Tone, by definition, refers to the attitude or personality expressed by an author in their writing. It's not about what you say but how you say it. From formal to written, tone is created by the author's choice of words, the structure of their sentences, and even the images they use. For example, a story that describes “Understanding Tone: Toning Words in Writing.” Written by MasterClass. Last updated: • read. Of all the literary elements that go into a work of fiction, subject matter, or story, Tone is the writer's expression in writing created by conveying certain emotions and attitudes in the text. Learn more about tone and how to use it. Tone in literature encompasses the wide variety of moods, thoughts, and feelings that authors imbue their work with. But what is tone, where does it come from and how do authors exercise different styles, is authorial tone defined. Authorial tone is simply the author's attitude toward a particular written topic. This is very different from the author's goal. The tone of the article, the essay, the story, the poem, the novel. An example of tone in writing conveys the emotions, feelings, or perspectives that the author wishes to communicate. Here is an example of two different tones applied to the same content: Formal tone: It is imperative that you follow proper protocol. Informal Tone: Hey, team, let's make sure we follow the rules. Keep in mind that three main elements shape the content of each essay: Purpose: The reason the author is writing the essay. Audience: the individual or group to whom the author intends to address; Sign up to receive free grammar tips and teaching resources in your inbox. This article explores how writing tone conveys attitudes and emotions, providing examples and an activity for students to practice writing in different tones. The next article in the series will cover imagery in voice development. Positive tones can be used to show appreciation to customers, announce promotions and new products, and provide helpful customer support. Examples of positive tone: “Let’s make this project a success.” “This year will be full of great opportunities – let’s make the most of them.” 6. Negative tone. 9. Your witty tone. Witty writing often uses humor to make a point. A witty tone is generally more informal and can express a playful or annoying side. This type of writing voice would fit well in blog posts, personal stories, or other writing set in the writer's life. Start by visualizing the tone as if it were a number line. In the middle, at “zero,” is a neutral tone. As you move to the right, the tone becomes somewhat positive, then strongly positive. As you move to the left, the tone changes from somewhat negative to strongly negative. After you finish reading a text, identify where you think about the text.