on Make a Living Writing:

Have you ever thought about your writing tone? The tone you choose matters because it evokes a strong emotional response in readers. For example, positive tone words have an uplifting effect, while negative tone words create tension or reveal an unhappy attitude.

Other tones include friendly, assertive, encouraging, optimistic, and surprised.

Understanding how to use tones is an important skill for any type of writer. While it seems mysterious, once you understand how to use it in your writing you’ll see just how powerful it can be in enhancing your words to reveal your thoughts and feelings on a subject.

Keep reading for an exploration of how to use negative tone words in the most effective way to enhance your work.