THE YELLOW PAGES
TONE
TONE (POSITIVE)
Happiness
amiablecheerycontentedecstaticelevated
elevatedenthusiasticexuberantjoyfuljubilant
sprightly
Pleasure
cheerfulenrapturedpeacefulplayfulpleasant
satisfiedamusedappreciativewhimsical
Friendliness, Courtesy
accommodatingapprovingcaressingcomfortingcompassionate
confidingcordialcourteousforgivinggracious
helpfulindulgentkindlyobligingpitying
politesociablesolicitoussoothingsympathetic
tendertoleranttrusting
Animation
ardentbreathlessbriskcrispeager
excitedearnestecstaticenergeticexalted
feverishhastyhearty hopefulinspired
livelypassionaterapturousvigorousimpassioned
Romance
affectionateamorouseroticfancifulideal
lustfulsensualtender
Tranquility
calmhopefulmeditativeoptimisticserene
relaxedsoothingspiritualdreamy
TONE (NEUTRAL)
General
authoritativebaffledceremonialclinicaldetached
disbelievingfactualformalinformativelearned
matter-of-factnostalgicobjectivequestioningreminiscent
restrainedsentimentalshockedurgent
Rational/Logical
admonitoryargumentativecandidcoaxingcritical
curiousdeliberatedidacticdoubtingexplanatory
frankincredulousindignantinnocentinsinuating
instructiveoracularpensivepersuasivepleading
preoccupiedpuzzledsincerestudiedthoughtful
uncertainunequivocalprobing
Self-Control
solemnseriousserenesimplemild
gentletemperateimperturbablenonchalantcool
warycautiousprudent
Apathy
blaséboredcolorlessdefeateddispassionate
drydullfeeblehelplesshopeless
indifferentinertlanguidmonotonousresigned
sluggishstoicalsophisticatedvacant
TONE (HUMOR/IRONY/SARCASM)
amusedbanteringbittercausticcomical
condescendingcontemptuouscynicaldisdainfuldroll
facetiousflippantgiddyhumorousinsolent
ironicirreverentjokingmaliciousmock-heroic
mockingmock-seriouspatronizingpompousquizzical
ribaldridiculingsarcasticsardonicsatiric
scornfulsharpsillytauntingteasing
whimsicalwrybelittlinghaughtyinsulting
playfulhilariousuproarious
TONE(NEGATIVE)
General
accusingaggravatedagitatedangryarrogant
artificialaudaciousbelligerentbitterbrash
childishcholericcoarsecoldcondemnatory
condescendingcontradictorycriticaldesperatedisappointed
disgruntleddisgusteddisinterestedpassivefurious
harshhatefulhurtfulindignantinflammatory
insultingirritatedmanipulativeobnoxiousquarrelsome
shamefulsuperficialsurlytesty*
threateninguninterested
Sadness
despairingdespondentforebodinggloomybleak
melancholymaudlinregretfultragic
Pain
annoyedbiterboredcrusheddisappointed
disgusteddismalfretfulirritablemiserable
mournfulpatheticplaintivequeruloussore
sorrowfulsoursulkysullen”troubled
uneasyvexedworried
Unfriendliness
accusingbelittlingboorishcuttingderisive
disparagingimpudentpitilessreprovingscolding
severespitefulsuspiciousunsociablereproachful
Anger
belligerentfuriouslividwrathfulsavage
indignantenraged
Passion
fiercefranticgreedyvoracioushysterical
insaneimpetuousimpulsivejealousnervous
recklesswild
Arrogance/Self-Importance
boastfulboldcondescendingcontemptuouspretentious
pompoussuperciliouspedanticdidacticbombastic
self-righteousassuredconfidentdefiantdignified
domineeringegotisticalimperiousimpressivesmug
knowingloftyperemptoryprofoundproud
resolute*sententiousstiffsaucy
Sorrow/Fear/Worry
aggravatedanxiousapologeticapprehensiveconcerned
confuseddepresseddisturbedembarrassingfearful
gravehollowmorosenervousnumb
ominousparanoidpessimisticpoignantremorseful
seriousstaidenigmatic
Submission/Timidity
aghastalarmedashamedastonishedastounded
awedcontriteself-deprecatorydocilefawning
grovelingingratiatingmeekmodestobedient]
obsequiousresignedrespectfulreverentservile
shysubmissivesurprisedsycophanticterrified
timidtremulousunpretentiouswilling
Language Words-Used to describe the force or quality of the entire piece
Like word choice, the language of a passage has control over tone. Consider language to be the entire body of words used in a text, not simply isolated bits of diction, imagery, or detail. For example, an invitation to a graduation might use formal language, whereas a biology text would use scientific and clinical language. Different from tone, these words describe the force or quality of the diction, images, and details AS A WHOLE. These words qualify HOW the work is written.
Artificial / Exact / Literal / PretentiousBombastic / Figurative / Moralistic / Provincial
Colloquial / Formal / Obscure / Scholarly
Concrete / Grotesque / Obtuse / Sensuous
Connotative / Homespun / Ordinary / Simple
Cultured / Idiomatic / Pedantic / Slang
Detached / Informal / Picturesque / Symbolic
Emotional / Insipid / Plain / Trite
Esoteric / Jargon / Poetic / Vulgar
Euphemistic / Learned / Precise
VERBS
These verbs will be especially effective when the subject is the author or a character. They are excellent replacements for“be” verbs and instrumental in the formulation of thesis and theme statements. Careful use of these verbs can result in precise identification of an author’s purpose.
VERBS FOR LITERARY ANALYSIS
accentuatesacceptsachievesadoptsadvocates
affectsalleviatesallowsalludesalters
analyzesapproachesarguesascertainsassesses
assumesattacksattemptsattributesavoids
basesbelieveschallengeschangescharacterizes
chooseschroniclesclaimscommentscompares
compelscompletesconcernsconcludescondescends
conductsconformsconfrontsconsiderscontends
contestscontrastscontributesconveysconvinces
definesdefiesdemonstratesdepictsdescribes
delineatesdespisesdetailsdeterminesdevelops
deviatesdifferentiatesdiffersdirectsdisappoints
discoversdiscussesdisplaysdisputesdisrupts
distinguishesdistortsdownplaysdramatizeselevates
elicitsemphasizesencountersenhancesenriches
enumeratesenvisionsevokesexcludesexpands
experiencesexplainsexpressesextendsextrapolates
fantasizesfocusesforcesforeshadowsfunctions
generalizesguidesheightenshighlightshints
holdshonorsidentifiesillustratesilluminates
imaginesimpelsimpliesincludesindicates
infersinspiresintendsinterpretsinterrupts
inundatesjustifiesjuxtaposeslambastslaments
lampoonslistsmaintainsmakesmanages
manipulatesminimizesmoralizesmusesnotes
observesopposesorganizesoverstatesoutlines
patronizesperformspermitspersonifiespersuades
pondersportrayspostulatespreparespresents
presumesproducesprojectspromotesproposes
providesqualifiesquestionsrationalizesreasons
recallsrecitesrecollectsrecordsrecounts
reflectsrefersregardsregretsrejects
representsresultsrevealsridiculessatirizes
seemsseesselectsspecifiesspeculates
statesstrivessuggestssummarizessupplies
supportssuppressessymbolizessympathizestraces
understandsvacillatesvaluesverifies
VERBS TO USE INSTEAD OF EXEMPLIFIES
appearsassertsattests tocertifiesconfirms
connotescorroboratesdefinesdemonstratesdenotes
depictsdiscloseselucidatesendorsesestablishes
evincesexhibitsexpoundsexposesintimates
manifestspoints toprovesratifiesrelates
showssubstantiatessuggeststypifiesupholds
validates
ADJECTIVES FOR USE IN LITERARY/RHETORICAL DISCUSSION
DESCRIBING THE AUTHOR
culturedintellectualeruditewell-readsagacious
sensiblerationalphilosophicanalyticalimaginative
perceptivevisionarypropheticoptimisticbroad-minded
idealisticspiritualorthodoxunorthodoxsympathetic
sophisticatedoriginalwhimsicalhumorousconservative
liberalprogressiveradicalreactionaryunprejudiced
realisticromanticshallowsuperficialbigoted
opinionatedintoleranthypocriticalfanaticalprovincial
narrow-mindedsentimentalskepticalcynical
DESCRIBING STYLE/CONTENT
lucid graphicintelligibleexplicitprecise
exactconcisesuccinctcondensedpithy
piquantaphoristicsyllogisticallusivemetaphorical
poeticprosaicplainsimplehomespun
purevigorousforcefuleloquentsonorous
fluentglibnaturalrestrainedsmooth
polishedclassicalartisticbombasticextravagant
rhetoricalturgidpompousgrandioseobscure
vaguediffuseverbosepedanticponderous
ungracefulharshabruptlaboredawkward
unpolishedcrudevulgarformalartificial
utilitarianhumanisticpragmaticnaturalisticimpressionistic
subjectivemelodramaticfancifulauthenticplausible
crediblereconditecontroversialmysticalimprobable
absurdtrivialcommonplaceheretical
DESCRIBING DICTION
high or formallow or informalneutralpreciseexact
concreteabstractplainsimplehomespun
esotericlearnedculturedliteralfigurative
connotativesymbolicpicturesquesensuousliterary
provincialcolloquialslangidiomaticneologistic
inexacteuphemistictriteobscurepedantic
bombasticgrotesquevulgarjargonemotional
obtusemoralisticordinaryscholarlyinsipid
properpretentiousold-fashioned
DESCRIBING SYNTAX
loose sentenceperiodicbalancedinterruptedsimple
compoundcomplexcompound-complexdeclarativeinterrogative
imperativeexclamatorytelegraphicantitheticinverted
euphonicrhythmicalepigrammaticemphaticincoherent
ramblingtortuousjerkycacophonicmonotonous
spareaustereunadornedjumbledchaotic
obfuscatingjournalisticterselaconicmellifluous
musicalliltinglyricalelegantsolid
DESCRIBING ORGANIZATION/STRUCTURE/POINT OF VIEW
spatialchronologicalflashbackflash forwardin media res
step-by-stepobjectivesubjectivenostalgicreminiscent
contemplativereflectiveclinicalimpersonaldramatic
omniscientlimited
DESCRIBING IMAGERY (Substitute these precise adjectives for less precise ones such as vivid, colorful, and powerful.)
bucolicpastoralgustatoryolfactorytactile
kinetickinestheticsensualsacredsexual
auditoryreligiousanimalwar/militarychaotic
DESCRIBING CHARACTERS(Great substitutions for pretty and ugly!)
Physical Qualities
manlyvirilerobusthardysturdy
strappingstalwartmuscularbrawnylovely
faircomelyhandsomedaintydelicate
gracefulelegantshapelyattractivewinsome
ravishingdapperimmaculateadroitdexterous
adeptskillfulagilenimbleactive
livelyspiritedvivaciousweakfeeble
sicklyfraildecrepitemaciatedcadaverous
effeminateunwomanlyhideoushomelycourse
unkemptslovenlyawkwardclumsyungainly
gracelessbizarregrotesqueincongruousghastly
repellentrepugnantrepulsiveodiousinvidious
loathsome
Mental Qualities (Great substitutions for smart and stupid! Which comments would you like to see on your papers?)
educatederuditescholarlywiseastute
intellectualprecociouscapablecompetentgifted
aptrationalreasonablesensibleshrewd
prudentobservantcleveringeniousinventive
subtlecunningcraftywilyunintelligent
unschooledunletteredignorantilliterateinane
irrationalpuerilefoolishfatuousvacuous
simplethick-skulledidioticimbecilicwitless
derangeddementedarticulateeloquent
Moral Qualities (Great substitutions for good and bad!)
idealisticinnocentvirtuousfaultlessrighteous
guilelessuprightexemplarychastepure
undefiledtemperateabstentiousaustereascetic
puritanicaltruthfulhonorabletrustworthystraightforward
decentrespectablewickedcorruptdegenerate
notoriousviciousincorrigibledissemblinginfamous
immoralunprincipledreprobatedepravedindecent
ribaldvulgarintemperatesensualdissolute
deceitfuldishonestunscrupulousdishonorablebase
vilefoulrecalcitrantphilanderingopportunistic
Spiritual Qualities (More great substitutions for good and bad!)
religiousreverentpiousdevoutfaithful
regenerateholysaintlyangelicskeptical
agnosticatheisticirreligiousimpiousirreverent
profanesacrilegiousmaterialisticcarnalgodless
diabolicfiendlikeblasphemousunregeneratealtruistic
charitable
Social Qualities (Terrific substitutions for nice and mean!)
civilamicablecontentiousunpolishedsullen
tactfulcourteouscooperativegenialaffable
hospitablegraciousamiablecordialcongenial
convivialjovialjollyurbanesuave
anti-socialacrimoniousquarrelsomeantagonisticmisanthropic
discourteousimpudentimpoliteinsolentill-bred
ill-manneredunrefinedrusticprovincialboorish
brusquechurlishfawningobsequioussniveling
grumpyfractiouscrustypeevishpetulant
waspishtaciturnreticentgregariousgarrulous
NOUNS FOR USE IN LITERARY/RHETORICAL DISCUSSION
ANALYZING CHARACTERS
foilnemesisadversaryprotagonistantagonist
confidantedoppelgangernarrator (unknown, reliable, naïve)
ANALYZING STRUCTURE/ORGANIZATION/POINT OF VIEW
foreshadowingepiphanyanalogyextended metaphorshifts
parallel structurecomparison/contrasttransitionsequencedefinition
juxtapositionanecdoteframe storyarrangementclassification
categorizationplacementperson (first, second, third)
perspective (chronological, geographic, emotional, political)
ANALYZING SYNTAX
repetitionparallelismanaphoraasyndetonpolysyndeton
subjectpredicateobjectdirect objectindirect object
phraseclauseinfinitiveparticiplegerund
modifierdependent clauseindependent clausesubordinate clausepreposition
conjunctioninterjectiondeliberate fragmentappositiveemphatic
appositivesemicoloncolonrhetorical questionnoun
commapronounproper nouncommon nouncollective noun
abstract nounconcrete noundialogueapostrophechiasmus
parenthetical expressionfootnotecapitalization for effectinversionantecedent
hyphendashactive voicepassive voicetense
cataloguecompound nouns/adjective
IDENTIFYING GENRE/PURPOSE
novelnovellaautobiographymemoirbiography
lettersermonspeechtreatiseabstract
précissynopsiscritiquepersonal narrativejourney
travelogueessaydiatribepolemiccommentary
farceconceiteditorialtiradereview
assessmenteulogyelegyparodyallegory
apologysoliloquymonologueportrayalarchetype
fableargumentverse
IDENTIFYING SOUND DEVICES
alliterationassonanceconsonancerepetitionrhyme
end rhymefeminine rhymemasculine rhymemeterslant rhyme
incremental rhyme
ANOTHER WAY TO SAY “SAID”
accusedconfessedhastened toproceededretorted
acknowledgedconfidedsaypromisedresumed
addedconfirmedheldpromptedrevealed
admittedcontendedhintedpronouncedscoffed
admonishedcontinuedimpliedprophesiedscolded
advocatedcontradictedimploredproposedshouted
affirmedcontributedindicatedprotestedshrugged
agreedcounteredinquiredprovedsighed
allegedcriedinsinuatedqueriedsmiled
announcedcriticizedIinsistedquestionedsnapped
answeredcursedinstructedquibbledsneered
apologizeddebatedinterjectedquippedspeculated
approveddeclaredinterruptedrantedstammered
argueddecreedintimatedreaffirmedstated
askeddemandedjeeredreassuredstipulated
assenteddeniedjestedrecalledstressed
asserteddenouncedjokedrecitedsuggested
assumeddescribedlamentedrecommendedswore
assureddirectedlaughedrecountedteased
avoweddisclosedmaintainedreiteratedtestified
begandiscussedmentionedrejoicedthought
beggeddivulgedmumbledrejoinedthreatened
belittledelaboratedmurmuredrelatedtold
blurtedemphasizedmusedremarkedurged
boastedenumeratedmutteredrememberventured
braggedestimatednarratedremindedvolunteered
broke inexclaimednotedrepeatedvowed
cautionedexplainedobjectedrepliedwarned
challengedexplodedobservedreportedwavered
chargedexpressedofferedreprimandedwent on
chidedfalteredorderedrequestedwept
chuckledfrownedpersistedrespondedwhispered
citedfumedpersuadedrestatedwondered
claimedgaspedpiped upyelled
commentedgiggledpleaded
complainedgloatedpledged
concededgroanedpointed out
concludedguessespraised
concurredhasten to addpredicted
TRANSITION WORDS
Time / Place / Idea / Comparing / Contrasting / Emphasizing/clarifying / Adding another example
after afterward
at first
as before finally
immediately
later
next
now previously soon
then / above
ahead
among beyond
down elsewhere farther
here
in front of
in the background near
nearby
next to
there / First
second
third
similarly
as
in the same way
for instance likewise however / as
at the same time
by comparison
equally
in the same manner
likewise
similarly / although
and yet
as
as though
at the same time
but
in contrast
conversely
even so
unlike
even though
however
in spite of
instead of
neither
nevertheless
on the one hand
on the other hand, provided that
though
unfortunately
whereas, yet / Especially
for instance
in fact
indeed
that is
in other words / moreover
most important
now
so
additionally
again
also
especially
in addition
in fact
last
again
also
besides
equally important furthermore similarly
in contrast
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