; the universe's vast expanse dwarfed my existence, reducing me to a speck in the cosmic canvas.”
• Example : “His unwavering determination in the face of adversity serves as a shining beacon for us all, inspiring us to strive for our dreams, no matter the obstacles.”

Any others that we forgot? Leave a comment and let us know!

Remember, tone can shift within a piece of writing, and a writer can use more than one tone in a piece depending on their intent and the effect they want to create.

The tones used in storytelling are particularly broad and flexible, as they can shift and evolve according to the plot's developments and the characters' arcs.

​​How do you choose the right tone for your writing piece?

The tone of a piece of writing is significantly determined by its purpose, genre, and audience. Here's how these three factors play a role:

• Purpose: The main goal of your writing guides your tone. If you're trying to persuade someone, you might adopt a passionate, urgent, or even a formal tone, depending on the subject matter. If you're trying to entertain, a humorous, dramatic, or suspenseful tone could be suitable. For educating or informing, an objective, scholarly, or didactic tone may be appropriate.
• Genre: The type of writing also influences the tone. For instance, academic papers often require a formal, objective, or scholarly tone, while a personal blog post might be more informal and conversational. Similarly, a mystery novel would have a suspenseful tone, a romance novel a romantic or passionate tone, and a satirical essay might adopt an ironic or sarcastic tone.
• Audience: Understanding your audience is crucial in setting the right tone. Professional audiences may expect a formal or respectful tone, while a younger audience might appreciate a more conversational or even irreverent tone. Furthermore, if your audience is familiar with the topic, you can use a more specialized or cerebral tone. In contrast, for a general audience, a clear and straightforward tone might be better.

It's also worth mentioning that the tone can shift within a piece of writing. For example, a novel might mostly maintain a dramatic tone, but could have moments of humor or melancholy. Similarly, an academic paper could be mainly objective but might adopt a more urgent tone in the conclusion to emphasize the importance of the research findings.

In conclusion, to choose the right tone for your writing, consider the intent of your piece, the expectations of the genre, and the needs and preferences of your audience. And don't forget, maintaining a consistent tone is key to ensuring your message is received as intended.

How to Identify Tone in Writing

How do you identify the tone in various texts (or even in your own writing)? What are the key indicators that help you figure out what tone a writing piece is?

Identifying the tone in a piece of writing can be done by focusing on a few key elements:

• Word Choice (Diction): The language an author uses can give you strong clues about the tone. For instance, formal language with lots of technical terms suggests a formal or scholarly tone, while casual language with slang or contractions suggests an informal or conversational tone.
• Sentence Structure (Syntax): Longer, complex sentences often indicate a formal, scholarly, or descriptive tone. Shorter, simpler sentences can suggest a more direct, informal, or urgent tone.
• Punctuation: The use of punctuation can also impact tone. Exclamation marks may suggest excitement, urgency, or even anger. Question marks might indicate confusion, curiosity, or sarcasm. Ellipsis (…) can suggest suspense, uncertainty, or thoughtfulness.
• Figurative Language: The use of metaphors, similes, personification, and other literary devices can help set the tone. For instance, an abundance of colorful metaphors and similes could suggest a dramatic, romantic, or fantastical tone.
• Mood: The emotional atmosphere of the text can give clues to the tone. If the text creates a serious, somber mood, the tone is likely serious or melancholic. If the mood is light-hearted or amusing, the tone could be humorous or whimsical.
• Perspective or Point of View: First-person narratives often adopt a subjective, personal, or reflective tone. Third-person narratives can have a range of tones, but they might lean towards being more objective, descriptive, or dramatic.
• Content: The subject matter itself can often indicate the tone. A text about a tragic event is likely to have a serious, melancholic, or respectful tone. A text about a funny incident will probably have a humorous or light-hearted tone.

By carefully analyzing these elements, you can determine the tone of a text. In your own writing, you can use these indicators to check if you're maintaining the desired tone consistently throughout your work.

Tone Writing Exercise: Identify the tone in each of the following sentences

Let’s do a little writing exercise by identifying the tones of the following example sentences.

• “The participants in the study displayed a significant improvement in their cognitive abilities post intervention.”
• “Hey guys, just popping in to share some cool updates from our team!”
• “The consequences of climate change are dire and demand immediate attention from world leaders.”
• “I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug.”
• “Despite the challenges we've faced this year, I'm confident that brighter days are just around the corner.”
• “Given the state of the economy, it seems unlikely that we'll see any significant improvements in the near future.”
• “No mountain is too high to climb if you believe in your ability to reach the summit.”
• “As she stepped onto the cobblestone streets of the ancient city, the echoes of its rich history whispered in her ears.”
• “Oh, you're late again? What a surprise.”
• “The methodology of this research hinges upon a quantitative approach, using statistical analysis to derive meaningful insights from the collected data.”

Give them a try. I’ll share the answers at the end!

Tone Versus Voice in Writing

Tone and voice in writing are related but distinct concepts:

Voice is the unique writing style or personality of the writing that makes it distinct to a particular author. It's a combination of the author's syntax, word choice, rhythm, and other stylistic elements.

Voice tends to remain consistent across different works by the same author, much like how people have consistent speaking voices.

For example, the voice in Ernest Hemingway's work is often described as minimalist and straightforward, while the voice in Virginia Woolf's work is more stream-of-consciousness and introspective.

Tone , on the other hand, refers to the attitude or emotional qualities of the writing. It can change based on the subject matter, the intended audience, and the purpose of the writing.

In the same way that someone's tone of voice can change based on what they're talking about or who they're talking to, the tone of a piece of writing can vary. Using the earlier examples, a work by Hemingway might have a serious, intense tone, while a work by Woolf might have a reflective, introspective tone.

So, while an author's voice remains relatively consistent, the tone they use can change based on the context of the writing.

Tone and voice are two elements of writing that are closely related and often work hand in hand to create a writer's unique style. Here's how they can be used together:

• Consistency: A consistent voice gives your writing a distinctive personality, while a consistent tone helps to set the mood or attitude of your piece. Together, they create a uniform feel to your work that can make your writing instantly recognizable to your readers.
• Audience Engagement: Your voice can engage readers on a fundamental level by giving them a sense of who you are or the perspective from which you're writing. Your tone can then enhance this engagement by setting the mood, whether it's serious, humorous, formal, informal, etc., depending on your audience and the purpose of your writing.
• Clarity of Message: Your voice can express your unique perspective and values, while your tone can help convey your message clearly by fitting the context. For example, a serious tone in an academic research paper or a casual, friendly tone in a personal blog post helps your audience understand your purpose and message.
• Emotional Impact: Voice and tone together can create emotional resonance. A distinctive voice can make readers feel connected to you as a writer, while the tone can evoke specific emotions that align with your content. For example, a melancholic tone in a heartfelt narrative can elicit empathy from the reader, enhancing the emotional impact of your story.
• Versatility: While maintaining a consistent overall voice, you can adjust your tone according to the specific piece you're writing. This can show your versatility as a writer. For example, you may have a generally conversational voice but use a serious tone for an important topic and a humorous tone for a lighter topic.

Remember, your unique combination of voice and tone is part of what sets you apart as a writer. It's worth taking the time to explore and develop both.

The Role of Tone in Different Types of Writing

Just as different audiences require different tones of voice, so does your tone change depending on the audience of your writing. 

Tone in Creative Writing

Tone plays a crucial role in creative writing, shaping the reader's experience and influencing their emotional response to the work. Here are some considerations for how to use tone in creative writing:

• Create Atmosphere: Tone is a powerful tool for creating a specific atmosphere or mood in a story. For example, a suspenseful tone can create a sense of tension and anticipation, while a humorous tone can make a story feel light-hearted and entertaining.
• Character Development: The tone of a character's dialogue and thoughts can reveal a lot about their personality and emotional state. A character might speak in a sarcastic tone, revealing a cynical worldview, or their internal narrative might be melancholic, indicating feelings of sadness or regret.
• Plot Development: The tone can shift with the plot, reflecting changes in the story's circumstances. An initially optimistic tone might become increasingly desperate as a situation worsens, or a serious tone could give way to relief and joy when a conflict is resolved.
• Theme Expression: The overall tone of a story can reinforce its themes. For instance, a dark and somber tone could underscore themes of loss and grief, while a hopeful and inspirational tone could enhance themes of resilience and personal growth.
• Reader Engagement: A well-chosen tone can engage the reader's emotions, making them more invested in the story. A dramatic, high-stakes tone can keep readers on the edge of their seats, while a romantic, sentimental tone can make them swoon.
• Style and Voice: The tone is part of the writer's unique voice and style. The way you blend humor and seriousness, or the balance you strike between formal and informal language, can give your work a distinctive feel.

In creative writing, it's important to ensure that your tone is consistent, unless a change in tone is intentional and serves a specific purpose in your story. An inconsistent or shifting tone can be jarring and confusing for the reader. To check your tone, try reading your work aloud, as this can make shifts in tone more evident.

Tone in Academic Writing

In academic writing, the choice of tone is crucial as it helps to establish credibility and convey information in a clear, unambiguous manner. Here are some aspects to consider about tone in academic writing:

• Formal: Academic writing typically uses a formal tone, which means avoiding colloquialisms, slang, and casual language. This helps to maintain a level of professionalism and seriousness that is appropriate for scholarly work. For instance, instead of saying “experts think this is really bad,” a more formal phrasing would be, “scholars have identified significant concerns regarding this matter.”
• Objective: The tone in academic writing should usually be objective, rather than subjective. This means focusing on facts, evidence, and logical arguments rather than personal opinions or emotions. For example, instead of saying “I believe that climate change is a major issue,” an objective statement would be, “Research indicates that climate change poses substantial environmental risks.”
• Precise: Precision is crucial in academic writing, so the tone should be specific and direct. Avoid vague or ambiguous language that might confuse the reader or obscure the meaning of your argument. For example, instead of saying “several studies,” specify the exact number of studies or name the authors if relevant.
• Respectful: Even when critiquing other scholars' work, it's essential to maintain a respectful tone. This means avoiding harsh or judgmental language and focusing on the intellectual content of the argument rather than personal attacks.
• Unbiased: Strive for an unbiased tone by presenting multiple perspectives on the issue at hand, especially when it's a subject of debate in the field. This shows that you have a comprehensive understanding of the topic and that your conclusions are based on a balanced assessment of the evidence.
• Scholarly: A scholarly tone uses discipline-specific terminology and acknowledges existing research on the topic. However, it's also important to explain any complex or specialized terms for the benefit of readers who may not be familiar with them.

By choosing an appropriate tone, you can ensure that your academic writing is professional, credible, and accessible to your intended audience. Remember, the tone can subtly influence how your readers perceive your work and whether they find your arguments convincing.

Tone in Business Writing

In business writing, your tone should be professional, clear, and respectful. Here are some aspects to consider:

• Professional and Formal: Just like in academic writing, business writing typically uses a professional and formal tone. This ensures that the communication is taken seriously and maintains an air of professionalism. However, remember that “formal” doesn't necessarily mean “stiff” or “impersonal”—a little warmth can make your writing more engaging.
• Clear and Direct: Your tone should also be clear and direct. Ambiguity can lead to misunderstanding, which can have negative consequences in a business setting. Make sure your main points are obvious and not hidden in jargon or overly complex sentences.
• Respectful: Respect is crucial in business communication. Even when addressing difficult topics or delivering bad news, keep your tone courteous and considerate. This fosters a positive business relationship and shows that you value the other party.
• Concise: In the business world, time is often at a premium. Therefore, a concise tone—saying what you need to say as briefly as possible—is often appreciated. This is where the minimalist tone can shine.
• Persuasive: In many situations, such as a sales pitch or a negotiation, a persuasive tone is beneficial. This involves making your points convincingly, showing enthusiasm where appropriate, and using language that motivates the reader to act.
• Neutral: In situations where you're sharing information without trying to persuade or express an opinion, a neutral tone is best. For example, when writing a business report or summarizing meeting minutes, stick to the facts without letting personal bias influence your language.

By adapting your tone based on these guidelines and the specific context, you can ensure your business writing is effective and appropriate.

Tone in Online Writing

Online writing can vary greatly depending on the platform and purpose of the content. However, some common considerations for tone include:

• Conversational and Informal: Online readers often prefer a more conversational, informal tone that mimics everyday speech. This can make your writing feel more personal and relatable. Blogs, social media posts, and personal websites often employ this tone.
• Engaging and Enthusiastic: With so much content available online, an engaging and enthusiastic tone can help grab readers' attention and keep them interested. You can express your passion for a topic, ask questions, or use humor to make your writing more lively and engaging.
• Clear and Direct: Just like in business and academic writing, clarity is key in online writing. Whether you're writing a how-to article, a product description, or a blog post, make your points clearly and directly to help your readers understand your message.
• Descriptive and Vivid: Because online writing often involves storytelling or explaining complex ideas, a descriptive tone can be very effective. Use vivid language and sensory details to help readers visualize what you're talking about.
• Authoritative: If you're writing content that's meant to inform or educate, an authoritative tone can help establish your credibility. This involves demonstrating your knowledge and expertise on the topic, citing reliable sources, and presenting your information in a confident, professional manner.
• Optimistic and Inspirational: Particularly for motivational blogs, self-help articles, or other content meant to inspire, an optimistic tone can be very effective. This involves looking at the positive side of things, encouraging readers, and offering hope.

Remember, the best tone for online writing depends heavily on your audience, purpose, and platform. Always keep your readers in mind, and adapt your tone to suit their needs and expectations.

How to Master Tone

Tone isn't as hard as you think.

If you've ever said something with feeling in your voice or with a certain attitude, you know how it works.

And while mastering the word choice, syntax, and other techniques to use tone effectively can be tricky, just by choosing a tone, being aware of tone in your writing, and making a concerted effort to practice it will add depth and style to your writing, heightening both the meaning and your audiences enjoyment.

Remember, we all have tone. You just need to practice  using  it. Happy writing!

What tone do you find yourself using the most in your writing ? Let us know in the comments .

Here are two writing exercises for you to practice tone.

Exercise 1: Identify the Tone

Using the ten identification examples above, write out the tones for each of the examples. Then use this answer guide to check your work.

• Pessimistic
• Inspirational

How many did you get correctly? Let me know in the comments .

Exercise 2: Choose One Tone and Write

Choose one of the tones above, set a timer for fifteen minutes, then free write in that tone. 

When your time's up, post your practice in the Pro Practice Workshop here (and if you’re not a member yet, you can join here ), and share feedback with a few other writers. 

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

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Why the Tone of Your Voice Makes Such a Difference

Shifting your tone doesn't mean being phony; it's about being grounded..

Posted September 14, 2021 | Reviewed by Chloe Williams

• People are more sensitive to tone than to the explicit content of spoken or written language, and a sharp tone can hurt others.
• Shifting one's tone doesn’t mean becoming sugary or phony. In fact, paying attention to tone can make people stronger communicators.
• When one is already in a critical frame of mind, taking a break or dealing with feelings directly can help people avoid a harsh tone.

Feeling a little sour?

The Practice:

The tone of your voice is important.

Tone matters.

I remember times I felt frazzled or aggravated and then said something with an edge to it that just wasn't necessary or useful. Sometimes it was the words themselves: such as absolutes like "never" or always," or over-the-top phrases like "you're such a flake" or "that was stupid." More often, it was the intonation in my voice, a harsh vibe or look, interrupting, or a certain intensity in my body. However, I did it, and the people on the receiving end usually looked like they'd just sucked a lemon. This is what I mean by tart tone.

People are more sensitive to tone than to the explicit content of spoken or written language. To paraphrase the poet Maya Angelou, people will forget what you said, but they'll remember how you made them feel. And we are particularly reactive to negative tones due to the negativity bias in the brain (written about in previous posts).

Consequently, a tart tone hurts others. This is bad enough, but it also often triggers others to react in ways that harm you and others.

On the other hand, paying attention to tone puts you more in touch with yourself because you have to be aware of what's building inside—promoting mindfulness and builds up its neural substrates. Containing negative tones prompts you to open to and deal with any underlying stress , hurt, anger . It reduces the chance that the other person will avoid dealing with what you say by shifting attention to how you say it. Cleaning up your style of expression puts you in a stronger position to ask people to do the same or act better toward you in other ways.

As a proverb says, "Getting angry with others is like throwing hot coals with bare hands: both people get burned." Much the same could be said about throwing tart tone.

Shifting your tone doesn't mean becoming sugary, saccharine, or phony. Nor does it mean walking on eggshells, becoming a doormat, or muzzling yourself. Actually, when people shift away from being snippy, curt, snarky, derisive, or contentious, they usually become stronger communicators. They're now more grounded, more dignified when they bring up something. They haven't squandered interpersonal capital on the short-term gratifications of harsh tone.

Sometimes people are tart with each other in playful ways, and that's OK. But keep watching to see how it's landing on the other person.

Be mindful of what's called " priming ": feeling already mistreated, annoyed, irritated—or already in a critical frame of mind. Little things can land on this priming like a match on a pile of firecrackers, setting them off. Maybe simply take a break (e.g., bathroom, meal, shower, run, gardening, TV) to clear away some or all of the priming. And/or try to deal with hurt, anger, or stress in a straightforward way (if possible), rather than blowing off steam with your tone.

Then, if you do, in fact, get triggered, notice what comes up to say. If it's critical, acerbic, cutting , etc., then slow down, say nothing, or say something truly useful. Watch those eye rolls or the sharp sigh that means "Duh-oh, that was kind of dumb" (my wife has called me on both of these). Give a little thought to your choice of words: Could there be a way to say what you want to say without pouring gasoline on the fire? Look for words that are accurate, constructive, self-respecting, and get to the heart of the matter. Be especially careful with an email; once you push the "send" button, there is no getting it back, and the receiver can read your message over and over again, plus share it with others.

If you do slip, clean it up as soon as possible—which could be a minute after you say it. Sometimes it works to explain—not justify or defend—the underlying reasons for your tart tone (e.g., you're fried and hungry, and it's been a tough day) to put it in context. Take responsibility for your tone and its impacts, and recommit to a clearer, cleaner, more direct way of expressing yourself.

At the end of an interaction, you may not get the result you want from the other person—but you can get the result of self-respect and feeling that you did the best you could.

Facebook image: Mangostar/Shutterstock

LinkedIn image: Josep Suria/Shutterstock

Rick Hanson, Ph.D. , is a senior fellow of the Greater Good Center at UC Berkeley.

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any sound considered with reference to its quality, pitch, strength, source, etc.: shrill tones.

quality or character of sound.

vocal sound; the sound made by vibrating muscular bands in the larynx.

a particular quality, way of sounding, modulation, or intonation of the voice as expressive of some meaning, feeling, spirit, etc.: a tone of command.

an accent peculiar to a person, people, locality, etc., or a characteristic mode of sounding words in speech.

stress of voice on a syllable of a word.

Linguistics . a musical pitch or movement in pitch serving to distinguish two words otherwise composed of the same sounds, as in Chinese.

a musical sound of definite pitch, consisting of several relatively simple constituents called partial tones, the lowest of which is called the fundamental tone and the others harmonics or overtones.

an interval equivalent to two semitones ; a whole tone; a whole step.

any of the nine melodies or tunes to which Gregorian plainsong psalms are sung.

a quality of color with reference to the degree of absorption or reflection of light; a tint or shade; value.

that distinctive quality by which colors differ from one another in addition to their differences indicated by chroma, tint, shade; a slight modification of a given color; hue: green with a yellowish tone.

Art . the prevailing effect of harmony of color and values.

Physiology .

the normal state of tension or responsiveness of the organs or tissues of the body.

that state of the body or of an organ in which all its functions are performed with healthy vigor.

normal sensitivity to stimulation.

a normal healthy mental condition.

a particular mental state or disposition; spirit, character, or tenor.

a particular style or manner, as of writing or speech; mood: the macabre tone of Poe's stories.

prevailing character or style, as of manners, morals, or philosophical outlook: the liberal tone of the 1960s.

style, distinction, or elegance.

to sound with a particular tone.

to give the proper tone to (a musical instrument).

to modify the tone or general coloring of.

to give the desired tone to (a painting, drawing, etc.).

Photography . to change the color of (a print), especially by chemical means.

to render as specified in tone or coloring.

to modify the tone or character of.

to give or restore physical or mental tone to.

to take on a particular tone; assume color or tint.

to become or cause to become softened or moderated: The newspaper toned down its attack.

Painting . to make (a color) less intense in hue; subdue.

to give a higher or stronger tone to.

to gain or cause to gain in tone or strength: toning up little-used muscles.

tone (in) with, to harmonize in tone or coloring; blend: The painting tones with the room.

Origin of tone

Synonym study for tone, other words for tone, other words from tone.

• toneless, adjective
• tone·less·ly, adverb
• tone·less·ness, noun
• mul·ti·toned, adjective
• non·toned, adjective
• un·toned, adjective
• well-toned, adjective

Words Nearby tone

• tone cluster
• tone colour
• tone control

Other definitions for Tone (2 of 2)

(Theobald) Wolfe, 1763–98, Irish nationalist and martyr for independence.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tone in a sentence

It’s very difficult to imagine the first installment in a studio comedy based on an original concept, especially a comedy that has the tone of this one, coming out today, at least in theaters.

US developer HireVue says its software speeds up the hiring process by 90 percent by having applicants answer identical questions and then scoring them according to language, tone , and facial expressions.

Hamilton had spent decades prior to 1980 sifting through weather station data for hints of the lowest atmospheric tones.

The tone of what I’m told is the Silent Generation really changed in the 60s.

Just as AI systems can be trained to tell the difference between a picture of a dog and one of a cat, they can learn to differentiate between an angry tone of voice or facial expression and a happy one.

Music is a huge part of the tone of Black Dynamite overall—going back to the original 2009 movie on which the series is based.

Although Huckabee's condescending tone - like that of an elementary school history teacher - makes it difficult to take seriously.

“Call me when the plane leaves the ground,” she said, in a tone that implied she knew her husband well.

He has struck a promising tone these last few days with his rhetoric about trying to “see each other.”

Ramos would help set the tone of the day when he greeted the arriving students outside the school.

That which is called nasality is caused by the failure of the tone to reach freely the anterior cavities of the nares.

Drone: the largest tube of a bag-pipe, giving forth a dull heavy tone .

And once more, she found herself desiring to be like Janet--not only in appearance, but in soft manner and tone .

What the ear hears is the fundamental pitch only; the overtones harmonize with the primary or fundamental tone , and enrich it.

This may be done by taking the humming tone and bringing to bear upon it a strong pressure of energy.

British Dictionary definitions for tone (1 of 2)

/ ( təʊn ) /

sound with reference to quality, pitch, or volume

short for tone colour

US and Canadian another word for note (def. 10)

(in acoustic analysis) a sound resulting from periodic or regular vibrations, composed either of a simple sinusoidal waveform ( pure tone ) or of several such waveforms superimposed upon one main one ( compound tone )

an interval of a major second; whole tone

Also called: Gregorian tone any of several plainsong melodies or other chants used in the singing of psalms

linguistics any of the pitch levels or pitch contours at which a syllable may be pronounced, such as high tone, falling tone, etc

the quality or character of a sound : a nervous tone of voice

general aspect, quality, or style : I didn't like the tone of his speech

high quality or style : to lower the tone of a place

the quality of a given colour, as modified by mixture with white or black; shade; tint : a tone of red

the normal tension of a muscle at rest

the natural firmness of the tissues and normal functioning of bodily organs in health

the overall effect of the colour values and gradations of light and dark in a picture

photog a colour or shade of colour, including black or grey, of a particular area on a negative or positive that can be distinguished from surrounding lighter or darker areas

( intr often foll by with ) to be of a matching or similar tone (to) : the curtains tone with the carpet

(tr) to give a tone to or correct the tone of

photog (tr) to soften or change the colour of the tones of (a photographic image) by chemical means

(tr) to give greater firmness or strength to (the body or a part of the body)

an archaic word for intone

• See also tone down , tone up

British Dictionary definitions for Tone (2 of 2)

( Theobald ) Wolfe. 1763–98, Irish nationalist, who founded (1791) the Society of United Irishmen and led (1798) French military forces to Ireland. He was captured and sentenced to death but committed suicide

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of tone in English

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tone noun ( VOICE EXPRESSION )

• She tends to adopt a falsely cheerful tone when she's upset about something.
• His gentle introductory tone modulates into a football coach's pre-game pep talk .
• It's that patronizing tone of hers that I can't bear .
• "We're so pleased to meet you at last, " he said in a respectful tone of voice .
• When he spoke his tone was accusatory .
• accentuation
• asyndetically
• mispronounce
• non-verbally
• paralanguage

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

tone noun ( GENERAL MOOD )

• atmosphere The atmosphere in the conference room was tense.
• ambience It looks like an upscale eatery, but it has a real sports-pub ambience to it.
• vibe The restaurant has a casual vibe.
• climate Discussion took place in a climate of deep hostility.
• tone Her snarky remark at the outset set the tone for the rest of the visit.
• feel The tile work gives the shop a very Moroccan feel.
• I found myself irritated by the adulatory tone of her biography .
• Dale lowered the tone of the evening by telling a dirty joke .
• The tone of the meeting was very pessimistic .
• The tone of the letter was placatory .
• The tone of his poetry is restrained and unemotional.
• be in one of your moods idiom
• someone's state/frame of mind idiom
• sucking diesel idiom
• temperament
• temperamentally
• temperature
• up and down idiom

tone noun ( COLOUR )

• colour gamut
• colour wheel
• pigmentation
• primary colour
• secondary colour

tone noun ( TIGHTNESS )

• acrobatically
• agree with something
• athleticism
• hale and hearty
• in the pink idiom
• match fitness
• non-disabled
• on top form phrase
• the able-bodied

tone noun ( DIFFERENCE IN SOUND )

• acciaccatura
• hemidemisemiquaver
• key signature
• secco recitative

tone noun ( MUSICAL QUALITY )

Tone noun ( phone noise ).

• 0800 number
• access code
• aeroplane mode
• airplane mode
• Directory Enquiries
• patch someone through
• pick someone/something up
• speakerphone
• active recovery
• aerial yoga
• aerobic exercise
• hyperextension
• pump iron idiom
• rowing machine
• run on the spot phrase
• Russian twist
• shoulder press
• shuttle run
• weightlifting

Phrasal verbs

Tone | american dictionary, tone noun ( mood ), tone noun ( sound ), tone noun ( firm quality ), tone noun ( color ), tone | business english, translations of tone.

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a type of singing in which four, usually male, voices in close combination perform popular romantic songs, especially from the 1920s and 1930s

Alike and analogous (Talking about similarities, Part 1)

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• tone (VOICE EXPRESSION)
• tone (GENERAL MOOD)
• tone (COLOUR)
• tone (TIGHTNESS)
• tone (DIFFERENCE IN SOUND)
• tone (MUSICAL QUALITY)
• tone (PHONE NOISE)
• tone (MOOD)
• tone (SOUND)
• tone (FIRM QUALITY)
• tone (COLOR)
• a busy tone
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Mental State Examination 2 – Speech and Thought

Author(s): farah rozali, learning outcomes.

By the end of this CAL you will be able to:

• Describe the general purpose and component parts of the Mental State Examination (MSE), specifically patients’ speech and thought.
• Evaluate patients’ speech and thought in their mental state and use appropriate terminology to describe abnormalities.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Neelom Sharma, Alexandra Pittock, Meroe Grove, Maia Forrester and Mercedes Smith for their major contributions to the content of this module.

Introduction Part 1 of 11

Before we get started, let’s quickly recap on the last session, which was about the domains of appearance and behaviour:

Speech and Thought Part 2 of 11

Is it all coming back to you?

Great! Let’s move on then to learning about the next two domains of the MSE:

Speech and Thought.

How a person speaks can be abnormal in a number of mental disorders and should be observed and commented upon. This should be described in terms of…

• the ‘latencies’ – the time between you asking a question and the patient replying
• the ‘volume ’ – both how loudly one speaks and the number of words one uses
• the ‘ rate’ – how fast one gets the words out
• the ‘rhythm’ – the regularity of phrasing within sentences
• the ‘ intonation’ – the amount of inflection, or cadence (the ‘lilt’) in the voice
• the ‘ prosody’ – the extent to which one uses emphasis to convey meaning that grammar alone cannot

Speech Part 3 of 11

To begin with, is there any speech at all.

A small number of patients are mute during interview. If so comment on…

• Apparent level of comprehension – does the patient appear to understand what is said? e.g. shakes or nods head appropriately
• Level of alternate communication – can they write answers down, do they point or use gestures?
• Level of structural impairment of the organs of speech i.e. is there any evidence of dysarthria? (difficult or unclear articulation of speech that is otherwise linguistically normal)

What is the volume of speech?

• Does the patient whisper? Or speak inappropriately loudly?
• Is there stuttering or slurring of speech?
• Are answers unduly brief or monosyllabic?
• Conversely, are they inappropriately prolonged? (NB: this could also be because of speed of speech)

What is the rate of speech?

• Is the patient’s speech unusually slow or unusually rapid (pressured speech)?
• This may reflect acceleration or deceleration in the speed of thought

What is the latency of speech?

• Does the patient respond spontaneously?
• Are there long pauses between asking a question and the patient responding?

What is the tone and rhythm of speech?

• Does the intonation of the patient’s voice and rhythm of the sentences conveying meaning? e.g. the rise in tone at the end of a question

Thought Part 4 of 11

Describing the disturbance of a patient’s thoughts is one of the most challenging tasks, as it is impossible to know what patients are actually thinking, thus it has to be inferred from their speech and behaviour.

Problems with thinking are considered in the MSE under three headings:

• Thought form i.e. how the patient is thinking
• Thought content i.e. what the patient is thinking (the beliefs they hold)
• Thought possession i.e. Schneider’s first-rank symptoms which are a group of symptoms which have special significance in the diagnosis of schizophrenia

Thought Form Part 5 of 11

Thought form deals with the ‘mechanics’ of the patient’s thoughts i.e. how the patient is thinking. This is of diagnostic use as in many psychiatric disorders, thinking ‘slips’ to a less sophisticated level as a consequence of the illness.

This results in disorders of thought form, where the ability to express ideas cogently and coherently is compromised or lost completely. The stream of goal-directed thought is disrupted by irrelevancies to the extent that the goal gets lost.

The first thing to note, therefore, is how easy is it for you to follow what the person is saying…

Do you have a sense of where they are going with their thoughts?

• Do they go off on a lot of tangents?
• Do they seem to be including too much information?
• Do they eventually get to the ‘goal’ or not?
• Do their thoughts seem to jump from one ‘connection’ to another really quickly?
• Are these break-points logical or is it hard to see the connections?

Thought Content Part 6 of 11

Thought content deals with the beliefs the patient holds and the prominent themes that arise within them i.e. what the patient is thinking.

Some questions that you may find useful in assessing disorders of thought content are…

• What are the prominent themes of the person’s thinking?
• Are they preoccupied with anything in particular?
• Are these themes only revealed in response to your questioning, or were they raised spontaneously?
• Are they congruent with the patient’s mood?
• How amenable to discussion and alternative explanation are core beliefs?

The key pathologies of belief psychiatrists are most concerned with are primary and secondary delusions , or overvalued ideas , and obsessions .

Delusions Part 7 of 11

A delusion is an unshakeable false belief that is not accepted by other members of the patient’s culture

• To the patient, there is no difference between a delusional belief and a true belief – they are the same experience.
• Therefore, only an external observer can diagnose a delusion.
• The delusion is false because of faulty reasoning E.g. a man’s delusional belief that his wife is having an affair may actually be true (she may indeed be unfaithful), but it remains a delusion because he reason he gives for this belief is undoubtedly false, for example, she ‘must’ be having an affair because she is part of a top-secret sexual conspiracy to prove that he is a homosexual.
• It is out of keeping with the patient’s social and cultural background E.g. a belief in the imminent second coming of Christ may be appropriate for a member of a religious group, but not for a formerly atheist, middle-aged business man.

Overvalued Ideas Part 8 of 11

An overvalued idea is a plausible belief that a patient becomes pre-occupied with to an unreasonable extent. The key feature is that the pursuit of this idea cause considerable distress to the patient or those living around them.

They are distinguished from delusions by the lack of gross abnormality in reasoning; these patients can often give fairly logical reasons for their beliefs.

They differ from obsessions in that they are not seen as recurrent intrusions.

Thought Possession Part 9 of 11

Thought possession, also falls under thought content in that it involves delusions of control in which there is a false belief that one’s thoughts, feelings, actions or impulses are controlled or ‘made’ by an external agency, e.g. believing that one was made to break a window by demons.

Delusions of thought control include:

Thought insertion : belief that thoughts or ideas are being implanted in one’s head by an external agency

E.g. ‘the patient repeatedly complains of having disturbingly violent thoughts, which, she claims, are being sent to her by Satan’

Thought withdrawal : belief that one’s thoughts or ideas are being extracted from one’s head by an external agency

E.g. ‘the man continually blames his poor memory on “government agents” who he claims are able to steal his thoughts’

Thought broadcasting : belief that one’s thoughts are being diffused or broadcast to others such that they know what one is thinking

Eg: ‘a woman refuses to explain her problem, saying, “I know you know what I’m thinking. Everybody hears what I’m thinking.”

Questions Part 10 of 11

Summary part 11 of 11.

Please answer each of the following questions. All results are completely anonymous and used for quality assurance purposes only.

Q1. How would you rate the information on this particular page?

Q2. would you use this website again.

Yes No Maybe

Q3. Would you recommend this website to other people?

Q4. did you experience any problems viewing this page, answering the questions, or navigating the site.

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The four dimensions of tone of voice.

July 17, 2016 · Updated Aug. 16, 2023 2023-08-16

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If we envision our website as a tool that enables us to have a conversation with our users , it’s clear that a carefully considered tone of voice is critical.

In This Article:

The importance of tone, one message, many possible tones, users notice variations in tone-of-voice dimensions, applying the four dimensions, how the dimensions were developed.

In literature, the tone of voice refers to the author’s feelings towards the subject, as expressed through the writing itself.

Writing for the web is obviously different from writing prose (or at least it should be, since people read very little .) Still, every scrap of writing on a page (from body copy to button labels and other UX copywriting) contributes to the tone of voice we’re using to speak to our users.

Tone is more than just the words we choose. It’s the way in which we communicate our personality. Tone of voice is the way we tell our users how we feel about our message, and it will influence how they’ll feel about our message, too.

There are  four primary tone-of-voice dimensions .

• Formal vs. casual: Is the writing formal? Informal? Casual?  (Note that casual and conversational are not necessarily synonymous, but they do often appear together.)
• Serious vs. funny: Is the writer trying to be humorous? Or is the subject approached in a serious way? (Note that for our purposes, this dimension was only the attempt at humor. We didn’t evaluate if the writers successfully landed their jokes.)
• Respectful vs. irreverent: Does the writer approach the subject in a respectful way? Or does she take an irreverent approach? (In practice, most irreverent tones are irreverent about the subject matter, in an effort to set the brand apart from competitors. They are not usually intentionally irreverent or offensive to the reader.)
• Matter-of-fact vs. enthusiastic: Does the writer seem to be enthusiastic about the subject? Is the organization excited about the service or product, or the information it conveys? Or is the writing dry and matter-of-fact?

Tones could fall at either extreme of each dimension, or somewhere in between. Each prdouct's tone of voice could be expressed as a point in the four-dimensional space described by these dimensions.

To see how these four dimensions of tone can be varied to create different effects, let’s consider a small piece of copy that almost every content team has to consider at some point — an error message .

At the core of every piece of writing is the message — the information we’re trying to communicate to our user. In this case, our message is, “An error has occurred.” Our tone will be how we communicate that message.

First, let’s try a serious, formal, respectful, and matter-of-fact error message.

“We apologize, but we are experiencing a problem.”

We’re not trying to make users laugh, or using any strong emotion in the message. It’s a fairly traditional, straightforward message.

Now, what if we tweak one of the four dimensions? Let’s make this same message a little more casual .

“We’re sorry, but we’re experiencing a problem on our end.”

The message is still serious, respectful, and matter-of-fact. But the message becomes more casual with a few small changes:

• “We are” becomes “we’re”
• “Apologize” becomes “sorry”
• The addition of the expression “on our end”

Let’s add a little more enthusiasm to the message. In this case, “enthusiasm” means emotion more than excitement, since the subject is a negative one for both the site and the user.

“Oops! We’re sorry, but we’re experiencing a problem on our end.”

Now we’ve taken the error message’s tone to casual and enthusiastic .

If we add an attempt at humor and a little irreverence , we’ll have taken the same message to a totally different tone of voice. (Remember, the irreverence here is the speaker’s attitude towards the subject, not necessarily towards the audience.)

“What did you do!? You broke it! (Just kidding. We’re experiencing a problem on our end.)”

Which of these versions of the same message would work best? For your organization, that will depend on:

• Your brand personality. For example, if you work in a large traditional financial institution, an enthusiastic and irreverent error message might be out of character for your brand. The formal error message could work, but maybe you’ll opt for a casual message if you’ve decided that a personal, conversational feel would be best for your content.
• Your users. Consider the characteristics and preferences of your users, but also their emotions and information needs for each piece of content. If your users are frustrated when they arrive to this error message, or they see it frequently, a humorous tone might be irritating. The best way to know which tones will work with your users is to test.

I wanted to make sure changes in the four tone-of-voice dimensions would be noticeable to users, and not just theoretical concepts. I used these four dimensions to create paired tone-of-voice samples for made-up websites from four industries (two samples per industry).

Both of the samples within in each pair were nearly identical in everything from visual design to message. The only variable I changed was the tone of voice: the two samples in each pair corresponded to different combinations of tone-of-voice dimensions.

For example, in the security industry, one sample was funny, casual, irreverent, and enthusiastic; and the other one was serious, neutral on the casual scale, respectful, and matter-of-fact.

In an online survey of 50 American respondents, I asked users to rate the friendliness and formality of each sample on 5-point Likert scales.

I found that:

• The differences within each pair were statistically significant at p < 0.05. The differences were also consistent with what we would expect, based on each tone profile. For example, the funny, casual insurance company sample was found to be friendlier but less formal than the serious insurance company sample.
• The actual differences in the ratings were rather small, around 0.5–1 point on a 5-point scale. Our samples used realistic tones that we could reasonably expect to find in real sites. For all but the most extreme and exaggerated tones, you should expect to find similar effect sizes in your own tone variations.

These findings confirmed my hypothesis that variations along the four tone dimensions would produce measurable differences in users’ impressions of the sites. As I show in the following article of this series, these variations in impressions influence important factors, like desirability.

It would be unusual for a writing style to be placed at the outermost limits of the tone dimensions and still be effective for business purposes. You want to emphasize your chosen tonal qualities without letting them dominate your writing.

Use These Dimensions to Identify Your Tone-Profile Goals

• Decide what combination of dimensions makes sense best for your company and think about strategies to implement this tone of voice.  When you’re defining your tone for a whole site or a specific piece of content, start with these four high-level dimensions first. For example, first decide if a funny, casual tone will work for your brand and your users.
• Refine your tone strategy by choosing more specific tone target words like “playful,” “quirky,” or “sarcastic.” Avoid choosing more than a handful of tone words, to keep the desired tone guidelines easy to follow.
• Consider choosing  anti-tone words.  These are the tones that you want to  avoid  creating. For example, a university's tone goal may be to come off as "authoritative" without being "pedantic".

Use These Dimensions to Evaluate Your Tone

Test with your users to determine whether the tone of any new piece does conform to the chosen profile.

• Use  product-reaction testing to see if your users choose tone words that correspond to your target tone profile. For example, let’s say you want your users to view your brand as funny but respectful. If users choose “humorous” to describe your content, you could consider that it matches your goal. However, if many of your users choose “snarky” to describe your content, you might interpret that as being slightly off your goal, since “snarky” humor feels irreverent.
• Ask your users to rate your content on one or more of the tone dimensions, by asking them to complete a 3-point or 5-point Likert rating scale with each extreme of the tone dimension at opposite ends of the scale (for example, “funny” vs. “serious”).

Vary Your Tone to Fit the Situation

Keep your brand personality consistent, but vary the tone to fit the user’s emotional state and the topic. A company’s financial report will need to sound different than the same company’s careers page targeted at university students. 

You might decide on a casual tone for your site-wide content strategy, but vary the amount of humor in your copy across the site.

Tone Is About More Than Content

The visual design and interaction design  contribute strongly to the overall ‘feel’ of a website, as well as to the construction of the brand personality. All members of the digital product team need to think about how their piece fits within the whole.

Tone of voice applies to all touchpoints, not just to your site or app copy. Your tone of voice should be part of your omnichannel strategy .  It should be be used when creating writing and other communications for all channels, including email (whether promotional, informative, or transactional), physical products, and the in-store experience.

Despite the importance of tone, advice about it tends to be vague: “Be consistent. Be authentic. Be unique.”

So, I wondered, what are the broader qualities that make up a tone? I developed a framework of 4 dimensions that can be used to analyze or plan a digital product's tone of voice. Then we conducted qualitative usability testing and online surveys, measuring the impact of those tone qualities on users.

A quick Google search for “tone-of-voice words” will surface lists of hundreds of words used to describe literary tones. (Most of them come from websites for undergraduate English courses). You’ll quickly notice that most of those words have very specific meanings and connotations (e.g., “vexed” or “cynical”), and couldn’t be used to describe the tones of many (if any) websites. You’ll also notice that many of these lists are huge, some with hundreds of words.

I decided to design a manageable web-specific tool that content strategists could use to create simple tone profiles for a company’s online presence. My goal was to identify several tone-of-voice dimensions that could be used to describe the tone of voice of any website.

I began with a long list of literary tone words. I then eliminated any words that wouldn’t be realistic content goals for normal websites (like “guilty”), which produced a list of 37 website-specific tone words .

I then iteratively refined that list, by:

• Clustering any words that were similar (e.g., “upbeat” and “cheerful”)
• Removing words that had no obvious antonyms, so wouldn’t work as dimensions (e.g., “nostalgic”)
• Removing words too specific to be widely applied to a variety of websites and topics (e.g., “romantic”)

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Interpretation.

• Slow speech (bradylalia) Depression, Parkinson's disease, cognitive impairment
• Normal speech rate
• Rapid speech (tachylalia) - fast speech but able to be redirected Normal, mania, anxiety, stimulants
• Pressured speech - fast and without taking breaks, talking over other people and unable to be redirected Mania, anxiety

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• Loud (hyperphonia) Personality trait, hearing impairment, mania
• Normal speech volume
• Weak (hypophonia) - low or soft speech Shyness, anxiety, depression, Parkinson's disease

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• Excessive talking (logorrhoea) - speaking at length and apparently without end Mania, ADHD, anxiety
• Talkative - actively takes part in conversation. Normal
• Poverty of speech - very little speech, even with persuasion. Shyness, depression, schizophrenia, cognitive impairment

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• Stuttering - repetition, prolongation, or pauses in speech May be developmental, neurogenic, or psychogenic
• Cluttering - rapid, disorganized speech with excessive word and phrase repetitions Often related to language or learning disabilities

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Style, Diction, Tone, and Voice

Style is the way in which something is written, as opposed to the meaning of what is written. In writing, however, the two are very closely linked. As the package for the meaning of the text, style influences the reader’s impression of the information itself. Style includes diction and tone. The main goal in considering style is to present your information in a manner appropriate for both the audience and the purpose of the writing. Consistency is vital. Switching styles can distract the reader and diminish the believability of the paper’s argument.

Diction is word choice. When writing, use vocabulary suited for the type of assignment. Words that have almost the same denotation (dictionary meaning) can have very different connotations (implied meanings). 

Besides the level of formality, also consider positive or negative connotations of the words chosen.

Some types of diction are almost never advisable in writing. Avoid clichés, vagueness (language that has more than one equally probable meaning), wordiness, and unnecessarily complex language.

Aside from individual word choice, the overall tone, or attitude, of a piece of writing should be appropriate to the audience and purpose. The tone may be objective or subjective, logical or emotional, intimate or distant, serious or humorous. It can consist mostly of long, intricate sentences, of short, simple ones, or of something in between. (Good writers frequently vary the length of their sentences.)

One way to achieve proper tone is to imagine a situation in which to say the words being written. A journal might be like a conversation with a close friend where there is the freedom to use slang or other casual forms of speech. A column for a newspaper may be more like a high-school graduation speech: it can be more formal, but it can still be funny or familiar. An academic paper is like a formal speech at a conference: being interesting is desirable, but there is no room for personal digressions or familiar usage of slang words. 

In all of these cases, there is some freedom of self-expression while adapting to the audience. In the same way, writing should change to suit the occasion. 

Tone vs. Voice

Anything you write should still have your voice: something that makes your writing sound uniquely like you. A personal conversation with a friend differs from a speech given to a large group of strangers. Just as you speak to different people in different ways yet remain yourself, so the tone of your writing can vary with the situation while the voice -- the essential, individual thoughts and expression -- is still your own. 

“Don’t play what’s there; play what’s not there.”       - Miles Davis “The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes—ah, that is where the art resides.”       - Artur Schnabel (1882–1951), German-born U.S. pianist.

These two musicians expressed the same thought in their own unique voices.

Reference: Strunk, William Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style . 4th ed., Allyn and Bacon, 2000.

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