1. Style, Diction, Tone ENG 208 Prof. Sarah Valentine

2. Style Style refers to how something is written, rather than the meaning of what is written – However, these two aspects of writing are closely linked. As the package for the meaning of the text, style determines the reader’s impression of the information itself.

3. Style The main goal of style is to present your narrative in a way that is appropriate for both the audience and the goal of the writing. Consistency of style is paramount: Switching styles (or tone, diction, etc.) can distract the reader and diminish the reliability of the narrator.

4. Diction Diction is word choice. When writing, use vocabulary best suited to the goal and tone of the essay. Words that have almost the same denotation (dictionary meaning) can have very different connotations (implied meanings). Always use a dictionary and thesaurus when writing (and reading)! It will make you more aware of your word choices and what they convey.

5. Diction Closely related to diction is register, which is the level of formality or informality of the writing Ex. – Formal Register – They are not angry. – Casual Register – They aren’t mad. – Slang (v. informal) – They ain’t ticked. Always be aware of the correct register for your writing, esp. in a character’s dialogue.

6. Diction The connotations of a particular word choice can greatly impact the meaning of what you write: – Positive/Neutral connotation: pruning the bushes – Negative: slashing the bushes – Positive/Neutral: the politician’s stance – Negative: the politician’s spin Always be aware of words’ connotative meanings and whether you are building in pos./neg. attitude toward your subject.

7. Diction Another important aspect of diction and register in the personal essay is age- appropriateness. Since personal essays often take the form of memories, sometimes the narrator’s perspective is that of a child. In this case, be sure to use diction and register that is appropriate for a child’s pov, not an adult’s.

8. Tone Aside from individual word choice, the overall tone, or attitude, of a piece of writing should be appropriate to the audience and purpose. The tone may be objective or subjective, logical or emotional, intimate or distant, serious or humorous. It is also important to control the shifts in tone in a piece. When a mood changes from humorous to serious, the tone should reflect that.

9. Tone Related to tone is pacing, which we have already discussed. Pacing affects tone and can consist mostly of long, intricate sentences, of short, simple ones, or of something in between. Often writers vary their sentence length and structure to highlight important moments in the narrative.

10. Tone One way to achieve proper tone is to imagine a situation in which you would say the words being written. Your piece might read like a conversation with a close friend where there is the freedom to use slang or other casual forms of speech. Or it might have the feel of an academic paper or a formal speech: being more distant with no room for personal digressions or slang words.

11. Tone Again, tone is a powerful tool for capturing the essence of a character in his or her dialogue. What if you have a character that always talks like a text book? What might that say about him/her? What if you have a character who always misuses words in attempt to sound more intelligent? What if someone always “dumbs down” their speech?

12. Tone vs. Voice Anything you write should still have your voice: something that makes your writing sound uniquely like you. A personal conversation with a friend differs from a speech given to a large group of strangers, but even though the tone varies, each can still express the unique voice of its author.

13. Tone vs. Voice Just as you speak to different people in different ways yet remain yourself, so the tone of your writing can vary with the situation while the voice is still your own. Voice is a combination of all the elements of style brought together by your own creativity and individuality. It takes practice to develop a strong voice as a writer, but that is what workshop is for!