Style

You have probably heard the term style used in various contexts. For instance, clothing designers create styles of fashion—distinctive ways of dressing. The term style can also be applied to literature and the arts. In this context, style refers to the distinguishing characters of an artist’s performance and work—his or her unique way of singing or dancing or writing.

Styles of writing vary as much as styles of fashion and musical performance. Because each author’s personality and talents are unique, the style of a written passage—the kind of language an author uses to express him or herself—is highly individual. How is this individuality achieved? There are two main elements that affect an author’s style: diction and tone.

Diction

Before authors begin writing, they might ask themselves these questions: What is my purpose for writing? What is my topic? Who is my audience? What response do I want from my readers?

The answers to these questions affect the author’s diction—the words used to express ideas. Diction, or word choice, characterizes an author’s writing style. You can analyze an author’s diction as formal, informal, or conversational.

When you are analyzing the diction of a passage, you should notice if the author uses figurative language. Figurative language characterizes some authors’ styles. Through figures of speech, an author can more vividly convey his or her feelings or viewpoints.

Example

The style of the following excerpt is informal.
       It was Paul’s afternoon to appear before the faculty of the Pittsburgh High School to account for his various misdemeanors. He had been suspended a week ago, and his father had called at the Principal’s office and confessed his perplexity about his son. Paul entered the faculty room suave and smiling.

From “Paul’s Case” by Willa Cather

Notice how the author’s choice of words is directed to the general reading public.

Tone

Usually the words a writer chooses give a hint about his or her feelings. The way sentences are written can also be a clue. Short, choppy sentences can mean that the writer feels excited or even angry. The wordtone is used to describe the writer’s feelings. The tone of the writer, like the tone of a person’s voice, gives a clue to feelings. And just as a person can feel many different ways—funny, sad, bitter, sympathetic—so can writers use many different tones.

Writing that does not express a particular attitude or emotion is called objective writing. When a review has few or no descriptive words, its tone is usually objective.

Many pieces of writing, however, are not entirely objective. Different reviews can be approving, for example, and still have different tones. One may be serious and respectful. Another may be light and humorous.

You may feel confused when an author uses a sarcastic tone. Sarcasm is stating one thing but meaning the opposite. For instance, a critic might describe a book as a “marvelous example of rubbish.” The complimentary word marvelous at first leads you to think that the author approves of the book. However, the term rubbish reveals his or her disapproval.

Example

The tone of the following excerpt from a review is sarcastic. You can tell from the details that the author’s attitude is one of disapproval.
       Here’s wonderful news for admirers of sculpture. After years of waiting, we can finally view the ultimate in kitsch: the Civic Center’s new “sculpture garden.” The Garden Club might have been satisfied with fresh, lively works of local artists. Instead, they scoured the countryside to find the most revolting statuary available: phony-looking Greek gods and castoff lions. The sculpture garden is a monument—to bad taste.
Notice that the writer uses wonderful in the first sentence. However, as you read the review, the details reveal that the reviewer thinks the Garden Club made some bad choices. The tone of the passage is sarcastic.

See pages 62–71 and 95–97 in Contemporary's GED Language Arts, Reading for more information on style.