Watch Your Tone
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Many of us remember a parent or grandparent giving us “the look.” This look was used whenever we stepped out of line in any way – perhaps we replied to a request with a snide remark. We may have incorporated some name-calling into a conversation with a sibling or shared an anecdote at family dinner that wasn’t meant for all to hear. The look was versatile; it got the job done in many situations. However, it often meant one of two things:
“Do not say that (or at least say it differently).”
“Watch your tone.”
If we were particularly naughty children who went on to become writers, these moments probably served us well. They taught us that word choice and tone are crucial to effective communication, including effective writing. We learned that every word matters; words and sentences can convey underlying meanings – whether we intended them to or not.
Word choice is a key element of any successful manuscript. It brings characters to life, illustrates the action of a plot, helps establish a sense of place, and conveys the writer’s and characters’ attitudes, also known as tone.
Writers’ word choices also convey their unique voice and style. Identifying issues with word choice and tone is an important step in the editing and revision process, but it requires a keen eye for detail and an ability to read and hear the nuances of language in order to craft sentences that will resonate with agents, publishers, and readers.
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Amy Cecil Holm is Allegory Editing’s resident Copy Editor and Proofreader. As a copy editor and proofreader, Amy draws upon more than three decades of teaching college English to help authors polish their prose. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in creative writing and has worked as a journalist, technical writer, and educator. Amy has taught courses in English composition, literature, creative writing, journalistic writing, business writing, and developmental reading, among others. She has a keen understanding of grammar, punctuation, and diction and uses her careful attention to detail to help prepare manuscripts for submission and publication.