Tone Adjectives

Remember that tone is the author’s attitude toward the subject:

Writing that:

·  treats inferiors with a superior air and expresses mock appreciation of that which is inferior has a condescending tone.

·  is dull and tasteless has an insipid tone.

·  rouses anger or excitement has an inflammatory tone.

·  gently warns against fault or oversight has an admonitory tone.

·  uses language that is inflated, pretentious, or pompous has a turgid tone.

·  is spicy, provocative, stimulating – often with gentle sarcasm – has a piquant tone.

·  indicates a longing for the past has a nostalgic tone.

·  expresses praise has a laudatory tone.

·  expresses annoyance or that seems to harass has a vexed tone.

·  indicates an affected holiness or devoutness has a sanctimonious tone.

·  is silly or that conveys lack of seriousness or value has a frivolous tone.

·  is characterized by joking – half-serious – tongue-in-cheek has a facetious tone.

·  is daring, bold, insolent, or brazen has an audacious tone.

·  praises or mourns a dead person has an elegiac tone.

·  is based on observation and is strictly objective has a clinical tone.

·  is characterized by knowledge and study – very learned writing – has an erudite tone.

·  is penetrative, sharp, perceptive, sarcastic, biting, cutting, has an incisive tone.

·  is based on competence and reliability, is authentic and decisive has an authoritative tone.

·  indicates the writer is confused, bewildered, puzzled, or confounded has a baffled tone.

·  is unimaginative, ordinary, uninspired, commonplace, or dull has a prosaic tone.

·  pretends to take the matter seriously while actually making fun of it has a mock-serious tone.

·  is characterized by taking a very contemptuous view of human character and conduct has a cynical tone.

·  is disrespectful, discourteous, and sacrilegious has an irreverent tone.

·  uses conversational and common everyday expressions has a colloquial tone.

Writing that is:

·  pedantic makes a pretentious show of learning.

·  apprehensive expresses fear or dread.

·  disparaging tends to belittle or put down.

·  bantering expresses a humorous, playfully jesting attitude.

·  candid expresses frankness, lack of prejudice, or impartiality.

·  condemnatory expresses an attitude of blame, guilt, or censure.

·  indignant expresses anger at an unjust situation.

·  insolent expresses a disrespectful, insulting, rude attitude.

·  detached is unconnected and free from emotion.

·  foreboding expresses a warning of evil or trouble.

·  plaintive expresses a complaint, lamentation, or grievance; expresses a mournful or sorrowful attitude.

·  mock-heroic ridicules the actions/character of heroes.

·  patronizing exhibits a condescending attitude.

·  reflective is meditative or contemplative.

·  taunting expresses contemptuous, tormenting ridicule.

·  lugubrious expresses an exaggerated mournful attitude.

·  pompous expresses a self-important attitude, ceremonial in style.

·  somber expresses a dark, gloomy, sad, dismal attitude.

·  serene exhibits a calm, peaceful, and tranquil attitude.

·  contentious reveals a quarrelsome, argumentative attitude.

·  didactic tends to instruct or to lean toward teaching.

·  diffident expresses a lack of confidence – not assertive.

·  effusive expresses a wordy expression of feelings or emotions.

·  flippant exhibits a lack of seriousness or respect.

·  exuberant is lavish, effusive, superabundantly spirited.