Not all companies can interact with their customers in the same way. Based on a business purpose and demographic focus, the way they “talk” to their audience needs to match up. Finding professional article writers to capture your unique tone and style can be a challenge.
Some businesses can get away with a friendlier, joking demeanor in their site copy and interactions with clientele. For a different business, this attitude comes off as unprofessional.
How does this relate to your purchased site content? When you buy blog articles, the tone and demographic you’re trying to convey to site viewers need to be relayed, so the professional article writers know what voice to give the copy. But how can you tell them when you don’t know yourself?
When you’re writing, it’s important to understand the tone of voice you’re using. Every piece of writing has a specific tone and this can be conveyed through the words, sentence structure, and other elements. In this article, we will discuss some examples of different tones used in writing and how to identify them.
What is Tone of Voice in Writing?
Tone of voice in writing is a crucial element for any writer. It provides an important level of detail that goes beyond the words on the page, allowing readers to get a better sense of the story and often enabling them to connect with the characters in a deeper way.
Tone of voice can be funny, serious, angry, excited – whatever emotion you are attempting to evoke from your readers. It is also a great tool for authors to create tension and suspense; when done correctly, a subtle shift in tone can give readers pause, inviting them to speculate about what lies between the lines.
Knowing how to use tone of voice effectively is an art form all its own and one must always practice caution out of respect for the reader’s emotional journey.
5 Best Examples of Tone in Writing
Below you’ll find 7 examples of different tones of voice along with explanation on how to use them.
Professional Tone
This is often used in business or academic settings. It is formal and straightforward with no embellishments or flowery language. It is also respectful and polite, but not overly familiar.
Example: “Please submit your report by Monday’s end of the day. Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.”
Conversational Tone
This is more relaxed than a professional tone, and it encourages interaction between the writer and reader. It uses language common in everyday conversation, such as slang and contractions.
Example: “Hey buddy, don’t forget to submit that report by Monday! We need it ASAP so don’t drag your feet!”
Sarcastic Tone
When a writer wants to make a point but does so with humor and wit. It can be difficult to master because too much sarcasm can come off as mean-spirited or offensive, while not enough can fall flat. The key is to use it sparingly and only when appropriate for the situation.
Example: “Gee whiz, I sure hope you remember to submit that report by Monday! Wouldn’t want anything bad happening…like getting fired!”
Commanding Tone
This type of tone commands attention from the reader as if speaking directly to them about an important matter that needs immediate action. The language used should be direct but respectful at the same time to ensure compliance without coming off as rude or confrontational.
Example: “You are required to submit your report by the end of business Monday without fail or there will be consequences.”
Inspirational Tone
An inspirational tone can be used when trying to motivate someone towards a specific goal or action they need to take for positive results or outcomes to occur in their life or circumstance they find themselves in right now.
The language should be uplifting but also realistic so that readers don’t feel overwhelmed with false expectations set upon them, which are impossible for anyone else besides themselves to achieve on their own terms.
Example: “Take charge of your future today! Don’t wait another day – take action now towards achieving your goals before Monday passes us by!”
Witty tone of voice
Witty tone of voice is often used to lighten a conversation in the face of adversity. It is the use of humour and puns to put a humorous spin on serious topics. While this kind of response is not always appropriate, it can be an effective comedic tool that allows us to show our more lighthearted side.
Rather than taking situations too seriously, witty tone of voice can help loosen up conversations and take the weight off ourselves or even others at times. When writing with a witty tone, humor is often used to create an entertaining yet clear message.
For example, when walking by a graveyard one could turn to their friend and say “Why so grave?” – both acknowledging the irony while also making a clever play on words.
Friendly tone
Writing with a friendly tone of voice is often preferred when developing interpersonal relationships. A conversation between two people, with one person having a warm and inviting persona, can easily encourage a deeper sense of understanding and trust.
The same concept applies to writing. A friendly tone of voice creates an atmosphere that promotes the growth of bonds between all readers. Instead of using aggressive language, or words that have a negative connotation, it is often wise to use language that is lighthearted and inviting.
Examples include saying “I understand!” instead of “You’re wrong!” or complimenting someone for their recent accomplishment rather than highlighting areas for improvement.
Writing with a friendly tone encourages positive dialogue, communicates warmth and enthusiasm, and invites open discussion between all parties in order to build relationships at any level.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Tone of Voice
Finding the perfect tone of voice to use in your written communication can be overwhelming. Whether you are crafting a marketing email or penning an important business letter, establishing a friendly but professional tone is essential for making sure your message gets across clearly.
The tips presented in this article will help you choose a tone of voice that presents your message in the most effective way possible.
From considering the purpose of your message to testing various styles, you’ll be equipped with all of the advice needed to make sure your words come off warmly and kindly every time.
Understand Your Audience
The first step in choosing a tone of voice is understanding who your audience is and what they expect from your writing. Are they looking for something humorous?
If so, then a more lighthearted tone might be appropriate. Or if they are looking for something professional and formal, then a more serious tone might be better suited. Understanding who you are talking to will help guide you towards the most appropriate tone for your message.
Look at Your Competitors
First, examine the kind of business you’re in. There are a lot of business types that can go either way in terms of a casual or staunchly professional tone. Think of recent car dealership commercials you’ve seen.
Some are friendly, cheerful, engaging, and talking on the average consumer’s level. Others might be staunch and matter-of-fact.
This is an excellent example of a business that can easily succeed with either one or the other or a mixture of the two. A good tip when buying blogs and copy for your site is to give your professional article writers instructions on a set amount of content in either tone.
It’s hard to pinpoint a business that has to stick with a casual concept, so know that, more often than not, you can succeed with a more professional tone than a relaxed tone.
Again, it’s never good to shift completely over to one side while ignoring the other. Many businesses can anchor a place within youth demographics by being more casual and fun, especially on social media, and professional article writers should be capable of this.
Find Your Style
Also, remember that a casual voice does not mean professionalism isn’t present within the website content. Think of yourself as a business person sitting down at a lunch meeting.
Your conversation isn’t completely dry, and you’re laughing appropriately, but you’re still talking business. This atmosphere should be present in your site’s content, so make sure you reiterate this to the article writer in charge of creating blogs and site copy.
You ultimately control how you want to be perceived by an audience. While professional article writers might produce blogging content, your social media management might be outsourced, and your other employees also reflect your business’ image; a business owner is the one who sets the stage for the tone within a business.
This tone then dictates how your employees and outsourced workers hold themselves and the content they create. This sets the stage for your relationship with customers. If you aren’t on the ball in this area with such a drastic trickle-down effect, you aren’t as successful as you could be.
Vary Your Tone as Needed
While having one general “voice” throughout a piece can be helpful in creating consistency and establishing rapport with readers, it’s also important to remember that different situations may call for different tones of voice.
For instance, if you are writing an article on a serious topic but need to provide some levity at certain points in order to keep readers engaged, then it’s acceptable (and even encouraged) to switch up your style at those points and use humor where necessary. Just make sure that whatever style you choose still fits with the overall theme and purpose of your writing.
Conclusion
Choosing the perfect tone of voice requires careful consideration and attention to detail. Once mastered, it can make all the difference in how effectively you communicate with readers through written words.
Understand who your audience is and what they expect from your communication. Select words that fit with this expectation, and vary your style as needed. A strong writer or blogger can ensure that their messages satisfy their intended targets. With these tips in mind, anyone can craft pieces with just the right amount of formality or informality needed to get their point across! If you ever need a writer, AWC is ready to help you with any writing task, from an article to email copy.
David is the Founder and Director of article-writing.co, the fastest-growing content creation agency in North America. He has transformed companies by offering high-quality content that has impacted their SEO ranking, revitalized websites with engaging and industry-relevant blogs and website copy, and championed successful email campaign copy.
