banner

How To Choose Appropriate Tone 

Appropriate tone refers to the matching of words with the occasion and audience. It's something we do every day in life. For example, you're looking for something and ask several people what they did with it.video thumb

To your best friend or family member, you might say, "Whod ja givit to?" Your language is quick, to the point, spoken in the intimate dialect you share with this person.

To a co-worker or colleague you might say, "Who did you give it to?"
This person doesn't speak your intimate language, so you speak in a way that ensures you will be understood.

To your boss or other authority figure, you might say: "To whom did you give it?" In a situation where you might be judged, you want to apply all standards of correctness.

Same Question, Different Tone
All three expressions ask the same question, but each with a differnt tone that is appropriate for the occasion and audience.

All of the words we choose can be located somewhere along this formality scale. For example, here are some choices for describing a male who has the same parents as you do:
You could call that person your sibling, if you are being formal.
Or you could call that person your bubba, if you are being informal.
The word brother probably falls somewhere in the middle of the formality scale.

One of a writer's main jobs during the revision process is to check for words whose tone doesn't fit the final product. For example, you've written the following sentence in an essay that analyzes the impact of television commericials on today's youth:

"To sell their products, today's television commercials today promote adult lifestyles to our precious _______ ." Here are just a few of your choices:
  • progeny
  • kids
  • youth
  • younglings
  • children
  • bambinos
Note that choosing a word that is overlly formal--progeny--can be just as ineffective as choosing one that is too informal--bambinos.

All words have their place. Someday bambinos or progeny will be the exact word you should use. Your job is to use it at the right time so that your tone is appropriate for the occasion and person to whom you are speaking.
Choosing Appropriate Tone: Video & Quiz

If you experience problems playing the video above, try copying and pasting this URL in a new browser window:
http://polaris.umuc.edu/ewc/mvids/appropriate_tone/appropriate_tone.html