Tone Is the Author S Attitude Towards the Subject Or Situation in the Text. Accurately

Tone Vocabulary

Tone is the author’s attitude towards the subject or situation in the text. Accurately identifying an tone can help you understand the central idea of the text. Look up unfamiliar words below in the dictionary.

Positive Tone Words

·  positive

·  amused

·  appreciative

·  calm

·  cheerful

·  compassionate

·  complimentary

·  confident

·  consoling

·  content

·  dreamy

·  ecstatic

·  encouraging

·  enthusiastic

·  excited

·  fanciful

·  friendly

·  hopeful

·  passionate

·  lighthearted

·  nostalgic

·  optimistic

·  playful

·  proud

·  relaxed

·  reverent

·  romantic

·  sentimental

·  soothing

·  surprised

·  sympathetic

Negative Tone Words

·  accusing

·  aggravated

·  agitated

·  angry

·  authoritative

·  apathetic

·  arrogant

·  bitter

·  brash

·  cold

·  condescending

·  contradictory

·  critical

·  desperate

·  disappointed

·  disgusted

·  furious

·  harsh

·  hostile

·  insulting

·  manipulative

·  outraged

·  threatening

·  uninterested

·  jaded

Humorous and Ironic Tone Words

·  comical

·  cynical

·  flippant

·  humorous

·  irreverent

·  joking

·  mocking

·  patronizing

·  ridiculing

·  sarcastic

·  satiric

·  silly

·  teasing

·  whimsical

·  wry

Sorrowful and Fearful Tone Words

·  anxious

·  apologetic

·  concerned

·  confused

·  disturbed

·  embarrassed

·  fearful

·  gloomy

·  hopeless

·  melancholic

·  miserable

·  mournful

·  nervous

·  numb

·  ominous

·  paranoid

·  pessimistic

·  pitiful

·  remorseful

·  resigned

·  serious

·  sentimental

·  solemn

·  somber

·  upset

Neutral Tone Words

·  allusive

·  authoritative

·  ceremonial

·  contemplative

·  detached

·  didactic

·  factual

·  formal

·  informative

·  instructive

·  matter-of-fact

·  objective

·  questioning

·  reflective

·  resigned

·  restrained

·  serious

·  sincere

·  unemotional

·  passive

A Little Practice: Describe the tone in the sentences below. Identify the specific words (diction) that communicate the tone to you.

1.  It’s partly cloudy. The temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tone: ______

Diction (words that express the tone):______

2.  O, glorious Sun! We praise your golden rays!

Tone: ______

Diction (words that express the tone):______

3.  One must learn about the water cycle to understand how clouds form and affect our weather.

Tone: ______

Diction (words that express the tone):______

4.  It’s like a desert out here. Thanks a lot Mom and Dad for ruining the planet and causing global warming!

Tone: ______

Diction (words that express the tone):______

5.  I remember one beautiful, white Christmas long ago.

Tone: ______

Diction (words that express the tone):______

6.  Of course, it had to rain on my wedding day! Curse those clouds! I knew I shouldn’t have picked this date.

Tone: ______

Diction (words that express the tone):______