The document discusses different tones that an author may adopt when writing, including factual, critical, analytical, sentimental, emotional, laudatory, cynical, speculative, and more. It provides examples and definitions for tones like analytical, acerbic, angry, apathetic, apologetic, biased, bemoaning, commiserating, contemptuous, cynical, dogmatic, emotional, ethical, euphemism, grandiose, humorous, introspective, laudatory, motivational, prescriptive, sarcastic, and speculative. The document is intended to help the reader identify the tone an author has adopted in a given passage.

1. RC TONES

2. This question type let us explore what tone/attitude stands for.
Every author adopts a certain attitude towards the issue he is
talking about.
Some wish to highlight the facts about a matter (thereby
adopting a ‘factual’ tone); some wish to explore the pros
and cons of a decision (thereby adopting a ‘critical’ tone);
some wish to explore each and every facet, cause, effect
and so on with regards to a certain topic (thereby adopting
an ‘analytical’ tone); some wish to narrate an instance from
their life (thereby adopting a ‘sentimental/narrative’ tone);
some wish to express their emotions, happy or sad
(thereby adopting ’emotional/happy/grief-stricken’ tones).

3. Things to consider for the
question
 Identify the nature of the passage
The first classification for the passage is that you understand
whether the passage is highlighting facts only or does it also
reflect the opinions of the author. This is an important
classification. Classify all tones that you know of into these
two categories. For example, the objective tone is a factual
one, and criticizing someone is only possible with the help of
opinions.
 Identify passage sentiment
The second thing that you need to do is understand the
sentiment of the passage i.e.whether the passage can be
classified as:
 Positive: the author is appreciating something

4. Things to consider for the question
 Identify the adjectives/adverbs used in the passage
Make a mental note of the language used by the author, and what
kind of adjectives he is using. Adjectives reflect the mood and
emotions of the author.
 Make a note of conflicting attitudes
Understand and identify where the author changes his attitude and
starts to move along different lines.
 It is important to understand these mood changes, and from this
understanding, try to infer the most dominant sentiment in the
passage.
 A common mistake committed by students is that they focus on
one particular sentiment only, whereas the author has displayed

5. Analytical
 The characteristic of an analytical tone is the presence of
reasons or logic/ justifications to support something.
 In such passages, the author tries to analyze an issue,
presenting the pros and cons, or compares two or more things
and tells you why he feels something is better etc.
 Examples of passages where an analytical tone is used
• The author could analyze why India won the last cricket
match etc.
• The author could analyze should Company A acquire

6. Acerbic, Harsh, Caustic, Vitriolic,
Bitter
 The acerbic tone is when there is an expression of
strong dislike and disagreement with an idea, thing, or person.
 Through this tone, the author lets us know his loathing
with a particular theory or may express his disdain towards a
person in an acerbic/bitter/vitriolic tone.
 This is a hateful tone that is intentionally or
unintentionally meant to cause hurt to the subject.
 One easy way to remember this is that acerbic refers to
‘acid’. ‘Acid’ is a harsh chemical that can decay anything. It is
destructive, just like this acerbic tone

7. Angry, Indignant, Aggressive
 Anger is known to everyone. It is also a destructive
tone.
 Anger may be biased or justified. Nonetheless, it is an
emotionally charged response to something.
 How do you describe your anger against an unfair
system? You can do that by making some arguments,
stating some facts, and instances of injustice as
evidence.
 Similarly, the author aims to validate his anger by
mentioning various reasons related to the issue.

8. Apathetic, Emotionless, Indifferent
 This is when the author is totally uncaring towards the
subject.
 Whatever he is describing or witnessing has no impact on
him/her whatsoever.
 This is commonly used to show that a privileged person
has no care for the struggles of the poor. It is also used to
show a government’s lack of attempts at solving a public
crisis.
 At that moment, the government is said to be
apathetic/indifferent/emotionless towards the plight of the

9. Apologetic
 An apologetic tone is used to represent remorse, regret or
guilt for a mistake, failure, accident, tragedy, wrongful act
or anything that may have caused someone else any
harm.
 RC passages based on this tone generally talk of
statements related to wars, natural disasters, failures,
harm or other such catastrophes that impacted many
people adversely.
 It is common in these passages to include facts and
figures to represent evidence in support of the statement

10. Belligerent, Bellicose
 A belligerent tone is when two parties who are at
conflict/battle/war, have a conversation with each other.
 That conversation is called belligerent/bellicose/hostile.
This is when the author adopts a belligerent tone of
writing. An example is a conversation that the USA and the
Soviet Union had towards each other during the cold war.

11. Biased, Prejudiced
 A biased or prejudiced opinion or statement is when the
author clearly shows allegiance towards one party over the
other.
 The author usually openly supporting every action of one
party.
 The author’s opinions have clouded his/her judgment and
he/she cannot look at the facts objectively.

12. Bemoaning, Lament, Regret
 These words are more or less synonyms, used to express a
similar sentiment-that of loss.
 This tone is appropriate when the author wishes to express
regret or sorrow about a particular issue. The author feels
sorry for something, someone or about something.
 For example, one could regret the loss of life in terrorist
attacks or the presence of corruption etc. A traditionalist
might lament the loss of traditions, cultural values etc.

13. Commiserating
 This type of tone is used to express grief or sympathy
for a person or a group of people who have suffered
or are suffering from some or other
misfortune/trauma/mistreatment/ tragedy.
 For example, we feel sympathy for the families of the
victims of a terrorist attack.
 The intention of the author is to understand and
convey to the reader the suffering undergone by the
victims.

14. Condescending, Patronizing
 A condescending or patronizing tone refers to an attitude
of showing the superiority of a particular
thing/person/group over an inferior group.
 As you would expect, such RC statements may portray a
snobbish or scornful tone with regard to things or people
considered inferior in the author’s view.

15. Contemptuous, Derisive, Disparaging
 This kind of tone exhibits the author’s hate or contempt
towards the subject.
 This is different from the condescending tone in the sense
that contempt often involves hate directed toward a person
as a result of his actions, not because of them being
perceived as inferior as in the case of condescending tone.
 You will often find such statements treating the subject in a
scornful and contemptuous way.

16. Cynical
 The cynical tone is when you are talking about a person you
don’t trust completely.
 Maybe the author has had a bad experience with the subject
or they are just a cynical personality.
 A cynical tone shows that the author is not convinced by the
subject’s words or actions and believes that the subject may
turn against and cheat anytime.
 For example, the cynical tone can be used to reveal the
author’s opinion about a political leader’s words. A leader
who words the author does not trust.

17. Dogmatic
 A dogmatic person has some firm and rigid beliefs
and opinions regarding some things or people.
 These views may or may not agree with the majority.
Dogma usually refers to hard and rigid religious
beliefs that are forced upon people out of fear.
 Here dogmatic tone comes into role. When the author
is very assertive regarding his views and
perspectives, he uses a dogmatic tone to make his
point.

18. Emotional
 Emotional tone is an umbrella term for many different
types of tones.
 It may be vague in comparison to other options so take
caution.
 Emotional tone involves a description of feelings while
making the point, or describing a story or an incident.

19. Ethical
 Ethical means doing the right thing. Often what is
ethical and what is not is decided by a person’s
conscience.
 It can be simply explained as something morally right
or wrong. The issues of ethics in every sphere like
business, politics, and arts have assumed great
relevance.
 Many people sacrifice ethics in order to grow faster.
There is a lot of debate about many things as to
whether they are ethical or not. The author uses an
ethical tone to focus on the issues of morality and

20. Euphemism
 Euphemism is when you show your dislike without being
offensive or showing clearly.
 Euphemism may or may not be amusing. It may also be
used when the author does not want to say something
directly.

21. Grandiose
 As the name suggests, a grandiose type of tone is adopted
in passages written in a descriptive or grand style.
 The passage may appear more elaborative than usual.
 It may be used by the author while describing something
like a castle or a palace.

22. Humorous, Jocular
 Probably the most interesting tone of writing, a
humorous tone is funny and witty at the same time.
 This is also easy to catch because they usually
induce laughter.
 Although humor can be subjective as some things
may be funny to one person but not to the other
person. The example of a humorous tone can include
instances when there are comparisons being made
between two unlikely things.

23. Introspective
 The introspective tone is when the author is talking about
their feelings and thoughts.
 Introspective thoughts are a result of self-reflection and
deep contemplation. For example, it may raise a question
about life and the universe, or meaning to things we do.

24. Incendiary, Provocative
 Have you ever heard a speech of a powerful orator
and found yourself deeply moved and ready for
action.
 This is an example of a provocative or incendiary
tone.
 Words are a powerful tool and can be used to rouse
masses as has happened in all the past revolutions
and battles in history. Soldiers are regularly subjected
to provocative tone when in a war to rouse their

25. Laudatory, Panegyric, Adulating
 To laud means to praise. A laudatory tone is used to praise
or admire something or someone.
 When the author is lauding someone’s achievements or
winning an award or just out of pure admiration, he/she
uses a laudatory tone.
 Celebrities are often lauded before their entrance on a
show.

26. Motivational, Hortatory, Exhort
 The motivating tone is also a tone that is used to induce
action in a person.
 But the difference between motivation and provocation is
the intent. Motivation is positive and beneficial for work.
Motivation is personal.
 Examples of motivational tone ask us to be a better
version of ourselves and urge us to perform better. It is
usually used in the context of sports and personal goals.

27. Prescriptive, Sermonizing
 This tone is appropriate when the author has told the
reader to do something-the author gives advice,
recommendations or suggestions.
 A prescription is similar to the advice a doctor gives
you-he tells you to do certain things: for example, a
doctor may advise you to take rest, or take a certain
medicine a certain number of times in a day and for a
certain number of days.
 The characteristic of this tone is thus the presence of
certain advice or suggestions given by the author to

28. Sarcastic, Satirical, Taunting, Ironical
 Sarcasm is a little different from a humorous tone.
 Sarcasm also induces laughter but in a subtle way.
Sarcasm contains undertones of dislike and
dissatisfaction.
 It often sounds like a taunt. Sarcasm is a jibe at the
subject.
 The author expresses his disagreement with the help of a
sarcastic and satirical tone without being directly hurtful.

29. Speculative
 Speculation is when we try to forecast or predict future
events. Like the trends of the stock market or the new
policies in a budget or some weather forecasts.
 We find various speculations in newspapers- economic,
climate, political, etc.
 Similarly, RC passages talking about any such phenomena
adopt a speculative tone of the passage. Such passage
often contains expectations on the basis of calculations.