Tone and Connotation

Tone: Positive and Negative Connotation

Word choice impacts the tone.

Word Choice impacts tone.

Two words may have similar definitions but they can have a positive or negative connotation. Which word you choose impacts the tone.

Scent (+)

Odor (-)

A distinctive smell

Multiple Choice

The smell of unwashed socks and sweaty students hit your nose like a punch.

Is the connotation positive or negative?

Which sentence would you add to this description of the setting?

• The scent of the locker room was strong.

• The odor of the locker room was strong.

assertive (+)

pushy (-)

Having a confident personality.

Multiple Choice

Layla listened to the opinions of her group members. She thought about their options carefully. Then she spoke clearly to the group, "This will be our plan."

Which sentence would you add to the description?

• She is confident.

• She is pushy.

Vintage (+)

Decrepit (-)

Old

Multiple Choice

The earpiece fell off the phone when I picked it up. It looked cool, but it was falling apart.

Which sentence would you add to the description of the phone?

• The phone was decrepit.

• The phone was vintage.