Tone

• Word choice affects the tone, imagery, and voice of a written piece. Just as you use your tone of voice to demonstrate to others how you feel, in writing you use your words to communicate your attitude toward a subject. Tone can be positive or negative, happy or sad, angry or peaceful, hopeful or desperate, and so on. 

If a father said this to his daughter, what is the difference in his tone?

• 1st: Who was that hoodlum I saw you walking with today? 

• 2nd: Who was that cute boy I saw you walking with today? 

• 3rd: Who was the friend I saw you walking with today? 

Next: Shades of meaning