“Inequity doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and neither does humanity. “When I’m doing a sensitivity read, I typically examine every single aspect of the work-the language, the content, the plot, the psychology of the characters, the context,” they say. Norris II is well-versed in this phenomenon. The stakes are often elevated to match the importance of the message, so more attention is warranted. And it takes knowledge of those norms and expectations, as well as the context of the conversation, to be able to convey the intended emotions. Cultural norms often dictate how those are perceived. Tone, like language itself, works because people agree on the meaning behind words. “If the reader doesn’t respond the way you want them to,” says Lara, “you don’t have a reader.” What informs tone in writing? That contrast is because of tone.Īnd while the emotional response you take away from a message may not necessarily be the intention of the sender, it still exists, and people will seek it out when reading. There isn’t a negative force lurking in the background.

If, for example, your boss sent you a Slack message that said, “Do you have a minute to talk?” you might think, “Oh no, what’s wrong?” If she rephrased it as, “Got time to chat real quick?” you might be less alarmed. As memoirist and writing coach Adair Lara says, “Tone is what the dog hears.” Just like tone of voice, tone in writing gives much more context beyond the words used. Tone in writing is the attitude your words employ. Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly What is tone in writing?

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