What is Tone?

Definition

The ‘tone’ refers to the feelings or emotions expressed by the author towards an issue. It could also encompass his style of writing. What sentiment does the author express towards the subject? That is the tone.

Tip: To identify tone, ask yourself: “How does the author feel about this subject?” Look for emotionally charged words and adjectives.

Example

Consider a title such as ‘The dismal state of Pakistani hockey’. The adjective ‘dismal’ conveys the author’s negative sentiment towards the subject of hockey.

Memory Trick: Remember that TONE = The Author’s Own Narrative Emotion.

Various Tones and Styles

Sarcastic/Satirical

Such a tone is used for passages where the author has subtly made fun of a person, the way an issue is being handled or situation.

Example: “Too often sports bodies in our country are in the hands of politicians. And you know how our politicians are.”

Identification Tip: Look for irony, exaggeration, or understatement. Sarcasm often says the opposite of what is meant.

Descriptive or Informative

This tone is appropriate when the author has given a lot of figures, facts or data in the passage. The author’s purpose is to increase the reader’s knowledge.

Examples: Passages dealing with historical events, technological details, or information about buildings/landmarks.

Memory Trick: Descriptive = Data, Informative = Information. Look for numbers, dates, statistics.

Judgmental

This is typically used for passages when the author expresses his views on some issues and takes a stand – is this person or issue right or wrong? Good or bad?

Examples: An expert giving his verdict on some issue, a fan speaking about an issue close to his heart.

Identification Tip: Look for opinion words: “should”, “must”, “good”, “bad”, “better”, “worse”.

Analytical

The characteristic of an analytical tone is the presence of reasons or logic/justifications to support something. The author analyzes an issue, presenting pros and cons.

Examples: An author stating that he feels something could happen in the future and providing reasons, analysis of past events.

Memory Trick: Analytical = Analysis = Breaking things down into parts with reasons.

Bemoaning/Regret/Lamenting

These words express a similar sentiment – that of loss. This tone is appropriate when the author wishes to express regret or sorrow about a particular issue.

Examples: A passage where pain over the loss of something is expressed – could be loss of lives, values, traditions.

Identification Tip: Look for words expressing sadness, loss, nostalgia, or phrases like “it’s a pity”, “unfortunately”, “sadly”.

Candid

The word ‘candid’ means to be open, frank, honest or upfront. Nothing is kept hidden. The characteristic is forthrightness, openness and being frank.

Examples: A CEO admitting product failure, a scientist admitting experiments failed, someone admitting they were wrong.

Memory Trick: Candid = Camera = Truthful, honest, no filter.

Prescriptive/Sermonizing

This tone is appropriate when the author tells the reader to do something: gives advice, recommendations or suggestions.

Examples: A religious discourse giving advice, an expert giving suggestions, a teacher telling a student how to study.

Identification Tip: Look for imperative sentences, advice words: “should”, “must”, “ought to”, “need to”.

Critical/Extolling

Critical tone criticizes something or someone, while extolling praises it (the word ‘extol’ means ‘to praise’).

Memory Trick: Critical = Criticize, Extolling = Excellent (praise).

Specific Details Questions

An author often supports his or her main idea with key facts and examples. Questions about specific details are a matter of reading carefully for meaning.

Strategy for Specific Detail Questions:

  • Identify the most important word(s) in the question
  • Make mental notes related to the word or phrase as you read
  • Answer often appears in the same sentence or adjacent sentences
  • Some questions contain synonyms – look for words with similar meaning
  • Some questions ask to identify the true statement among options
Exam Tip: For “according to the passage” questions, the answer must be directly stated or strongly implied in the text. Don’t use outside knowledge!