The author's tone indicates how he or she feels about the subject in the passage. Analyzing tone correctly is an important skill for your success on your AP test. It indicates a large part of whether or not you understood what the author is saying. The following list of tone words, categorized by Jason Dickman, will help you expand your thinking beyond comments that the tone is positive or negative.
| Happy Joyful Peaceful |
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Sad Somber Afraid |
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| Candid Restrained |
Angry Upset Vexed Contemptuous |
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| Dreamy Sweet Nostalgic |
Boring Hollow Childish Confused |
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| Apologetic Benevolent Complimentary Sympathetic |
Positive |
Negative |
Cold Bitter Pitiful |
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| Sentimental* Poignant* Seductive* |
Urgent* Sharp Shocking Horrific |
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| Silly Giddy* Humorous Joking |
Neutral
Didactic |
Condescending Mocking Irreverent Sarcastic |
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| Proud* Vibrant Dramatic Audacious* Provocative Zealous |
Fanciful Giddy Frivolous |
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*These terms could be either positive or negative.
