Example of Tone Words In Writing

Every piece to read has a tone. Textbooks have an informative tone. Blogs come up with an engaging & conversational tone. A satirical piece has a humorous or ironic tone. The tone in literature is filled with a variety of moods, thoughts, & feelings that authors express in their works. While writing, we see a reflection of the author’s attitude or feelings about the subject matter & audience of the work. 

Tone Words in Writing

Tone words help us in expressing that attitude.

What is Tone in English Literature?

The author’s attitude toward a certain topic is seen in the tone of the literature. With the help of specific words, the author conveys his feelings & opinions to the reader, revealing the author’s intentions behind the text. An adjective is used to describe the tone of a story.

Examples of Tone in Literature

Tone as a literary device is an essential aspect of the narrative voice of a literary work. This way, the writer informs the reader & communicates attitudes & feelings that might have been limited if only words were used. 

Let’s see examples of tone in literature:

Example 1

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

“Travelers are on a cosmic journey, stardust, where they swirl & dance in the whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to meet, love, & share with each other. A precious moment, like a little parenthesis in eternity.”‘

• Paulo Coelho here in the above passage from The Alchemist uses descriptive & figurative language to establish a tone of wonder and awe about the metaphysical relationships of the universe. By telling the reader that “we” are metaphorical travelers who are all part of the infinite cosmos, Coelho conveys the connection humans have had till now. The reader also feels connected with the words of the writer, meanings & the universe via the literary work. Also, the inclusion of the image that human interaction is momentary & a temporary encounter “to meet, to love, to share” tells us that people’s lives are brief & precious. This allows the reader to think about how they can make an impact, on the people & the world.

It is not easy for writers to show universal meaning in a literary work using denotative & connotative wording. Coelho in the above passage uses tone as a literary device to portray a universality of human existence related to time & space. This catches the reader’s attention because it shows a  feeling of belongingness & connection to all things while also mentioning the individual’s existence & importance.

Example 2

The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini

“She may have suffered. My family would never accept her as an equal. One can’t order someone to polish shoes one day & next day call them ‘sister’.” He looked towards me. “Amir Jan, you are free to tell me whatever you want.”

These lines are from Khalid Hosseini’s novel. He is an Afghani who uses a serious yet biased tone. What we see is how clear the narrator is about his family’s biases towards the Hazara which is one of the minority Shia communities in Afghanistan.

Tone vs Voice

“Tone and voice” are often mixed up, especially when they are said together quite often. Both are distinct ideas, pointing to the same thing: a way of expressing.

• Voice is a reflection of our personality. Tone takes the personality, a step further & it changes based on context.
• Voice serves as an anchor to every piece of content. It helps the target audience to know what to expect.
• The tone changes as per the type of content one creates. A company that uses a playful tone on social media might also publish informative blogs that are more thoughtful.

So we see how voice represents who you are, while the tone lets the audience know the type of content being put out.

How to find the Correct tone?

Key to Effective Communication- Tone

Choosing the right tone might be a daunting task. Ways to find the correct tone:

• Who are you writing for? 
  The target audience can help us in finding the appropriate tone as we write. Eg:- Letter to a business client may have a  formal tone while a holiday card for a friend has a playful & casual tone.
• What’s its purpose? 
  Finding the reason for writing. The purpose, like gaining from a prospective client’s business while on the other hand sending a close friend, a holiday greeting will see the use of different tones.
• What should be the reader’s takeaway? 
  Writing communicates an idea, topic, or other essential information which lets us think about what a recipient might like to learn, feel, or act after reading the writing. These give one a clearer sense of the types of tone that might be suitable for writing. 
• How choice of words supports tone?
  The choice of words that you write gives the reader tremendous clarity about its tone. Thus, connotations of the choice of words affect the tone & meaning of writing.

Examples of Tone Words in Writing

Cheerful	Dry	Assertive
Regretful	Lighthearted	Humorous
Nostalgic	Melancholic	Facetious
Pessimistic	Sarcastic	Persuasive
Uneasy	Reverent	Arrogant
Regretful	Joyful	Inspirational

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What are tone words?

Answer:

Tone words: Specific words which help in expressing an author’s attitude about the matter of the subject matter. 

Question 2: Give some examples of tone words.

Answer:

Cheerful, Inspirational, Joyful, Regretful, Pessimistic, Dry.

Question 3: What are some most used tones in literature?

Answer:

Common tones used in literature: reflective, humorous, serious & conversational. 

Question 4: What is the difference between Tone vs Voice?

Answer:        

Voice	Tone
1. Voice is a reflection of our personality.	1. Tone takes the personality, a step further & it changes based on context.
2. Voice serves as an anchor to every piece of content.     It helps the target audience to know what to expect.	2. Tone changes as per the type of content one creates.
3. Voice is a representation of who we are.	3. Tone lets the audience know the type of content being put out.