3.3: Setting the Tone
Learning Objectives
- Devices such as sentence structure, word choice, punctuation, and formal or informal language communicate tone and create a relationship between the writer and their audience.
- Content may consist of examples, statistics, facts, anecdotes, testimonies, and observations. All content must be appropriate and interesting for the audience, purpose and tone.
Adjust the tone to match your audience
What is “tone” in writing?
In writing, tone refers to the author’s attitude or emotional expression toward the subject matter and the audience. Tone sets the overall mood of the piece and influences how readers perceive the content. Tone is expressed through the choice of words, sentence structure, and the overall style of writing.
Formal Tone:
Example: “The committee’s report meticulously analyzed the empirical data, providing a comprehensive overview of the research findings.”
Characteristics: Polished language, third-person (he/ she/ they) perspective, avoidance of contractions, and adherence to formal conventions.
Informal Tone:
Example: “The team’s findings were pretty cool, and they showed that the theory totally makes sense.”
Characteristics: Conversational language, use of contractions, and a more relaxed, approachable style.
Professional Tone:
Example: “The proposed strategy aligns seamlessly with industry best practices, ensuring a robust and sustainable approach.”
Characteristics: Industry-specific terminology, a focus on expertise, and a polished, business-like style.
Friendly Tone:
Example: “Hey there! We’re thrilled to share some exciting news with you. Get ready for an amazing journey ahead!”
Characteristics: Warm and approachable language, use of inclusive pronouns (“you” and “us”), and an emphasis on a positive and engaging mood.
Authoritative Tone:
Example: “It is imperative that all employees adhere strictly to the new security protocols to maintain the integrity of our systems.”
Characteristics: Commanding language, use of strong verbs, and a tone that expects compliance or action.
Objective Tone:
Example: “The research presents the facts without subjective interpretation, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.”
Characteristics: Impersonal language, emphasis on facts and evidence, and a neutral, unbiased approach.
Humorous Tone:
Example: “Navigating through the labyrinth of paperwork felt like attempting to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded – challenging but oddly entertaining.”
Characteristics: Playful language, use of metaphors or similes, and an attempt to inject humour into the narrative.
Consider the Writer’s tone
Read the following paragraph and consider the writer’s tone. How would you describe the writer’s attitude toward wildlife conservation?
Consider the Writer’s Tone (Text version)
Read the following paragraph and consider the writer’s tone. How would you describe the writer’s attitude toward wildlife conservation? There is more than one right answer.
Many species of plants and animals are disappearing right before our eyes. If we do not act fast, it might be too late to save them. Human activities, including pollution, deforestation, hunting, and overpopulation, are devastating the natural environment. Without our help, many species will not survive long enough for our children to see them in the wild. Take the tiger, for example. Today, tigers occupy just 7 percent of their historical range, and many local populations are already extinct. Hunted for their beautiful pelt and other body parts, the tiger population has plummeted from 100,000 in 1920 to just a few thousand (Smith, 2013). Contact your local wildlife conservation society today to find out how you can stop this terrible destruction.
Is the writer’s tone: impassioned? well informed? bored? funny? relaxed? urgent?
Check your Answer: [1]
Activity source: Self-Practice 4.12” by Brenna Clarke Gray (H5P Adaptation) Writing for Success – 1st Canadian Edition by Tara Harkoff & [author removed], licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. / Interactive content extracted to plain text.
Setting the right tone for academic writing: Clarity, Precision, and Formality
Clarity
In academic writing, messages must be clear. The goal is to convey complex ideas in a straightforward manner. This involves:
Avoiding Ambiguity: Precision in language avoid any ambiguity. Instead of vague terms, academic writers use clear, specific language to convey their ideas.
Logical Organization: Information is presented in a structured and logical sequence, helping readers to understand. Each paragraph, sentence, and word contributes to the overall coherence of the text.
Precision
In academic writing, precision extends beyond the choice of words; precision involves presenting information in a manner that is quantifiable, measurable, and specific. This involves:
Technical Vocabulary: Depending on the discipline, academic writing often involves using specialized terminology understood within that field.
Concrete details: To enhance precision, writers should integrate numerical data, measurements, and specific details into their work. This not only adds credibility but also adds depth and reliability to the presented information.
Avoiding Redundancy: Academic writers strive to express ideas concisely, avoiding unnecessary repetition.
Formality
Academic writing maintains a formal tone to convey professionalism and credibility. This involves:
Third-Person Perspective: Writers often use third-person pronouns (he, she, it, they) rather than first-person pronouns (I, we) to maintain objectivity.
Avoiding Colloquialism: Slang, informal language, and contractions are typically avoided in academic writing.
Tone Variations Across Disciplines
Scientific Writing: In sciences, precision is critical. Clarity is maintained through detailed descriptions, and formality is upheld to present findings objectively.
Humanities Writing: While clarity remains important, humanities writing may allow for a more interpretative tone. The use of theoretical frameworks and critical analysis characterizes this style.
Social Sciences Writing: Social sciences often blend precision with a concern for real-world impact. Clarity is maintained through a balance of evidence and analysis.
In essence, academic writing tone adapts to the conventions of each discipline, yet universally values clarity, precision, and formality to effectively communicate ideas within the scholarly community.
TIP: Avoid Self-Conscious Language
Expressions like “This essay will explore” or “This paper will argue” are weak and wordy. There’s no need to announce that your assignment, report, or essay is an assignment, report, or essay.
Weak and self-conscious: This paper will discuss the impact of climate change on biodiversity.
Strong and more impactful: Climate change has a significant impact on biodiversity.
Choosing Appropriate, Interesting Content
Content refers to all the written substance in a document. After selecting an audience and a purpose, you must choose what information will make it to the page. Content may consist of examples, statistics, facts, anecdotes, testimonies, and observations, but no matter the type, the information must be appropriate and interesting for the audience and purpose. An essay written for third graders that summarizes the legislative process, for example, would have to contain succinct and simple content.
Content is also shaped by tone. When the tone matches the content, the audience will be more engaged, and you will build a stronger relationship with your readers. Consider that audience of third graders. You would choose simple content that the audience will easily understand, and you would express that content through an enthusiastic tone. The same considerations apply to all audiences and purposes.
Key Takeaways
- Devices such as sentence structure, word choice, punctuation, and formal or informal language communicate tone and create a relationship between the writer and their audience.
Attribution & References
Except where otherwise noted, this chapter is adapted from
- “6.1 Purpose, audience, tone and content” In Writing for Success by University of Minnesota licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. / Adaptations include: adding in relevant references for writing example content, updates for accessibility & CC licensing.
- Setting the right tone for academic writing: Clarity, Precision, and Formality section written & added by Amanda Quibell
- The writers tone may be considered: urgent, well informed, impassioned ↵
