How to Use Tone in Writing

Using tone in any piece of writing is natural and not as complicated as you may think. Tone is the author's attitude toward a character or situation. The way you describe people, places and things and the conversation or thoughts that characters have sets the tone in the piece of writing.

Instructions

1. Be careful what descriptors you choose. How you describe something will give the reader impressions about how they are supposed to perceive the character or situation.

2. Think about how much information you are giving the reader. The more description you give someone or something, the more important the reader will believe it to be. To add emphasis to a character or situation, be very descriptive. To de-emphasize something, give only the necessary details.

3. Decide what point of view to use. First person point of view gives the reader an account from one person and how they view what is going on. Third person point of view is not a character, but rather a narrator that may show the thoughts for one or more characters. Third person can also be an omnipotent voice that sees everything, but is connected to no one.

4. Decide if the piece of writing will be in past, present or future tense. Clues from the point of view and the tense of the piece of writing will guide the reader in discovering your tone of the work. For example, if a story about a fiery, deadly car crash is being told by a first person survivor, the tone changes from tragic to serious and grievous.