In the context of informational text, tone refers to the author's attitude or perspective toward the subject matter and the audience. It encompasses the choice of words, the style of writing, and the overall emotional quality expressed in the text. Tone can influence how the information is received and understood by the reader and can convey feelings such as:
- Neutral: Objective information presented without bias or emotion (e.g., a textbook).
- Formal: A serious and professional tone appropriate for scholarly or technical texts (e.g., research papers).
- Conversational: A more informal and accessible tone that aims to engage the reader (e.g., blog posts or popular science articles).
- Persuasive: A tone intended to convince the reader of a particular viewpoint or action (e.g., opinion pieces or advocacy articles).
Understanding tone is essential for readers as it affects interpretation, engagement, and the overall impact of the information presented in the text.