In writing, which pair completes: 'In writing, ________ is the overall written expression of the writer's attitude, and _________ is the individual way in which the writer expresses the former' ?

• A. Tone; voice
• B. Tone; style
• C. Mood; voice
• D. Diction; syntax

Answer: (A)

In writing, the overall expression of a writer's attitude is tone, and the individual way the writer expresses that attitude is voice. Tone signals how the author feels about the subject or audience—formal or informal, serious or playful, ironic or sincere. Voice is the writer's unique personality showing through—the distinct way they use language, rhythm, and emphasis that makes their writing recognizable. Mood, on the other hand, is about how the text makes the reader feel, not the writer’s own stance. Diction and syntax are the tools of style—word choice and sentence structure—through which tone and voice are conveyed, but they describe the mechanics rather than the direct pair of attitude and expression. The combination of tone and voice best captures how a writer’s attitude is presented and how that attitude is uniquely expressed.