"A man with a scant vocabulary will almost certainly be a weak thinker." ~Henry Hazlitt (Thinking as a Science)
Tone Words
Tone is the author's attitude and is expressed through the details the author chooses to use.
- Objective Tone is impartial, unbiased and neutral. It does not show any feelings or use any pronouns such as "I" or "you," which creates a formal tone.
- Subjective Tone is personal, biased, emotional and informal.
Positive Tone Words Neutral Tone Words Negative Tone Words
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admiring
adoring affectionate appreciative approving bemused benevolent blithe calm casual celebratory cheerful comforting comic compassionate complimentary conciliatory confident contented delightful earnest ebullient ecstatic effusive elated empathetic encouraging euphoric excited exhilarated expectant facetious fervent flippant forthright friendly funny gleeful gushy |
happy
hilarious hopeful humorous interested introspective jovial joyful laudatory light lively mirthful modest nostalgic optimistic passionate placid playful poignant proud reassuring reflective relaxed respectful reverent romantic sanguine scholarly self-assured sentimental serene silly sprightly straightforward sympathetic tender tranquil whimsical wistful worshipful zealous |
commanding
direct impartial indirect objective questioning speculative unambiguous unconcerned understated |
abhorring
acerbic ambiguous ambivalent angry annoyed antagonistic anxious apathetic apprehensive belligerent bewildered biting bitter blunt bossy cold conceited condescending confused contemptuous curt cynical demanding depressed derisive derogatory desolate despairing desperate detached diabolic disappointed disliking disrespectful doubtful embarrassed enraged evasive fatalistic fearful forceful foreboding frantic frightened frustrated furious gloomy grave greedy grim harsh haughty holier-than-thou hopeless |
hostile
impatient incredulous indifferent indignant inflammatory insecure insolent irreverent lethargic melancholy mischievous miserable mocking mournful nervous ominous outraged paranoid pathetic patronizing pedantic pensive pessimistic pretentious psychotic resigned reticent sarcastic sardonic scornful self-deprecating selfish serious severe sinister skeptical sly solemn somber stern stolid stressful strident suspicious tense threatening tragic uncertain uneasy unfriendly unsympathetic upset violent wry |