Writer's Style and Tone

Every writer makes choices about how they write — the words they pick, the sentences they build, and the overall feeling they create. Understanding these choices is called recognising the writer's style and tone, and it is a key skill tested in the SET Stage 1 English paper.

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What Is Style?

Style is the way a writer uses language. It includes:

• Word choice (formal or informal, simple or complex)
• Sentence structure (long and flowing, or short and punchy)
• Paragraphing (long, detailed paragraphs or short, snappy ones)
• Use of literary techniques (similes, metaphors, personification, and more)

Two writers can describe the same event in completely different styles. Recognising style helps you understand the writer's intention.

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What Is Tone?

Tone is the attitude or feeling that comes through in the writing — like the writer's "voice". You can think of it as how the writing would sound if someone read it aloud.

Here are some common tones you should recognise: