Tone

Tone is defined as the writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward the subject.

Tone Vocabulary List

Developing a tone vocabulary:

Positive Tone/Attitude Words

Amiable Authoritative Calm Compassionate
Consoling Ecstatic Encouraging Excited
Friendly Impassioned Jubilant Optimistic
Playful Relaxed Soothing Sympathetic
Amused Benevolent Cheerful Complimentary
Content Elated Energetic Exuberant
Euphoric Jovial Lighthearted Passionate
Pleasant Reverent Surprised Vibrant
Appreciative Brave Cheery Confident
Dreamy Elevated Enthusiastic Fanciful Hopeful
Joyful Loving Peaceful Proud
Romantic Sweet Whimsical

Negative Tone/Attitude Words

Accusing Condemning Inflammatory Uninterested
Irritable Hateful Short-Tempered Irascible
Audacious Disgusted Quarrelsome Furious
Apathetic Boring Desperate Obnoxious
Aggravated Condescending Insulting Wrathful
Coarse Hurtful Threatening Brash
Harsh Superficial Belligerent Disinterested
Shameful Arrogant Disappointed Outraged
Agitated Contradictory Irritated Childish
Cold Indignant Tired Facetious
Haughty Surly Bitter Passive
Artificial Disgruntled Critical Manipulative

Humor-Irony-Sarcasm-Scorn Tone/Attitude Words

Amused Flippant Pompous Teasing
Bantering Droll Silly Critical
Humorous Scornful Condescending Irreverent
Sardonic Caustic Insolent Ridiculing
Grim Giddy Questioning Whimsical
Facetious Patronizing Taunting Cynical
Mocking Sharp Contemptuous Joking
Satiric Comical Depressing Ironic
Bitter Provocotive Rude - Ribald Wry

Over-Used Tone/Attitude Words (try to find others)

-Happy- -Angry- -Sad- -Serious-
Sorrow-Fear-Worry Tone/Attitude Words
Aggravated Serious Paranoid Horrified
Embarrassed Apologetic Sombre Poignant
Morose Gloomy Confused Despairing
Resigned Numb Hopeless Melancholy
Agitated Sober Pessimistic Regretful
Fearful Apprehensive Stiff Disturbed
Mournful Grave Dejected Miserable
Ominous Horrific Remorseful Anxious
Solemn Pitiful Foreboding Concerned
Wistful Nervous Hollow Depressed
 Neutral Tone/Attitude Words
Admonishing Resigned Nostalgic Incredulous
Dramatic Baffled Pensive Persuasive
Intimate Fervent Clinical Urgent Questioning
Lyrical Detached Objective
Allusive Restrained Informative Flat
Earnest Callous Shocking Pleading
Judgmental Formal Consoling Vexed
Reflective Matter-of-fact Histrionic Didactic
Apathetic Seductive Obsequious Inquisitive
Expectant Candid Sincere Pretentious
Learned Forthright Contemplative Wistful Reminiscent
Meditative Humble Disbelieving Authoritative
Sentimental Patriotic Instructive Factual Ceremonial
Unemotional Provocative Loud Frivolous
Conventional Zealous

A change or shift in tone will be signalled by the following:

o Key words such as but, yet, nevertheless, however, although
o Punctuation such as dashes, periods, colons, semicolons
o Stanza and paragraph divisions
o Changes in line and stanza or sentence length

VERBS from Tone Words

Console Amuse Pride Revere Elevate
Confide Aggravate Agitate Condescend (to do/to someone)
Critique Criticize Manipulate Banter Scorn
Patronize Provoke Taunt Resign (from/oneself)
Mourn Horrify Despair Admonish Alludes
Baffle Seduce Objectify Vex

NOUNS from Tone Words

Apathy
Mourn Curse Extol