122 Tone Words to Set the Mood in Your Story

122 Tone Words to Set the Mood in Your Story SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In writing, an author’s tone is his or her general attitude or feelings about the work’s subject matter and audience. Tone words are used to help express that attitude. In this article, we’ll talk about what tone words are, analyze their use in several examples, and give a list of tone words with definitions that you can use in your writing. What Are Tone Words? Authors convey tone through diction (word choice), viewpoint, and syntax. Tone words are specific words that help express an author’s attitude about the subject matter. Words typically have a positive, negative, or neutral connotation. Tone words help authors show whether they feel positively, negatively, or neutrally about what they’re writing about. Here are some examples of tone words in action: The proposal is so absurd that it can’t possibly be taken seriously. The tone word â€Å"absurd† indicates that the writer finds the proposal ridiculous or silly. The politician’s speech was eloquent. The tone word â€Å"eloquent† has a positive connotation, which indicates that the author found the speech articulate and persuasive. Tonevs Voice Many writers confuse tone and voice or use the two terms interchangeably. In fact, they’re very different. As we’ve already discussed, tone indicates an author or character’s attitude towards a certain topic or situation. In nonfiction, tone words indicate what the author thinks. In fiction, tone words can help to set the mood, showing whether a particular situation or interaction is tense, happy, sad, etc. Voice, on the other hand, refers to the overall personality of a work. An author’s voice may be sarcastic, informative, friendly, or something else entirely. You can remember the difference this way: tone changes all the time. Voice refers to the character that a piece has throughout. Tone can change from sentence to sentence, while voice stays consistent. Here’s an example: In a young adult novel, the author has a casual voice. She doesn’t use a particularly complex vocabulary and her writing is very approachable. Within the story, the character experiences conflict and triumph. In the scenes where there is conflict, the tone words indicate tension. In the scenes where there is triumph, tone words indicate joy. The author’s overall type of word choice and approach to writing will remain the same throughout the work, but the specific words she uses will change as she describes different situations. Put another way: voice is how readers recognize you, the author, in your work. Voice is personal to each author and lasts throughout a piece. Tone words, on the other hand, indicate the author's (or character's) reactions to or opinions of events that are happening. As different events happen, the tone shifts. How to Find the Right Tone for Your Work To find the right tone for your work, you need to consider your audience and message. Start by asking yourself these three questions: Who am I writing this piece for? What am I trying to tell my reader? How do I want my reader to feel? Your audience will dictate the types of words you choose. If you’re writing for an academic audience, you may use more complicated language than if you’re writing for kids. You also want to consider what you're telling your reader. Do you want them to walk away with a positive or negative opinion of what you're presenting? How do you want them to feel about the information you're giving? These questions will help you decide what words to use in your work. Tone Word Example Analysis Let’s take a look at two examples of tone words in classic literature. A Clean, Well-Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway â€Å"It was very late and everyone had left the cafe except an old man who sat in the shadow the leaves of the tree made against the electric light. In the day time the street was dusty, but at night the dew settled the dust and the old man liked to sit late because he was deaf and now at night it was quiet and he felt the difference.† This excerpt demonstrates a calm, peaceful tone. Words like â€Å"settled† and â€Å"quiet† indicate the old man is relaxed and feeling safe. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe â€Å"I gasped for breath, and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly, more vehemently but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why WOULD they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men, but the noise steadily increased. O God! What COULD I do? I foamed I raved I swore!† This passage from The Tell-Tale Heart indicates a nervous, anxious tone. The phrases â€Å"violent gesticulations† and â€Å"heavy strides† display the rising action and contribute to the feeling of intensity. The Ultimate List of Tone Words These tone words will help establish the tone in your work. Tone Word Meaning Abashed ashamed or embarrassed; also, disconcerted Absurd ridiculous; silly. Accusatory a tone of accusation; to accuse of a crime or offense Admonishing cautioning, reproving or scolding; especially in a mild and good-willed manner; reminding. Adoring to regard with esteem, love, and respect; honor Amused pleasurably entertained, occupied, or diverted. Apathetic having or showing little or no emotion; indifferent or unresponsive. Benevolent characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings. Bewildered completely puzzled or confused; perplexed. Biting sarcastic, having a biting or sarcastic tone. Bitter characterized by intense antagonism or hostility. Blunt abrupt in manner; obtuse. Bold not hesitating or fearful in the face of danger or rebuff; courageous and daring. Brusque abrupt in manner; blunt; rough. Calm free from excitement or passion; tranquil. Candid frank; outspoken Cheery in good spirits. Churlish critical or harsh in a mean-spirited way. Comic funny; humorous. Commanding imposing; having an air of superiority. Conceited having an excessively favorable opinion of one’s self or abilities. Contentious argumentative, quarrelsome. Curt rudely brief in speech or abrupt Desperate having an urgent need, desire. Detached impartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased/ not concerned; aloof. Diabolic devilish; fiendish; outrageously wicked. Disbelieving to have no belief in; refuse or reject belief in. Disdainful expressing contempt or disdain. Disgusted to excite nausea or loathing in. To offend the taste or moral sense of. Disrespectful showing a lack of respect; rude and discourteous. Disturbed marked by symptoms of mental illness. Doubtful uncertain outcome or result. Dramatic of or pertaining to drama; excessively confrontational. Dreary causing sadness or gloom. Earnest serious in intention or sincerely zealous. Ebullient overflowing with enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited. Ecstatic in a state of ecstasy; rapturous. Effusive unreserved or unduly demonstrative. Egotistical vain; boastful; indifferent to the well-being of others; selfish. Elated very happy or proud; jubilant; in high spirits. Embarrassed to feel self-conscious or ill at ease. Enraged to make extremely angry; put into a rage; infuriate. Enthusiastic excited; energetic Evasive ambiguous; cryptic; unclear Excited emotionally aroused; stirred Facetious inappropriate; flippant Flippant superficial; glib; shallow; thoughtless; frivolous Forceful powerful; energetic; confident; assertive Formal respectful; stilted; factual; following accepted styles/rules Frank honest; direct; plain; matter-of-fact Frustrated annoyed; discouraged Gentle kind; considerate; mild; soft Ghoulish delighting in the revolting or the loathsome Grim serious; gloomy; depressing; lacking humour;macabre Gullible naà ¯ve; innocent; ignorant Hard unfeeling; hard-hearted; unyielding Humble deferential; modest Humorous amusing; entertaining; playful Hypercritical unreasonably critical; hair splitting; nitpicking Impartial unbiased; neutral; objective Impassioned filled with emotion; ardent Imploring pleading; begging Impressionable trusting; child-like Inane silly; foolish; stupid; nonsensical Incensed enraged Incredulous disbelieving; unconvinced; questioning; suspicious Indignant annoyed; angry; dissatisfied Informative instructive; factual; educational Inspirational encouraging; reassuring Intense earnest; passionate; concentrated; deeply felt Intimate familiar; informal; confidential; confessional Ironic the opposite of what is meant Irreverent lacking respect for things that are generally taken seriously Jaded bored; having had too much of the same thing; lack enthusiasm Joyful positive; optimistic; cheerful; elated Judgmental critical; finding fault; disparaging Light-Hearted carefree; relaxed; chatty; humorous Loving affectionate; showing intense, deep concern Macabre gruesome; horrifying; frightening Malicious desiring to harm others or to see others suffer; ill-willed; spiteful Mean-Spirited inconsiderate; unsympathetic Mocking scornful; ridiculing; making fun of someone Mourning grieving; lamenting; woeful Naà ¯ve innocent; unsophisticated; immature Narcissistic self-admiring; selfish; boastful; self-pitying Nasty unpleasant; unkind; disagreeable; abusive Negative unhappy, pessimistic Nostalgic thinking about the past; wishing for something from the past Objective without prejudice; without discrimination; fair; based on fact Optimistic hopeful; cheerful Outraged angered and resentful; furious; extremely angered Outspoken frank; candid; spoken without reserve Pathetic expressing pity, sympathy, tenderness Patronizing condescending; scornful; pompous Pensive reflective; introspective; philosophical; contemplative Persuasive convincing; eloquent; influential; plausible Pessimistic seeing the negative side of things Philosophical theoretical; analytical; rational; logical Playful full of fun and good spirits; humorous; jesting Pragmatic realistic; sensible Pretentious affected; artificial; grandiose; rhetorical; flashy Regretful apologetic; remorseful Resentful aggrieved; offended; displeased; bitter Resigned accepting; unhappy Restrained controlled; quiet; unemotional Reverent showing deep respect and esteem Righteous morally right and just; guiltless; pious; god-fearing Scathing critical; stinging; unsparing; harsh Scornful expressing contempt or derision; scathing; dismissive Sentimental thinking about feelings, especially when remembering the past Sincere honest; truthful; earnest Solemn not funny; in earnest; serious Thoughtful reflective; serious; absorbed Tolerant open-minded; charitable; patient; sympathetic; lenient Tragic disastrous; calamitous Unassuming modest; self-effacing; restrained Uneasy worried; uncomfortable; edgy; nervous Virtuous lawful; righteous; moral; upstanding Whimsical quaint; playful; mischievous; offbeat Witty clever; quick-witted; entertaining Wonder awe-struck; admiring; fascinating Worried anxious; stressed; fearful Tone Words: Final Thoughts Tone words help you convey your attitude towards a subject. Tone can change throughout your work as you talk about different topics. There are thousands of tone words you can use to express your attitude in your work. What’s Next? Reading The Great Gatsby for class or even just for fun?Then you'll definitely want to check out our expert guides on the biggest themes in this classic book, from love and relationships to money and materialism. Got questions about Arthur Miller'sThe Crucible? Readour in-depth articles to learn about the most important themes in this playand to geta complete rundown of all the characters. For more information on your favorite works of literature, take a look at our collection of high-quality book guides! Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Hayley Milliman About the Author Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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