10 Types of Tones in Writing With Examples for Writers

A tone in writing is defined as how a writer communicates with his audience. There are many types of tones in writing. Due to this, many writers are still unaware of how to maintain a consistent tone in writing. However, once the writing tone is mastered, everyone can express themselves louder and more clearly.

Table of Contents

What is a tone in writing? Simple Definition

A tone in writing is the author’s attitude or emotional perspective conveyed to the audience through the choice of words, sentence structure, and stylistic elements. It shapes how the reader perceives the message and creates a specific mood or feeling.

In short, a tone helps establish a relationship between the writer and the reader. However, there are various types of tones in English language, which we will discuss in the next section.

Why Does Tone Matter in Writing?

A tone in writing is mandatory because it shows how the reader perceives your message. For example, in types of expository writing, such as process analysis essays, you can’t use a joke or humorous tone because it is formal writing and must follow a formal tone.

Anyway, Mike Willims, an academic writer, has raised some reasons why different types of tone in writing matter. Let’s see what he says.

A tone in writing matters because it helps to make a connection with The audience:
It helps to convey the message to the target audience:
Tone sets the mood of your writing, which means if you are writing for a blog post, use an informal tone, and if you are writing an academic paper, use a formal tone.

Types of Tones in Writing With Examples + Books Recommendation

Tones are the vibes and feelings the author puts in his writing. However, each of the tones can stir up different emotions in readers. For each type of tone in writing, here are some examples, recommended books and elements to consider:

Formal Tone

A formal is among the most common tones in writing and is often used in professional and academic contexts. Researchers, businesses, and legal authorities mainly use such a tone in their writing.

Elements of a Formal Tone:

Use complex and specialized vocabulary,
The sentence length must be long and well-structured.
Write in the third person point of view.

Example:

The committee’s research report shows a good analysis of the data.

Recommended Books to read for a formal tone:

“Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville
“The Republic” by Plato

Informal Tone in Writing

Informal is another types of tone in writing, which is primarily conversational. It includes slang or colloquial expressions. You will most commonly use it in blog posts, informal essays, or more.

Elements to consider in an informal tone.

Use language that is used daily but decent.
Feel free to use I, We, You in your writing
Keep your sentences short and catchy
You can encourage your reader and ask for feedback in an informal tone in writing.

Example:

Would you like to have some pizza today? Let’s plan dinner today!

Recommended Books To Get expertise in informal tone:

Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul: 101 Stories of Changes, Choices and Growing Up for Kids ages 9-13 Jack Canfield.

Assertive Tone

This kind of writing tone shows the author’s confidence and attitude. It is often used to make a point or persuade the reader. An assertive tone is best when comparing yourself to another person or in a competition match.

Elements of assertive types of tones in writing:

State your point clearly and without ambiguity.
Show confidence throughout your writing and avoid hedging.
Maintain a solid stance without being aggressive.
Back up your assertions with relevant facts.

Example:

We must immediately rectify this issue and ensure it does not happen again.

Books to read to master assertive tone in writing:

Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion

Curious Tone

A curious tone expresses eagerness to learn more or explore a subject. In a writing scenario, a curious tone is used to ask a question and leave a mysterious sense. This one is considered the most difficult among the different types of tones in writing.

Elements regarding the curious tone.

Show a genuine desire to learn.
Try to ask open-ended questions.
Use words like “explore” or “discover.”
Show your interest in different viewpoints.

Example:

Are traditional writing conventions changing with digital communication? How do emojis and slang fit in?

Recommendation to ace in curious tone:

Read Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Serious Tone

A serious tone is written in a primarily formal and professional way. Such writing conveys information directly without any distractions. Academic writing is mainly utilized in educational settings, including documents and sensitive topics.

Elements of a serious tone.

Use formal and standard grammar.
Express ideas clearly and precisely.
Maintain impartiality when presenting information.
Consider the topic and audience when writing.

Example:

You cannot ignore the devastating effects of climate change.

Recommended books to learn about serious types of tones in writing.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman.

Humorous Tone

A humorous tone in writing is defined as an event when someone tells a story or cracks a joke that positively affects the audience. You will often use it in comedy writing or other light-hearted content.

Elements that could be used in a humorous tone.

Use clever words and puns to attract the audience
Using satire or irony to highlight absurdities.
Try to use hyperbole for comedic effect.
Adopt a light-hearted tone.

Example:

Oh God! You have no idea how my attempt to bake cookies was a total disaster. Thanks to the smoke alarm for making things more interesting!

Book to read For Humorous types of Tones in writing:

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams

Sarcastic Tone

Sarcasm is an example of verbal irony in which you say the opposite of what you intend. In a sarcastic tone, you mostly write bitter remarks and stuff. This is a challenging tone to learn among different types of tones in writing. You can use such a tone when writing movie reviews, personal opinions, or social commentary.

Elements of sarcastic tone.

Use words that imply the opposite meaning.
Downplaying for comedic effect.
use bitter language to depict the flaws in something

Example:

“Wow, another meeting scheduled during lunchtime. That’s just fantastic!”.

Recommended book to master sarcastic tone in writing:

“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen

Optimistic Tone

Such types of tones in writing convey hope, confidence, and a positive outlook. This kind of tone is often used in persuasive writing to inspire the readers.

Elements must be used in an optimistic tone.

Convey your beliefs and views positively.
Develop confidence and motivation in your audience.
Use positive words and expressions.
Focus on solutions and growth while acknowledging challenges.

Example:

Yes, we face too many hurdles, but we must keep going and can do that!

Recommended books to master your optimistic tone in writing.

The Glass Half-Full by Suzanne C Segerstrom

Melancholic Tone

Such a tone of writing conveys sadness, longing or nostalgia. You will often use it in poetry, writing, and more like movie script writing. A melancholy tone is attractive among other types of tones in writing.

Elements that must be considered while writing melancholic.

Express your feelings of sadness, grief, or longing.
Look at past experiences or lost opportunities.
Create a sense of loneliness or being disconnected.

Example:

Sometimes, we encounter confusing sentences that make no sense, leaving us scratching our heads and wondering what they mean.

Books to ace a melancholy tone in writing:

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Friendly tone

This tone is warm, approachable, and engaging. These types of tones in writing make a deeper connection with the reader, who feels they are talking with a close friend. Such tones are often used in casual conversations, letters to friends, and social media.

Elements to keep in mind while writing in a friendly tone.

Try a casual style that makes the reader feel comfortable.
Use encouraging and supportive language.
Use collective terms like (“we” and “us”) to create a sense of camaraderie.
Add humor or light-hearted remarks to engage and entertain the reader.

Example:

Hey there! How’s it going? I hope you’re having a fantastic day!

Recommended book for friendly tone:

A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman

Bonus Tip: Practice is the best way to master your writing tones. We encourage you to pick informative essay topics from the list and practice different tones.

Expert Tips to Get Better at Learning Different Tones in Writing

Here are some expert tips for students to master the different types of tones in writing: we are sure that after these tricks, you will understand how to choose your tones.

Get comfortable with different styles and genres of writing. Read the books mentioned above to become an expert in various types of tones in the writing.
Set a schedule for daily practice with different tones of writing.
You must be familiar with vocabulary associated with different tones, Like some words we use for humorous or professional tones.
Play with sentence structure and word choice to see how you can come up with the right tone for your writing.
The best way to learn different tones in writing is to share your final piece with your colleagues or teachers for review.

Do You Want To Write With Different Tones?

We know it is hard to ace types of tones in writing, especially when you are new in the writing field. But that’s not a big issue in today’s world. With the advancement of technology, many tools can help you start writing in different tones. One tool we offer is free AI essay writing, which will help you write in various styles and voices without gaining any experience in writing.

Take Away

We have tried our best to provide all types of tones in writing. Our core objective is to give writers skills to convey their emotions and intentions well in their compositions.

By looking at examples, recommended books, and core elements of each tone, we hope you will become familiar with effectively using different tones in writing. This means you can now try different tones that connect with your readers on another level.