How writing sounds.
WHAT TONE IS
The impression your words create beyond their meaning.
WHY IT MATTERS IN WRITING PARTICULARLY
There is no voice or expression to correct it.
WHAT CREATES A COLD TONE
Very short sentences No acknowledgement of the person Passive construction Instructions with no context
WHAT CREATES AN OVERFAMILIAR TONE
Excessive informality Humour with people you do not know Assumed shared feeling
WHAT TO AIM FOR
Direct and human.
WHAT THAT MEANS PRACTICALLY
Saying what you mean, while acknowledging the reader.
WHAT ACKNOWLEDGING LOOKS LIKE
A sentence recognising their situation before the substance.
WHAT TO ADJUST BY CONTEXT
Formality Warmth
WHAT NOT TO ADJUST
Clarity.
WHAT TO BE CAREFUL WITH
Brevity, which reads as curt Exclamation marks, which read as forced Capitals, which read as shouting
WHAT TO DO ABOUT SENSITIVE MESSAGES
Have someone read them.
WHAT TO ASK THEM
How it sounds, not whether it is clear.
WHAT TO NOTICE IN REPLIES
Whether the tone shifted.
WHY
It indicates how yours was received.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU CAUSED OFFENCE UNINTENTIONALLY
Address it directly, and briefly.
