Which statement best describes tone in writing?

• A. The writer's attitude toward the subject
• B. The writer's word choice
• C. The reader's reaction
• D. The order of ideas

Answer: (A)

Tone in writing is the writer's attitude toward the subject, shown through how they describe it, the words they choose, and the way sentences are built. This attitude can come across as cheerful, serious, curious, or skeptical, and it guides how the reader feels about the topic. Word choice matters because specific words carry feelings and connotations that shape the tone, while the overall rhythm and punctuation reinforce that mood. The reader’s reaction isn’t the tone itself—it's what the reader experiences because of the tone—and the order of ideas is about organization, not the writer’s attitude. So, describing tone as the writer’s attitude toward the subject best captures what tone is.