7.1. Tone and Style http://www.ck12.org
7.1 Tone and Style
Lesson Objectives
- Distinguish between informal style and academic style
- Learn how to write clearly
- Diagnose and fix vague sentences
- Distinguish between denotative and connotative meanings
- Learn how to avoid gender bias
- Identify characters and actions in sentences
- Apply the old-before-new and short-to-long principles of style
- Learn when to use and not to use minimalizations and passive voice in sentences
- Learn how to write coherent and concise sentences
- Learn how to emphasize sentence elements
Definition of Tone and Style
Tonerefers to the type of language writers use to address their audience. When writing an email to a friend, for
example, you may choose to use an informal or colloquial tone, whereas an essay for an English class requires an
academic tone. Compare the two examples below:
Example 1:The city should just start paying for our rides to school so we can use the bus money for other stuff. If
this happens, people will actually get to value buses more and stuff.
Example 2:If the city gave students free access to public transportation, riding to school for free would not only
save students and their parents money, but it would also promote the use of public transportation.
While both sentences above convey the same idea, example 1 illustrates an informaltoneorregister, while example
2 displays an academic tone. Therefore, if you are writing an essay arguing for public transportation, example 2
would be appropriate. Example 1 should be used when an informal tone is accepted, such as in an email, a message
to a friend, or a dialogue between two friends in a story.
Style,on the other hand, involves more than just formality and informality. It concerns how clearly we write. Some
writers think that a good writing style equals wordy and complicated sentences, but that can make it difficult for
readers to grasp the idea of a text. Essays should be well written and free of errors, but first they should be clear and
logical.
Here are a few useful guidelines to help develop a good writing style:
- Avoid using abstract and complex terms, since they tend to confuse rather than impress readers.
- Accept that your writing will always seem clearer to yourself than to others; therefore, do not hesitate to get
another reader’s opinion. - Keep your audience in mind while writing.
- Know the expectations of the academic English writing style.