negative words for essays

Negative Tone Words List: Top 71 Words to Darken Your Prose

Discover our negative tone words list that can add an ominous mood to your writing; use these words to paint a bleak picture of a character, setting, or situation for your readers.

Weaving negativity into your writing might sound a bit strange at first, but every great story needs a villain and using the right language can help you paint a darker picture that will keep your readers hooked! Create depth and add some darkness into your writing with negative words when you want your readers to feel negatively about a character, situation or setting. 

Using these words can help readers understand a character’s disposition by adding context to their dialogue. Pepper these words into your writing when you’re working to foreshadow a negative event or paint a facet of your story in a negative light. Referencing a list of feeling words while you work can be a great way to convey emotion in your writing and develop your characters.

What Are Negative Tone Words?

Everyday negative tone words, unusual negative tone words.

Negative tone words are used to darken up a mood, setting, or description within a story. Using these words can help you introduce your readers to a character’s energy without flat-out saying that the character is a villain. These words can also indicate a change in the direction of a story that previously appeared to be moving toward a happy ending. 

You’ll likely recognize many of these everyday negative tone words; perhaps you’ve even used some in your recent conversations. It’s simple to sprinkle these words into your writing when you’re working to convey a negative tone. These words can be especially effective when used in contrast with  positive words . 

1. Accusatory

Jason spoke in an  accusatory  tone when he addressed Jane’s repeated late arrivals to work.

2. Antagonistic

Beth felt that Alicia was trying to be  antagonistic  when she kept bringing up her past failed relationships while they were out with friends.

While constant anxiety isn’t healthy, feeling  anxious , like before a job interview or an athletic competition, can bolster performance.

4. Apathetic

Marissa felt  apathetic  as her dad lamented about the latest drama at the country club.

Jasmine’s  biting  comments toward her boyfriend during their argument made it clear that she had yet to forgive him for flirting with the waitress.

Ronald’s spirit was undoubtedly  broken , and it became clear to his family that he struggled to overcome his recent job loss.

Kelli was  brusque  in her speech with her employees–she was direct to the point of being offensive, and it was tough to respond to her positively.

The way Karen spoke about her choice to put her child in daycare was  callous  and made the new mom second-guess her decision.

Gino’s tone toward Lauren was undoubtedly  cold , and she wondered if they’d ever be able to be close friends again after their argument.

10. Cynical

“I don’t mean to sound  cynical ,” Derrick said, “But it’s hard to believe that your lawyer is actually going to be able to live up to his claims.”

11. Detached

She had no choice but to remain  detached  from her father, as his tendency to come and go in her life made it hard to trust that he’d stick around this time.

12. Devastating

The effects of the tsunami were undoubtedly  devastating , and city residents knew they’d have to rebuild from the ground up. 

13. Diabolic

His employees felt that his methods were  diabolical  and would only put money in his pockets.

14. Disapproving

The church members were generally  disapproving  of their new pastor, and they’d likely need to begin searching for a replacement.

15. Disbelief

As she told him she wanted a divorce, he stared at her in  disbelief ;   it was hard to process that everything he knew was about to change.

16. Discarded

As she watched her friends walk into the stadium without her, she couldn’t help but feel like she’d been  discarded  and left out.

17. Disregarded

Elizabeth felt Charles  disregarded  her feelings when she told him she’d rather vacation in the mountains than on the beach this summer.

18. Disrespectful

Annie knew she was speaking  disrespectfully  to her supervisor, but she’d hit her breaking point by picking up the slack for others on her team.

19. Doubtful

“It’s  doubtful  that I’ll make it back in time for dinner,” Billy texted his wife.

20. Egotistical

His  egotistical  nature made it challenging for him to believe that anyone would reject his offer to take them out for a night on the town.

21. Evasive

She was purposefully  evasive  when answering her mother’s questions about what she did the night before.

22. Foreboding

The yellow envelope in the mail was  foreboding , as Shelia knew it likely held yet another late notice.

23. Forthright

The candidates were  forthright  during the debate, using solid evidence to support their claims that the new power plant was bad for the town’s river.

24. Frantic

The teacher was  frantic  to get her classroom in order as she realized it was time for her administrator to observe her teaching.

25. Frightened

Owen was  frightened  as his cart entered the haunted house, but he was excited that he was finally tall enough for the ride.

26. Ghoulish

The  ghoulish  character in the video game was terrifying and made it clear why it wasn’t recommended for young children.

As they searched for an apartment in their new city, they realized their prospects were  grim , and they’d have to adjust their must-have list.

28. Heartbroken

Jane was  heartbroken  when she realized she’d soon have to put her dog to sleep, as he failed to respond to the vet’s cancer treatment.

29. Hopeless

The situation between Michelle and her sister grew  hopeless  as they realized they’d never agree on how to handle the estate.

30. Ignored

Reginald  ignored  his friends as they played video games while he tried to study.

31. Indifferent

Janet felt  indifferent  as she perused the menu options, as nothing seemed particularly interesting.

32. Lethargic

Priya felt  lethargic  after pulling an all-nighter to prepare for her Sociology 101 final.

33. Malicious

Meredith didn’t mean to be  malicious  but hurt her friend’s feelings by mentioning her weight gain.

34. Mournful

The  mournful  family stood dutifully to greet those who attended the funeral.

35. Patronizing

Autumn’s  patronizing  tone didn’t sit well with the test audience.

36. Pessimistic

Sally couldn’t help but feel  pessimistic  when she looked at the  low balance in her bank account .

37. Pompous

He looked  pompous  in his tuxedo, like he was trying too hard to be fancy.

38. Pretentious

The ceremony was  pretentious  and unnecessarily formal.

39. Ridiculing

Her brother’s  ridiculing  tone made it hard for her to focus on practicing soccer.

40. Scornful

She heard the  scornful  taunts of the crowd as she struck out in the bottom of the ninth inning.

41. Sinister

The  sinister  Halloween decorations created the perfect mood for the party.

Selena was  sly , carefully plotting a plan to throw the election.

The  tense  mood in the room was lightened when Dominique cracked a joke about the office decor.

44. Threatening

His stature was  threatening , as he stood at least a foot over the other people waiting to be interviewed. 

The circumstances of the car accident were  tragic .

She felt  uneasy  when her boss told her they needed to sit down and discuss her future at the company.

47. Unsympathetic

Matt was  unsympathetic  to his daughter’s requests to earn her tablet back.

48. Violent

The waves crashed  violently  on the shore, leaving no doubt that the incoming storm would cause serious damage.

These negative tone words are a bit more unusual. Use these words when you want to impact your reader, making them notice an important attribute in character. It’s important to know your audience when utilizing unusual words; using these words sparingly is often the right approach when trying to convey a negative tone to your reader.

49. Acerbic

His criticism of her art was  acerbic  and made her question her ability to succeed at the gallery.

50. Caustic

Brad’s  caustic  sense of humor left his friends wondering whether he enjoyed his time with them.

51. Choleric

Steve’s  choleric  attitude spread through the office like cancer, knocking positivity out of all who came into contact with him.

52. Conciliatory

Kim knew that getting a title change was merely a  conciliatory  way for her boss to say she wouldn’t get the raise she requested.

53. Condemnatory

The company issued a  condemnatory  statement on the scandal, clarifying that they disapproved of their employee’s actions.

54. Derisive

Paul feared that the  derisive  laugh of the audience meant they were laughing at him, not with him.

55. Disparaging

The inspector made  disparaging  remarks about the property Wanda was considering making her new home.

56. Elegiac

The eulogy was  elegiac  and heartfelt.

57. Facetious

Hector didn’t appreciate Eva’s  facetious  comments as he was trying to talk about his father’s death.

58. Fatalistic

His  fatalistic  attitude toward the cancer diagnosis made it hard to imagine that the treatment would work well.

59. Flippant

Brandon’s  flippant  attitude toward his customer’s dissatisfaction with his work resulted in a poor review of his concrete business.

60. Insolent

Her mother’s  insolent  tone made it hard to share her feelings about the fight with her best friend.

Mary couldn’t help but feel  jilted  when she ran into her ex-boyfriend on a date with someone new.

62. Melancholic

The way she spoke about living on the East Coast was  melancholic , and it was clear that she missed her hometown.

When Melissa came home from school, she was  morose , as she had a seemingly endless  amount of homework .

64. Obsequious

Rick was bothered by the  obsequious  waiters who seemed to constantly check on his table.

65. Pedantic

The teacher’s corrections on her paper were  pedantic  and seemed to nitpick at her writing style.

66. Reticent

Maribelle was  reticent  to discuss her issues with her sister with those outside of the family.

67. Reverent

There was a  reverent  silence as the museum visitors stood for the unveiling of the new exhibit on the effects of war. 

68. Sardonic

Her  sardonic  attitude toward the workout frustrated the instructor, as she wanted the class to take kickboxing seriously.

69. Strident

The supervisor’s  strident  tone made the employees snap to attention just before the store’s grand opening.

70. Wrathful

Lynette’s tone with her daughter was  wrathful , as she couldn’t believe she caught her sneaking out again.

The psychologist’s  wry  smile made it clear that he wasn’t buying Jerry’s excuses for staying in his relationship.

Looking for more? Check out our list of motivational words !

Amanda has an M.S.Ed degree from the University of Pennsylvania in School and Mental Health Counseling and is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer. She has experience writing magazine articles, newspaper articles, SEO-friendly web copy, and blog posts.

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Negative Tone Words: A Quick Guide to Understanding Their Impact

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on November 13, 2023

Categories Creativity

Negative tone words play a crucial role in conveying emotions and feelings in writing. They add depth to a piece of text, helping the reader fully grasp the intended sentiment or atmosphere through language. As a writer, it is essential to understand how these words work and how to incorporate them effectively in your work.

When we read or hear words with a negative tone, they evoke a sense of unease, discomfort, or even hostility. These words can express disappointment, disapproval, or pessimism. By recognizing and employing negative tone words, you can craft captivating and emotionally rich stories, articles, or arguments that resonate with your audience.

With thoughtful use, negative tone words can greatly affect the way your message is received and understood. Choosing the right word is important to create the emotional response you are aiming for, whether it is to convey a sense of injustice or amplify the impact of a particular situation.

Key Takeaways

• Negative tone words express emotions such as unease, disapproval, and pessimism
• Identifying and using negative tone words enhances the emotional depth of your writing
• Careful choice of negative tone words significantly impacts your audience’s reaction to your message

Understanding Negative Tone Words

As you explore the world of writing, you’ll come across the concept of tone words, which play an important role in conveying emotions to your readers. In this section, you will gain an understanding of negative tone words, their purpose, and how you can effectively use them in your writing.

Negative tone words refer to any words that evoke a pessimistic, sad, or negative feeling in your writing. By using these words, you can help your readers grasp the emotions and atmosphere you want to convey, whether it’s a somber mood or a sense of foreboding. For example, words such as “absurd,” “accusatory,” or “gloomy” can all convey negative tones in your writing. You may find a list of negative tone words here .

When using negative tone words, it’s essential to keep the context of your writing in mind. Always consider the bigger picture and make sure the tone fits the overall theme or message of your piece. It’s also important to choose the right tone words that accurately represent the feelings you’d like to express.

As you write, remember that striking a balance is vital. You don’t want to overwhelm your readers with too much negativity. Instead, use negative tone words sparingly and strategically to create an emotional impact that enhances your reader’s experience.

Keep practicing and experimenting with different negative tone words in your writing to develop a better understanding of how they can help you convey emotions and create atmosphere. With time and practice, you’ll be able to master the art of using negative tone words effectively, adding depth and resonance to your writing.

Negative Tone Words and Emotion

When using negative tone words in your writing, it’s crucial to remember that they have a significant impact on how readers perceive the emotion of a piece. Negative tone words can help you evoke feelings such as sadness, anger, and disappointment, which can add depth to your characters and storyline.

Tension plays a key role in any narrative, and utilizing negative tone words can effectively build that tension within your story. For example, words like “enraged” or “apprehensive” can create suspense and a sense of unease in your readers, making them feel more connected to the characters and their struggles.

It’s important to strike a balance between negative and positive tone words, as well as neutral tone words. This balance allows you to maintain a well-rounded emotional landscape throughout your story, and prevents your readers from becoming overwhelmed with negative emotions. Inclusion of words like “joy” can serve as a counterpoint to the darker mood created by negative tone words, giving your characters and story a more three-dimensional feel.

Remember that as you incorporate negative tone words into your writing, your goal is to engage your readers and elicit a response from them. Use these words to evoke emotion and build an atmosphere that draws readers in. By paying attention to the balance between negative, neutral, and positive tone words, you can create a rich, relatable, and thought-provoking narrative. So, be thoughtful in your selections and always aim to make your writing enjoyable and accessible to your audience.

Identifying Negative Tone Words

When you’re trying to identify negative tone words in a piece of writing, it’s important to pay attention to the context and the emotions conveyed by these words. Here are some examples of negative tone words that can help you better understand their effect on a text:

• Accusatory : This tone suggests that someone has done something wrong or is being blamed for something. For example, “You left the door open and let the dog escape.”
• Antagonistic : An antagonistic tone is hostile or confrontational, often making others feel defensive. An example would be, “Your ideas are never any good.”
• Belligerent : This tone is characterized by anger and aggressiveness, even to the point of violence. For instance, “You better back off, or you’ll regret it!”
• Bitter : Bitterness is marked by resentment and disappointment, sometimes towards a person or a specific situation. For example, “No matter how hard I try, it’s never enough for you.”
• Critical : This tone is judgmental and disapproving, often focusing on flaws or shortcomings. It could sound like, “Your work is sloppy and careless.”
• Cynical : A cynical tone expresses doubt, skepticism, or disbelief in sincerity or good intentions. An example might be, “You’re only being nice because you want something.”
• Disrespectful : Disrespectful language is rude, dismissive, or belittling towards others. For instance, “I don’t have time to deal with your nonsense.”

When you encounter these negative tone words in writing, you can often sense the author’s intent to convey emotions such as anger, disapproval, or disappointment. By recognizing these words and understanding their impact, you can better analyze the overall tone and emotions of a text. Remember, the key is to pay attention to the context and consider how these words contribute to the author’s emotional message.

Usage of Negative Tone Words

When you’re writing a story or an article, using negative tone words can help showcase a character’s emotions or the mood of a scene. It’s important to learn how to effectively use these words to engage your readers and create an immersive experience for them.

Negative tone words, as the name suggests, communicate a pessimistic or unfavorable meaning. When you want your reader to grasp that something is wrong, selecting descriptive words with a negative tone will help you achieve this. For instance, words like “absurd” or “accusatory” convey a negative impression and shape the reader’s understanding of the situation.

As you write, remember to choose your negative tone words based on the characters and the context of your story. This way, you’ll create a more authentic and engaging narrative. To help your readers easily follow along, consider using formatting tools like tables, bullet points, or bold text when listing out examples of negative tone words.

It’s essential to consider your target audience when selecting negative tone words. If your readers are younger or are taking a test, you might want to choose words that are more straightforward and easier for them to understand. On the other hand, if you’re writing for a more mature audience, feel free to use complex or nuanced words to evoke deeper emotions.

In conclusion, using negative tone words strategically can greatly enhance the depth and immersion of your writing. As you become more experienced in crafting your stories, your ability to effectively evoke the intended emotions in your readers will only sharpen over time. Happy writing!

Impact of Negative Tone Words

When you use negative tone words in your writing or speech, they can evoke different emotions and reactions from your audience. Words like apathetic or indifferent may make the listener feel disconnected or uninterested. On the other hand, using terms such as patronizing or condescending may result in feelings of resentment or irritation.

In certain situations, negative tone words can create tension or anxiety. For instance, if you use words like anxious , disbelieving , or nervous , the reader may feel uneasy. Similarly, when you employ words such as facetious , ghoulish , or pessimistic , the overall mood may become dark and uninviting.

While using language that is disparaging , arrogant , or disrespectful , be aware that it can lead to feelings of offense or antagonism in your audience. Moreover, terms such as dramatic , artificial , or ridiculing can make your message seem insincere or manipulative.

Negative tone words like contemptuous , derisive , or condemnatory can often provoke a strong reaction from the reader, as they might feel attacked or belittled. When they encounter words such as depressed , grim , or ambiguous , this might lead to confusion or a negative impression.

In some cases, a more detached tone might be appropriate, achieved through words like detached , cold , or ambivalent . However, it’s important to consider the specific situation and how your audience may interpret such language.

When you want to convey a more friendly or sincere tone, consider using words like reverent , sincere , or sympathetic . These terms help create a positive atmosphere and foster understanding between you and your audience.

Finally, negative tone words like aggressive , caustic , and doubtful can offer a sense of urgency or importance to the message. Using them sparingly and thoughtfully can help you emphasize certain points and convey your intentions more effectively.

As you use these negative tone words in your writing or speech, always keep in mind the impact they can have on the reader’s emotions and mindset. Strive to choose your words wisely, ensuring they accurately convey your message and align with the overall tone you wish to achieve.

Analysis of Negative Tone Words

When you’re exploring the world of negative tone words, it’s important to understand how they convey emotions and influence the reader’s perception. Many negative tone words, such as absurd , express a sense of ridicule or disbelief. Other words, like acerbic and angry , can communicate a sense of bitterness or strong displeasure.

In your writing, you might come across biting remarks or blunt statements that lack subtlety. Some individuals may be portrayed as conceited or diabolic , emphasizing their arrogance or evil intentions. Egotistical and evasive language may indicate self-centered or misleading behavior, while flippant expressions denote a casual disregard for seriousness or sincerity.

It is important to choose appropriate negative tone words when you need to convey a certain mood or emotion. For example, if you want to describe a formal situation, using words like formal , hard , or complex might be more fitting. In contrast, if the context is malicious or cruel, words like malicious or callous may better serve your purpose. Pretentious language can highlight unnecessary complexity or boastful self-importance.

Some words can be negative, but also seem respectful or detached, such as direct and impartial . Other words, like apprehensive , candid , and disturbed , evoke a range of emotions from unease to straightforward honesty.

In addition to negative tone words, it’s worth noting that certain words can convey more neutral or positive emotions and attitudes. For instance, comic , enthusiastic , or excited could describe a more cheerful or lighthearted situation. Words like gentle , pompous , and impartial can capture a range of emotions and perspectives, from kind touches to condescending behavior.

Ultimately, developing an extensive understanding of tone words will allow you to craft more engaging and emotionally resonant writing. The variety of words mentioned here – from bewildered and adoring to elated and mournful – will help you express a broad range of feelings and situations. Remember to maintain a friendly tone of voice while exploring the diverse landscape of tone words, and your writing will undoubtedly captivate and connect with your readers.

Comparison With Other Tones

In writing, you will encounter various tones, such as negative, neutral, and positive. Understanding the differences between these tones can help you create a more engaging and effective piece of writing.

When using a negative tone , your word choices create a mood of sadness, anger, or discontent. This tone can be useful in evoking strong emotions, highlighting contrasts, and portraying realistic situations. Don’t be afraid to embrace negative tone words when the situation demands it. Your readers will appreciate your authenticity.

On the other hand, a neutral tone does not convey strong emotions; instead, it presents information in an unbiased and straightforward manner. This tone is ideal for factual or informative pieces, where your main goal is to provide information without influencing the reader’s emotions. Be mindful of your word choices when striving for a neutral tone, as it can have a significant impact on your readers’ perception of the information provided.

Lastly, a positive tone evokes happiness, optimism, and enthusiasm. By choosing positive tone words , you can create an uplifting and inspiring atmosphere within your writing. This tone is perfect for motivating your readers, guiding them towards a preferred outcome, or emphasizing the benefits of a situation.

As you craft your writing, keep these distinct tones in mind. By understanding how to use negative, neutral, and positive tones effectively, you can better engage your audience, generate empathy, and create a connection with your readers. And remember, always keep a friendly tone to ensure your writing remains relatable and approachable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are common negative tone words in literature?

Negative tone words in literature convey a sense of sadness, anger, or other unpleasant emotions. Some common examples include melancholy, bitter, and scornful. These words help to create a specific atmosphere or mood when describing characters, settings, or situations.

How can I identify negative tone in writing?

Identifying negative tone in writing involves paying attention to the choice of words and the emotions they evoke. Look for adjectives or phrases that bring about feelings of sadness, anger, frustration, or other negative emotions. Additionally, take note of the overall mood or atmosphere of the piece and see if it leans towards a negative or unpleasant experience for the reader.

What are some synonyms for negative tone?

Synonyms for negative tone include pessimistic, unfavorable, disparaging, or bleak. These terms convey a sense of negativity in an author’s attitude towards the subject matter or audience.

How do negative tone words differ from positive ones?

Negative tone words evoke negative emotions or an unfavorable mood, such as sadness or anger. In contrast, positive tone words create an uplifting, optimistic, or pleasant atmosphere. The choice between negative and positive tone words depends on the author’s intent and the desired emotional response they want to trigger in the reader.

What are examples of words that convey a sad tone?

Words that convey a sad tone include somber, sorrowful, and despondent. These words help to create a sense of sadness, grief, or melancholy in the reader, further enhancing the impact of the writing.

Is there a specific term for a depressing tone in writing?

A term often used to describe a depressing tone in writing is “lugubrious.” This term denotes an atmosphere of mournful, sorrowful, or gloomy emotions, capturing the essence of the writing’s negative and unhappy mood.

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• Taboo words in academic writing

Words and Phrases to Avoid in Academic Writing

Published on February 6, 2016 by Sarah Vinz . Revised on September 11, 2023.

When you are writing a dissertation , thesis, or research paper, many words and phrases that are acceptable in conversations or informal writing are considered inappropriate in academic writing .

You should try to avoid expressions that are too informal, unsophisticated, vague, exaggerated, or subjective, as well as those that are generally unnecessary or incorrect.

Bear in mind, however, that these guidelines do not apply to text you are directly quoting from your sources (including interviews ).

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Table of contents

Too informal, too exaggerated, too subjective, generally incorrect, other interesting articles.

Academic writing is generally more formal than the writing we see in non-academic materials (including on websites). It is also more formal than the ways in which we normally speak. The following words and phrases are considered too informal for a dissertation or academic paper.

Informal sentence starts

Some words are acceptable in certain contexts, but become too informal when used at the beginning of a sentence. You can replace these with appropriate  transition words  or simply remove them from the sentence.

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Using vague terms makes your writing imprecise and may cause people to interpret it in different ways. Always try to be as specific as possible.

Academic writing is usually unadorned and direct. Some adverbs of frequency (such as always and never ) and intensifiers (words that create emphasis, such as really ) are often too dramatic. They may also not be accurate – you’re making a significant claim when you say something is perfect or never happens.

These terms do sometimes add value, but try to use them sparingly.

Some words and phrases reveal your own bias. For instance, if you state that something will obviously happen, you are indicating that you think the occurrence is obvious – not stating a fact.

Expressing your opinion is appropriate in certain sections of a dissertation and in particular types of academic texts (such as personal statements and reflective or argumentative essays ). In most cases, though, take care when using words and phrases such as those below – try to let the facts speak for themselves, or emphasize your point with less biased language.

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Certain words and phrases are often used incorrectly, even by native speakers of a language. If you’re exposed to such mistakes often enough, you may start to assume they are correct – but it’s important that you don’t let them creep into your writing.

You should also bear in mind that some of these mistakes relate to things we all frequently mishear (for instance, we often think the speaker is saying would of instead of would have ).

In general, you should also try to avoid using words and phrases that fall into the following categories:

• Jargon (i.e., “insider” terminology that may be difficult for readers from other fields to understand)
• Clichés (i.e., expressions that are heavily overused, such as think outside of the box and at the end of the day )
• Everyday abbreviations (e.g., approx. , ASAP, corona, stats, info )
• Slang (e.g., cops , cool )
• Gender-biased language   (e.g., firemen , mankind )
• Generally unnecessary (e.g., redundant expressions that do not add meaning, such as compete with each other instead of simply compete)

Reflective reports and  personal statements  sometimes have a less formal tone. In these types of writing, you may not have to follow these guidelines as strictly. The preface or acknowledgements of a dissertation also often have a less formal and more personal voice than the rest of the document.

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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• False cause fallacy
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Sarah's academic background includes a Master of Arts in English, a Master of International Affairs degree, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She loves the challenge of finding the perfect formulation or wording and derives much satisfaction from helping students take their academic writing up a notch.

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General Education

In writing, an author’s tone is his or her general attitude or feelings about the work’s subject matter and audience. Tone words are used to help express that attitude.

In this article, we’ll talk about what tone words are, analyze their use in several examples, and give a list of tone words with definitions that you can use in your writing.

What Are Tone Words?

Authors convey tone through diction (word choice), viewpoint, and syntax. Tone words are specific words that help express an author’s attitude about the subject matter.

Words typically have a positive, negative, or neutral connotation. Tone words help authors show whether they feel positively, negatively, or neutrally about what they’re writing about.

Here are some examples of tone words in action:

• The proposal is so absurd that it can’t possibly be taken seriously.

The tone word “absurd” indicates that the writer finds the proposal ridiculous or silly.

• The politician’s speech was eloquent.

The tone word “eloquent” has a positive connotation, which indicates that the author found the speech articulate and persuasive.

Tone vs Voice

Many writers confuse tone and voice or use the two terms interchangeably. In fact, they’re very different.

As we’ve already discussed, tone indicates an author or character’s attitude towards a certain topic or situation . In nonfiction, tone words indicate what the author thinks. In fiction, tone words can help to set the mood, showing whether a particular situation or interaction is tense, happy, sad, etc.

Voice, on the other hand, refers to the overall personality of a work. An author’s voice may be sarcastic, informative, friendly, or something else entirely.

You can remember the difference this way: tone changes all the time. Voice refers to the character that a piece has throughout. Tone can change from sentence to sentence, while voice stays consistent.

Here’s an example:

In a young adult novel, the author has a casual voice. She doesn’t use a particularly complex vocabulary and her writing is very approachable. Within the story, the character experiences conflict and triumph. In the scenes where there is conflict, the tone words indicate tension. In the scenes where there is triumph, tone words indicate joy.

The author’s overall type of word choice and approach to writing will remain the same throughout the work, but the specific words she uses will change as she describes different situations.

Put another way: voice is how readers recognize you, the author, in your work. Voice is personal to each author and lasts throughout a piece. Tone words, on the other hand, indicate the author's (or character's) reactions to or opinions of events that are happening. As different events happen, the tone shifts.

How to Find the Right Tone for Your Work

To find the right tone for your work, you need to consider your audience and message.

Start by asking yourself these three questions:

• Who am I writing this piece for?
• What am I trying to tell my reader?
• How do I want my reader to feel?

Your audience will dictate the types of words you choose. If you’re writing for an academic audience, you may use more complicated language than if you’re writing for kids. You also want to consider what you're telling your reader. Do you want them to walk away with a positive or negative opinion of what you're presenting? How do you want them to feel about the information you're giving?

These questions will help you decide what words to use in your work.

Tone Word Example Analysis

Let’s take a look at two examples of tone words in classic literature.

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway

“It was very late and everyone had left the cafe except an old man who sat in the shadow the leaves of the tree made against the electric light. In the day time the street was dusty, but at night the dew settled the dust and the old man liked to sit late because he was deaf and now at night it was quiet and he felt the difference.”

This excerpt demonstrates a calm, peaceful tone. Words like “settled” and “quiet” indicate the old man is relaxed and feeling safe.

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe

“I gasped for breath, and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly, more vehemently but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why WOULD they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men, but the noise steadily increased. O God! What COULD I do? I foamed -- I raved -- I swore!”

This passage from The Tell-Tale Heart indicates a nervous, anxious tone. The phrases “violent gesticulations” and “heavy strides” display the rising action and contribute to the feeling of intensity.

The Ultimate List of Tone Words

These tone words will help establish the tone in your work.

Tone Words: Final Thoughts

Tone words help you convey your attitude towards a subject. Tone can change throughout your work as you talk about different topics.

There are thousands of tone words you can use to express your attitude in your work.

What’s Next?

Reading The Great Gatsby for class or even just for fun?  Then you'll definitely want to check out our expert guides on the biggest themes in this classic book, from love and relationships to money and materialism .

Got questions about Arthur Miller's  The Crucible ? Read our in-depth articles to learn about the most important themes in this play  and to get  a complete rundown of all the characters .

For more information on your favorite works of literature, take a look at our collection of high-quality book guides !

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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100 Tone Words to Express Mood in Your Writing

June 30, 2023

Have you ever struggled to find just the right word to describe an author’s attitude in a sentence or character in a scene? Or do you worry about repetitiveness in your word choice? Here is where exploring a wide range of tone or mood words will come in handy. Generating a robust inventory of tone or mood words will boost your writing’s analysis and accuracy. In addition, cultivating an arsenal of these terms will help you to more accurately assess the text that you aim to describe. Mastering this tone words list will help you become a better reader and demonstrate that in your writing.

What exactly is a tone word? Tone words help depict the mood or attitude of an author, speaker, or character in a certain context. In some instances, you yourself might use tone words not to describe the writing of another but in your own writing, to set the mood. Overall, tone words depict a kind of emotional quality or the attitude of a part of an argument. We can glean an author’s tone by analyzing their word choice, syntax, sentence structure, and perspective.

Tone vs. Voice

The tone differs from the overall style or voice of a piece. This is because tone can vary from situation to situation, moment to moment, and topic to topic so it’s important to deploy specific language to characterize it most accurately. The tone can be amused in one paragraph, defensive in the next, and lofty in yet another! (*The definition of all bolded terms can be found in the list below*).

Tone words demonstrate analysis and assessment of different kinds of texts. If you say “That op-ed was melodramatic ” that means you interpret the article as being excessively emotional and therefore not the most reliable source. On the other hand, if you describe a report as scholarly and incisive , that means that you found the article likely well-researched, accurate, and straight to the point. By effectively terming the tone and mood of a piece, you offer a kind of summary and evaluation for your reader.

What is Tone in Literature?

Using tone words to understand and interpret a text for your reader goes beyond assessing whether an article is a valid source or not. By naming the tone and its shifts across the moment, character, and text you begin to tease out the complexities, layers, and contrasts within a work of art.

As an example of how we match a tone to a tone word , let’s take a look at an excerpt from the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost ( a full analysis of the poem can be found here ). The poet writes “long I stood / And looked down one as far as I could / To where it bent in the undergrowth.” Here, the words “long I stood” indicate an enduring examination, emphasized further by the next few lines where the poet strains to look and assess as much as possible. We might use the tone words “ philosophical ” and “ pensive ” to describe the tone here. But of course, the tone shifts in nuance and gradation throughout the poem. We end on a different tone, where in the last stanza the speaker reflects back on that day and says “I shall be telling this with a sigh.”

Tone Words List (Continued)

This reflection of looking back on the past could be seen as a bit nostalgic for the moments prior to making the choice of which road to travel and perhaps regretful  of the choice he ultimately made, due to the fact that he will tell it “with a sigh.” But digging even deeper, because the short poem does not directly describe feelings or reach a clearly articulated conclusion, we could describe the tone as restrained and even verging toward evasive . By tracking the different tone words we might use to describe each part of a piece of writing, we get a clear picture of the emotional and rhetorical arc.

As you can see, we can interpret tone (and find the appropriate tone word) by analyzing the mood of the descriptive words or plot in a passage. If you’re reading a novel by Dennis Cooper or Toni Morrison you will likely encounter descriptions of and contemplations on death, the dead, and gruesome violence. Based on the description or plot points, you might then say those passages as macabre .

We can also assess tone by interpreting the type of language used. If you’re reading the poem “ Having A Coke With You ” by Frank O’Hara or “ An American Poem ” by Eileen Myles, you will likely encounter lines with a lot of everyday and conversational terms and phrases. In accord, you might describe such moments in these poems as colloquial.

Tone and Analyzing Literature

Tone words also emerge from analyzing the formal aspects of a piece of writing. If you’re reading Ernest Hemmingway or Jackie Ess you might encounter passages with a lot of short, unadorned sentences, devoid of excessive language or description. The tone words terse and curt might effectively convey the mood of those sections.

Lastly, tone words are a useful tool for the analysis of any text and might prove immensely powerful to use in your papers for humanities courses. If you are a creative writer, tone words can bolster the force of your storytelling, character development, and world-building. They can also provide you with a range of ways to bring out thematics and emotionality in your poetry with intention.

Positive, Negative, & Neutral Tone Words

Typically, you can categorize tone words into the categories of positive, negative, and neutral. I’ve indicated such connotations, when relevant, with a + for positive, – for negative, and = for neutral. Some tone words might have multiple or all possible connotations, as their meaning might and mood might depend on their context.

100 Tone Words

Below are 100 Tone Words and their definitions to familiarize yourself with and help make you a better writer!

1) Absurd:  unreasonably, ridiculous, illogical (-)

2) Accusatory: suggesting that someone has done something wrong (-)

3) Acerbic: sharply critical or sarcastic (-)

4) Admonishing: firmly warn, reprimand, or urge (-)

5) Amused: entertained, humored, or delighted (+)

6) Apathetic: indifferent; having no emotion or response (=)

7) Bitter: angry, hostile, or resentful (-)

8) Blunt: straightforward, plainspoken, candid (=)

9) Brusque: blunt, abrupt, or impatient (-/=)

10) Callous: uncaring, harsh, or ruthless in indifference (-)

11) Candid: frank, straightforward, honest (=)

12) Colloquial: using everyday, familiar, conversational language (not formal) (=)

13) Commanding: expressing a position of authority; powerful (+/=)

14) Curt: short, terse, often rudely so (-)

15) Concerned: worried, anxious (=)

16) Conciliatory: intending to pacify or appease; peacemaking (=/+)

17) Contentious: argumentative, provocative, controversial (-)

18) Cynical: distrustful, doubtful of sincerity or motives (-)

19) Defensive: trying to defend or protect; anxious to avoid criticism (=)

20) Demeaning: speaking down to someone, disrespectful toward others (-)

21) Derisive: mocking or ridiculing (-)

22) Disdainful: disrespectful, scornful (-)

23) Dignified: speaking in a way worthy of respect; serious, formal (+)

24) Diplomatic: speaking tactfully and conciliatorily in stressful situations; at times to advance one’s own ends (+/-/=)

25) Disparaging: derogatory, speaking poorly about something (-)

26) Earnest: sincere, serious conviction (=/+)

27) Ebullient: cheerful, energetic, exuberant (+)

28) Egotistical: self-absorbed, self-centered, very conceited (-)

29) Effusive: unrestrained and heartful expression of approval or pleasure (+)

30) Empathetic: imagining, relating to, or feeling what another feels; demonstrating a high level of emotional understanding (+)

31) Evasive: intentionally ambiguous, vague, or avoidant; roundabout or not direct (-)

32) Facetious: intentionally joking in attitude and unserious in intent (=)

33) Farcical: absurd, ridiculous, or silly (=)

34) Flippant: glib, unserious, lacking proper respect, dismissive (-/=)

35) Formal: official, professional, academic; thorough and precise (+/=)

36) Grave: evoking of impending threat; serious or solemn (-)

37) Humble: not arrogant, haughty, or egotistical (+)

38) Hypercritical: excessively judgmental, overly critical (-)

39) Impartial: not taking sides, unbiased, neutral (=)

40) Impassioned: great intensity of feeling or zeal (+)

Tone Words List(Continued)

41) Imploring: to frame a request in an urgent manner; to beg (=)

42) ) Inane: unimportant, insubstantial, lacking significance (-)

43) Incensed: extremely angered by an injustice or wrongdoing, heated (-)

44) Incisive: clear and direct, trenchant (+)

45) Incredulous: skeptical, not wanting to or able to believe (=)

46) Indignant: upset at an injustice

47) Informative: providing clear information about a particular topic (+)

48) Intimate: warm, friendly, or personal (+)

49) Ironic: not being serious, saying something the author doesn’t mean cynically joking (=)

50) Irreverent: unserious, disrespectfully so; satirical (-)

51) Jaded: cynical or apathetic due to past experience or knowledge (-/=)

52) Jocund: lively, in high spirits, cheerful (+)

53) Judgmental: harsh and critical, at times without reason (-)

54) Laudatory: full of praise or admiration (+)

55) Light-hearted: easygoing, hopeful, cheerily optimistic (+)

56) Lofty: elevated style or sentiment; potentially condescending or arrogant (+/-/=)

57) Lugubrious: glum, mournful, or gloomy, especially exaggeratedly so (-)

58) Macabre: gruesome and horrifying; at times pertaining to grim death (-)

59) Malicious: intending to harm, embarrass, or upset a person or their reputation (-)

60) Melodramatic: overly emotional, sentimental, or sensationalizing (-)

Tone Words (Continued)

61) Mirthful: joyful, merry, full of cheer (+)

62) Mocking: making fun or someone or something, often by exaggeratedly mirroring them (-)

63) Naïve: unknowing, inexperienced, innocent (-/=)

64) Nonplussed (conventional use): perplexed, surprised, confused; (colloquial use) unimpressed, unfazed (-/=)

65) Nostalgic: affectionately thinking about or desiring the past; yearning to return to the past (=)

66) Objective: impartial, neutral, rational (+/=)

67) Obsequious: overeager to help or agree with someone, adoring and obedient attentiveness (-)

68) Optimistic: having a positive outlook on the future; hopeful about outcomes (+)

69) Outspoken: speaking without reservation; freely speaking; frank (+/=)

70) Patronizing: exhibiting an attitude of superiority toward others; condescending (-)

71) Pedantic: showy about one’s learnedness, concerned with small details, a tone of overly instructive (-)

72) Pensive: thoughtful, contemplative; at times tinged with sadness (-/+/=)

73) Pessimistic: having a negative outlook on the future; belief in a bad outcome (-)

74) Philosophical: calm, contemplative attitude toward possible disappointments or challenges (+)

75) Placid: peaceful, tranquil, serene (+)

76) Pragmatic: concerned with practical, rather than artistic, pleasurable, or decorative, matters; utilitarian (+/=)

77) Pretentious: exaggerated self-importance, particularly self-consciously attempting to appear smart or smarter than others (-)

78) Recalcitrant: Difficult to deal with, undisciplined, disobedient (-)

79) Regretful: sorrowful and apologetic because of what was done, lost, or gone (-)

80) Resentful: upset, bitter, or frustrated in response to mistreatment or wrongdoing by another to (-)

81) Resigned: accepting a negative fate or outcome that you cannot change (-)

82) Restrained: controlled, holding back, not saying the entirety of what might want to say (=)

83) Reticent: shy, reserved, or restrained in speech (-/=)

84) Reverent: demonstrated much respect, worshipful (+)

85) Righteous: strong belief in the correctness of one’s own actions (+/-/=)

86) Sanguine: hopeful, strongly optimistic (+)

87) Satirical: using irony, derision, and wit to make a critique; making fun of the powerful via parody (=)

88) Sarcastic: saying or doing the opposite of what one means in order to mock or insult (=)

89) Scathing: harsh and critical, severe, often unkind (-)

90) Scholarly: elevated, intellectual speech; formal, direct, and objective

91) Sensationalistic: intentionally shocking or exciting through style or content (=/-)

92) Sincere: serious, genuine, not deceitful (+)

93) Solemn: sober or grave (=)

94) Subjective: partial; describing feelings, judgements, or opinions; related to personal experience (=/-)

95) Terse: short, brief; potentially seeming rude or unfriendly (-/=)

96) Unassuming: modest, polite, lacking in arrogance  (+)

97) Virtuous: exemplifying moral excellence, uprightness; at times can mean someone who thinks themselves morally superior (+/-)

98) Whimsical: lightly fanciful, funny; at times motivated by whim or desire rather than reason or need (+/-/=)

99) World-weary: fatigued by or bored with the world (-)

100) Zealous: intense enthusiasm or passion (+)

Tone Words & Mood Words – Additional Resources for High School and College Students

In conclusion, we hope you found this list of 100 useful tone words to be useful. Additionally, you may find the following blogs to be of interest:

• Poetic Devices High School Students Must Know
• Literary Devices for High School Students
• Rhetorical Devices High Schoolers Must Know
• College Success
• High School Success

An experienced instructor, editor, and writer, Rebecca earned a BA in English from Columbia University and is presently pursuing a PhD at the CUNY Graduate Center in English. Her writing has been featured on The Millions , poets.org , The Poetry Project Newsletter , Nightboat Books blog, and more, and she received the Academy of American Poets Poetry Prize and Arthur E. Ford Prize for her poetry collections. 

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• Writing Tips

19 Examples of Negations

3-minute read

• 13th October 2022

Love it or hate it, English grammar has its quirks. Learning the details of English grammar can be interesting, but it can also leave you with some questions, especially if you’re learning English as a second language .

One of the questions that we get asked a lot is “what are negations?” So, we’re going to explain! In this article, we’ll tell you what negations are and give you lots of examples.

What are negations in grammar?

A negation is a word, phrase, or clause that denies or contradicts that something is true, has happened, or is the case. It’s common for negations to stem from the word not or its contracted form, n’t . These are often called “negative words.”

Examples of negative words used as negations include no , none , nothing , no one , never , nobody , nowhere , haven’t , and doesn’t . Here’s how you can use them in a sentence:

I haven’t been to see that play yet.

No , you can’t come inside.

Nothing happened last night – I just went to bed.

I tried to host a party, but no one showed up.

Nobody can get through the gates.

Nowhere is open to get a coffee before 9 am on a Sunday.

Jon doesn’t like lemonade.

Prefixes and Suffixes Can Form Negations

Prefixes and suffixes can be used to create negations. Prefixes are letters that come before a root word to change its meaning ( un tidy, de icer ). And suffixes are letters that are added to the end of a root word to change its meaning ( tonsill itis , quick ly ).

Here are a few prefixes and suffixes that can be used to form negations:

Here are some examples:

What you’re saying is un clear.

The fabric dis integrated.

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What Sarah did was heart less .

Penny made a de constructed ice cream sundae.

You have in sufficient funds in your bank account.

The information is mis leading.

Questions, Statements, and Instructions

Negations also appear in questions, statements, and instructions. They feature negative words. Here are some examples:

Don’t you like Penny’s ice cream sundae?

Why won’t Owain go to the gym on a Sunday?

Jake doesn’t understand the task.

Mark isn’t a bad guy.

Don’t stay out too late.

Do not walk the dog without a leash.

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Avoid Negative Words and Double Negatives to Strengthen Your Writing

We all know that the obvious double negatives (e.g.,  not  +  nobody ,  no one ,  never , etc.) are grammatically incorrect. You might be surprised, however, by how we often inadvertently use other types of multiple negative words in a sentence. Doing so truly confuses everyone and makes readers work harder to grasp your message. For example, let’s look at the sentences below:

×  It’s  not   that we’re  ungrateful   for all that you’ve done for us. It’s just that  without   additional funds, and  unless   we have  no fewer than  five people to work on this project, it might be  impossible   for us to meet the deadline.

Did you figure out what those two sentences mean? If you did, bravo! We certainly wouldn’t have had the patience. Imagine reading these types of phrases constantly. Worse yet, picture reading discussions about technical topics while deciphering unnecessary negative terminology. “Ugh,” is right!

The paragraph above would be clearer if written in the positive as follows:

  √  We’re thankful for all that you’ve done for us, but we would need at least five people and additional funds to meet the deadline.

Better, right? As you can see, multiple negatives create confusion and often cancel each other, so why not simply state the phrase in the positive? Your sentences would be clearer and shorter. With that said, you may occasionally use double negatives to emphasize a point; however, you should do so sparingly.

Minimize Negative Words for Clearer Writing

To help you clarify your sentences, the following are a few  tips on how to avoid multiple negatives .

1. Avoid  phrases that use  no / not , particularly when referring to quantity .

Change the negative phrase into a  positive one .

• No fewer than → at least
• No more than → at most

2. Avoid  no / not  + negative adverbs  such as  hardly  and  scarcely .

The main problem with combining no/not with negative adverbs is that the double negatives cancel each other out, leaving you with a positive meaning when you most likely intended a negative one.

Delete the no/not or delete the negative adverb  to preserve the intended negative meaning.

• not hardly → hardly [e.g., “I can’t hardly wait” → “I can’t wait” or “I can hardly wait.”]
• not scarcely → scarcely
• not only (except when using “not only…but also” construction) → only
• scarcely…no/not → scarcely [e.g. “I scarcely had no time to…” → “I scarcely had time to…” or “I had no time to”]
• hardly… no/not   → hardly

3. Avoid  no / not  + words with negative prefixes  such as  un- ,  mis -,  in- , and  non- .

Use an  antonym .

• No misunderstanding → understanding
• Not illegal → legal
• [NB: The  not  +  un-  construction can be used for emphasis. It can also add a layer of meaning that would be lost if changed to the positive form.  For example, “The girl has many ideas that seem radical but not unintelligent,” suggests that the girl’s ideas are too strange or extreme to be considered intelligent by normal standards. Still, her ideas are thoughtful. ]

4. Avoid  no / not  with other words that have a negative meaning   (e.g.,  absence ,  without ,  fail ,  terminate ,  void ).

Sometimes correcting this mistake will require a complete revision.

• No  additional work is needed   in the absence of  an emergency. → Additional work is only required in an emergency.
• If you  fail   to respond by tomorrow, we  cannot   continue the project.  → We will continue the project only if you respond by tomorrow.

5. Avoid  no / not  +  until .

Generally replaceable with  only .

• No  research has been conducted on Jupiter’s atmospheric composition  until  recently.  →  Research on Jupiter’s atmospheric composition only began recently.

6. Avoid  no / not  +  unless .

Generally replaceable with  only  +  if .

• I will  not   go to the market  unless   I have to.  → I will only go to the market if necessary.

7. Watch out for creating  exceptions within an exception  (e.g.,  except  +  unless ).

Revisions might require separating into multiple sentences.

• For your college admissions essay, you can write about anything  except   potentially offensive topics  unless   you focus on how you overcame an obstacle. → For your college admissions essay, you can write about anything. If you choose to write about a potentially offensive topic, focus solely on how you overcame the obstacle.

8. Avoid  not  +  but for .

Generally, replace with  only .

• I am  not   crazy about the movie  but for  its aesthetic elements. → I only like the movie’s aesthetic elements.

We know it’s hard to remember all these rules while writing, so we hope that this short list will be your cheat sheet for catching sentences that may confuse your readers! For additional information about other ways to clarify your writing, check out our academic writing guide .

And be sure to receive proofreading services , including paper editing and manuscript editing , before turning in your important written work.

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

5.2 Negative Statements

Learning objectives.

• Identify a negative statement.
• Write negative statements.

Negative statements are the opposite of positive statements and are necessary to express an opposing idea. The following charts list negative words and helping verbs that can be combined to form a negative statement.

The following examples show several ways to make a sentence negative in the present tense.

A helping verb used with the negative word not .

Sentence: My guests are arriving now.

Negative: My guests are not arriving now.

The negative word no.

Sentence: Jennie has money.

Negative: Jennie has no money.

The contraction n’t.

Sentence: Janetta does miss her mom.

Negative: Janetta doesn’t miss her mom.

The negative adverb rarely.

Sentence: I always go to the gym after work.

Negative: I rarely go to the gym after work.

The negative subject nobody.

Sentence: Everybody gets the day off.

Negative: Nobody gets the day off.

On a separate sheet of paper, rewrite the positive sentences as negative sentences. Be sure to keep the sentences in the present tense.

• Everybody is happy about the mandatory lunch.
• Deborah likes to visit online dating sites.
• Jordan donates blood every six months.
• Our writing instructor is very effective.
• That beautiful papaya is cheap.

The following sentences show you the ways to make a sentence negative in the past tense.

Sentence: Paul called me yesterday.

Negative: Paul did not call me yesterday.

Sentence: Jamilee went to the grocery store.

Negative: Jamilee never went to the grocery store.

Sentence: Gina laughed when she saw the huge pile of laundry.

Negative: Gina did not laugh when she saw the huge pile of laundry.

Notice that when forming a negative in the past tense, the helping verb did is what signals the past tense, and the main verb laugh does not have an -ed ending.

Rewrite the following paragraph by correcting the errors in the past-tense negative sentences.

Collaboration

Once you have found all the errors you can, please share with a classmate and compare your answers. Did your partner find an error you missed? Did you find an error your partner missed? Compare with your instructor’s answers.

Double negatives are two negatives used in the same phrase or sentence. They are considered incorrect in Standard English. You should avoid using double negatives in all formal writing. If you want to say something negative, use only one negative word in the sentence. Return to the beginning of this section for a list of negative words, and then study the following examples.

Ain’t is considered a contraction of am not . Although some may use it in everyday speech, it is considered incorrect in Standard English. Avoid using it when speaking and writing in formal contexts.

On your own sheet of paper, correct the double negatives and rewrite the following sentences.

• Jose didn’t like none of the choices on the menu.
• Brittany can’t make no friends with nobody.
• The Southwest hardly had no rain last summer.
• My kids never get into no trouble.
• I could not do nothing about the past.

Key Takeaways

• Negatives are usually formed using a negative word plus a helping verb.
• Double negatives are considered incorrect in Standard English.
• Only one negative word is used to express a negative statement.

Writing Application

Write a paragraph describing your favorite meal. Use rich, colorful language to describe the meal. Exchange papers with a classmate and read his or her paragraph. Then rewrite each sentence of your classmate’s paragraph using negatives. Be sure to avoid double negatives. Share your negative paragraphs with each other.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

The Ultimate List Of Tone Words

As a writer, you know how important it is to choose the right word for the meaning you’re trying to convey.

And part of that is knowing what tone words are and which one to use in a particular context. 

The wrong one is like an errant note in an otherwise flawless performance. Even if it has the same dictionary definition, it just doesn’t sound right. 

But where do you go to find the words with just the right tone and cadence to make the sentence flow as it should? 

Welcome to our ultimate list of tone words . 

175 Words to Describe Tone for Authors

Positive tone words, negative tone words, neutral tone words, final thoughts, what are tones in writing.

Tone in writing is like the voice or mood that jumps off the page when you’re reading a story or an article. For example, when listening to your favorite song notice how it can make you feel happy, sad, excited, or calm.

Tone in writing works the same way but through words. It’s the writer’s way of showing their point of view toward the subject or the audience.

Understanding tone is like being a detective for feelings and attitudes, helping you get the real vibe of what you’re reading. It makes reading more colorful and helps you connect with the written words.

Any tone words list (worth the time it takes to make it) should provide the fuller meaning of each word — i.e., not just the denotation (dictionary definition) but it’s connotations, too. 

For this tone words list, you’ll see each tone word example explained with a short definition or with synonyms that have the same general tone.  

All you have to do is open a thesaurus to find synonyms for a particular word to realize that some of those words do NOT have the tone you’re looking for.

Some are obviously negative. Some are positive. And the rest are more or less neutral. 

Related: 111 Negative Adjectives To Describe A Person

The tone word you need for the moment is the one that evokes the right emotions and that allows your sentence to flow without speed bumps.  

Positive tone words are those that evoke positive emotions.

If you hear a person described in words with a positive tone, you’re more likely to think favorably of them, even before you’ve met.

• Adoring — loving ardently; worshipping; venerating 
• Amused — entertained or diverted; pleased
• Animated — lively; full of excitement or enthusiasm; vibrant; spirited; impassioned
• Appreciative — grateful or thankful; showing gratitude, approval, or pleasure
• Assertive — sure of oneself; brave or fearless; self-confident; authoritative
• Ardent — passionate; enthusiastic; fervent; zealous
• Benevolent — kind; generous; compassionate; tolerant; well meaning
• Blithe — in good spirits; of a sunny disposition; happy; cheerful
• Bold — audacious or daring; assertive; fearless or seeming to be fearless
• Calm — serene or tranquil; unruffled or unshaken; placid
• Candid — honest or truthful; straightforward; unreserved
• Celebratory — paying tribute to; glorifying; praising or honoring; making merry
• Cheerful / cheery — positive or uplifting; optimistic; salutary; 
• Comforting — consoling; healing; warming or calming; soothing
• Comic — funny/humorous ; amusing or entertaining; diverting
• Compassionate — empathetic or sympathetic; nonjudgmental; quick to forgive
• Contented — wanting for nothing; grateful; accepting 
• Curious — inquisitive or questioning; wanting to know more
• Direct — straightforward; blunt; lacking in hesitation
• Earnest — serious; wholehearted; sincere or showing deep sincerity or feeling
• Ebullient — high-spirited; brimming with enthusiasm or excitement; exuberant
• Elated — joyful or jubilant; in high spirits; happy or proud
• Elevated — exalted; lofty; honored
• Eloquent — beauty or fluidity of expression; 
• Empathetic — showing empathy; feeling the emotions of others
• Enchant — cast a spell over; entrance; bewitch
• Endearing — inspiring warmth or affection
• Enthusiastic — excited; energetic; optimistic; bubbling over
• Exhilarated — invigorated; enlivened or feeling alive; stimulated; made cheerful
• Forthright — straight to the point; frank; outspoken; unambiguous; direct
• Gentle — kind; considerate; tender; soft; not severe; gradual; moderate
• Hilarious — amusing; uproariously funny; ridiculous or laughable
• Inspirational — motivating ; energizing; reassuring; instilling hope; catalyzing
• Intimate — familiar; confidential; confessional; private
• Joyful — filled with gratitude; elated or exuberant; supremely happy
• Laudatory — praising; extolling; recommending
• Learned — educated; knowledgeable; erudite; involved in the pursuit of knowledge
• Lighthearted — positive; carefree; relaxed; optimistic; in good spirits
• Lively — full of life; energetic; vigorous; animated; spirited; sprightly; vivacious
• Lofty — exalted in rank; elevated in tone, style, or sentiment
• Loving — affectionate; showing deep concern or solicitude for someone
• Modest — free from ostentation; unpretentious; showing humility 
• Objective — without prejudice; fair; basing judgment on facts rather than feelings
• Optimistic — hopeful; cheerful; expecting good; disposed to taking a favorable view
• Powerful — potent; efficacious; having or exerting great power; forceful
• Reassuring — restoring hope, security, or confidence
• Reflective — given to reflection , meditation, or contemplation; thoughtful
• Relaxed — calm; free or relieved of tension, trouble, or anxiety
• Respectful — full of or showing politeness, sympathy, or deference
• Reverent — showing deep respect; holding someone or something in high esteem
• Righteous — morally right or justifiable; pious; guiltless; upright
• Romantic — imbued with idealism; preoccupied with love, adventure, justice, etc.
• Sanguine — hopeful; cheerfully optimistic; confident of a good outcome
• Scholarly — learned; educated; committed to furthering one’s education
• Self-assured — having or showing self-confidence; bold or fearless; forward
• Sincere — honest; truthful; not false or deceitful; free of hypocrisy; genuine
• Stable — not likely to fall or give way (as a structure/support); steady
• Stately — grand; imposing in size or magnificence; elegant; majestic
• Straightforward — honest; straight to the point; not roundabout; direct
• Sympathetic — understand what another is feeling; showing compassion
• Tender — gentle; soft-hearted; compassionate; kind; delicate; young
• Thoughtful — considerate of others; thinking before acting; pensive
• Tolerant — open-minded; patient; charitable; sympathetic; lenient; accepting
• Tranquil — calm; unruffled; unprovoked; peaceful; placid; serene
• Vibrant — full of life and vigor; lively; full of vivid color; vivacious 
• Whimsical — playful or fun; offbeat; mischievous; quaint; capricious; fanciful
• Witty — quick-witted; entertaining; amusingly clever; intelligent
• Wonder — admiration; fascination; awe; curiosity; amazement; admiration

Anything described in negative tone words is likely to leave you with a bad impression, whether the thing described is a place, a book, or a group of people.

Choose your words carefully. If this is a time for honest negativity, this list will help you find the right words .

• Abashed — embarrassed or ashamed; humiliated; shy
• Abhorring — hating; despising; loathing; abominating; detesting
• Abstruse — difficult to understand; esoteric; secret or hidden; obsolete
• Absurd — laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous; senseless; illogical; untrue
• Accusatory — suggesting someone (else) has done something wrong
• Acerbic — biting, abrasive, cutting, or sharp; hurtful; severe
• Aggressive — hostile, forceful, argumentative, contentious 
• Angry — irate or furious; menacing or threatening; resentful 
• Annoyed — irritated; agitated; provoked; disturbed; bothered
• Antagonistic — argumentative or contentious; contrarian; belligerent
• Anxious — focused on negative thought loops; feeling out of control
• Apathetic — indifferent or lacking concern; unemotional; showing little interest
• Apprehensive — worried or nervous; expecting the worst
• Arrogant — conceited or self-important; overbearing; condescending
• Authoritarian — domineering or bossy; insisting on complete obedience
• Belligerent — bellicose or warlike; antagonistic; combative 
• Bewildered — baffled, confused, or flummoxed; lost
• Bitter — angry; acrimonious; resentful or dwelling on past injury
• Boorish — dull; pretentious; arrogant or self-absorbed
• Brusque — abrupt or dismissive; rough; blunt
• Callous — uncaring or unfeeling; indifferent; lacking in compassion
• Caustic — making cutting or corrosive comments; intending injury
• Censorious — critical or quick to judge or condemn; 
• Choleric — quick to anger; short-tempered; hot-blooded; irascible
• Churlish — critical in a mean-spirited way; nasty; belligerent; bullying
• Cliché — overused; trite; stale; unimaginative; hackneyed; commonplace
• Clinical — humorless; detached; unfeeling or uncaring; aloof; cold
• Complicated — unnecessarily complex; difficult to comprehend
• Condescending — patronizing; talking down to those you consider beneath you
• Confounded — confused; befuddled or mystified; bewildered; damned
• Confused — bewildered; unable to think clearly; vague; perplexed; disoriented
• Contemptuous — hateful; spiteful; quick to hold others in contempt; toxic
• Contentious — argumentative or combative; quick to stir the pot
• Critical — finding fault; complaining or criticizing; disapproving 
• Cruel — causing pain or suffering; unkind; spiteful; devoid of humane feelings
• Cynical — critical of motives; quick to assume the worst; mocking or sneering
• Derisive — mocking; sarcastic; dismissive or scornful; snide 
• Derogatory — insulting or demeaning; disrespectul; unkind 
• Detached — aloof or distant; uncaring; unfeeling; frigid; machine-like
• Diabolic — demonic or satanic; evil or malicious; 
• Diffident — lacking confidence in your ability or worth; timid or shy
• Disgusted — appalled; repulsed; repelled; disappointed
• Disparaging — critical; scornful; dismissive; insulting
• Distressing — saddening or heartbreaking; troubling; disturbing 
• Dogmatic — thinking in black and white; intolerant; inflexible; close-minded
• Domineering — imposing your beliefs and/or authority on others; tyrannical
• Dubious — questionable or having questionable motives; inclined to doubt 
• Egotistical — ego-centric; self-centered or self-absorbed; vain; arrogant
• Enraged — furious; unhinged; infuriated; extremely angry
• Evasive — cryptic or unclear; avoiding; ambiguous; elusive or evanescent
• Facetious — inappropriate or impertinent; flippant or dismissive; glib; shallow
• Farcical — ridiculous; absurd; mocking; humorous and highly improbable
• Fatalistic — pessimistic; expecting the worst as inevitable
• Fearful — frightened; afraid; terrified; paralyzed or immobilized; shy
• Flippant — casual or thoughtless; glib; inconsiderate; dismissive 
• Foppish — dandified; pretentious; vain; excessively refined and fastidious
• Foreboding — dread; strong feeling of impending doom or evil
• Frivolous — unnecessary and costing more than it’s worth; silly or lacking 
• Frustrated — feeling thwarted in your efforts; feeling besieged or undermined
• Ghoulish — delighting in the loathesome, perverse, or revolting
• Grim — serious or humorless; of dark intent; macabre; depressing
• Hapless — unfortunate or appearing to be doomed to perpetual bad luck
• Harsh — unkind or unmerciful; unnecessarily painful; unyielding 
• Humble — modest; deferential; self-confident; unassuming; respectful
• Inane — foolish; stupid; silly or nonsensical; vacuous; empty; insignificant
• Incredulous — disbelieving; unconvinced; suspicious; questioning; skeptical
• Malicious — having ill intent; mean-spirited; spiteful; vindictive
• Naïve — unsuspecting; gullible or easy to deceive; unsophisticated
• Narcissistic — self-admiring; pathologically self-centered
• Obsequious — fawning; overly submissive or obedient; servile; groveling 
• Outraged — furious or extremely angered; deeply offended
• Pretentious — affected; artificial; grandiose; flashy; superficial
• Satirical — mocking to show a weakness; ridiculing; derisive; scornful
• Sarcastic — ironic; saying the opposite of what you mean to mock or ridicule
• Scathing — harsh; critical; cutting; unsparing; vicious; harmful or injurious
• Sensationalistic — inaccurate; hyped up; exxagerated; provocative
• Subjective — biased; prejudiced; based on emotion rather than facts
• Sulking — resentful; sullen; bad-tempered; grumpy; self-pitying
• Tragic — calamitous; disastrous; catastrophic; devastating
• Uneasy — worried; ill at ease; edgy; nervous; unsettled
• Vindictive — vengeful; spiteful; petty; unforgiving; hateful
• World-weary — bored; tired; cynical; pessimistic

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Sad Tone Words

Some negative tone words leave you with an impression of sadness rather than disgust or anger.

Here’s a sampling of these, most of them described using other sad tone words.

• Apologetic — full of regret or remorse; repentant; acknowleding failure 
• Depressed — lacking in energy or buoyancy; apathetic; emotionally blunted
• Despairing — hopeless; sinking without an attempt to rise; seeing only darkness
• Disheartening — discouraging; depressing; demoralizing; undermining; sad
• Gloomy — depressing; dreary; discouraging; sad or low-spirited; pessimistic
• Grave — serious; morose or moribund; solemn; weighty; important
• Hollow — lacking substance; empty; meaningless; joyless
• Melancholy — sad or prone to sadness; having a gloomy outlook
• Pathetic — evoking pity; marked by sorrow or sadness; pitifully inadequate
• Somber — gloomy; solemn; grave; melancholy; depressing 
• Wretched — miserable; sorrowful; distressed or in agony; despairing

When you want a neutral tone in writing, it can be hard to find.

It doesn’t take much for us to associate words with an emotion or to feel the emotional undercurrent of a word — whether positive or negative and to whatever degree. But some neutral words remain. 

• Ambivalent — uncertain; having mixed feelings; undecided
• Cautionary — raises awareness; gives warning; admonishing
• Compliant — in conformity with rules/expectations; flexible; acquiescent
• Conciliatory — meant to pacify or placate; seeking to please 
• Colloquial — familiar; everyday language; casual or informal
• Defensive — defending or guarding a position; watchful; preventing aggression
• Formal — respectful; following accepted rules/styles; preserving form/custom
• Impartial — objective; not favoring either side over the other
• Intense — deeply felt; concentrated; passionate; earnest; extreme
• Introspective — inward-focused or turning inward; contemplative
• Pensive — lost in thought; introspective or reflective; contemplative
• Pragmatic — realistic; dispassionate or detached; ruled by logic; practical
• Solemn — serious; not funny; in earnest; sober; reverent; grave; mirthless
• Urgent — insistent; implying something must be done as soon as possible

Now that you’ve looked through our list of tones, which ones stood out for you the most? What kind of tone did those words have (positive, negative, or neutral)? 

Sometimes, our moods make certain words stand out for us as more fitting or more resonant. And sometimes we just see them because we’ve used them or heard them used recently — in a way that made them stick.

I hope your life gives you plenty of reasons to use positive tone words. But some situations and contexts call for the opposite. Your current work in progress might call for plenty of the opposite. 

And in certain contexts, even the neutral tone words sound more negative than otherwise. The right context can even change the tone of words that are usually considered positive.

I hope the words you use to describe yourself are kind and encouraging. And at the end of the day, may the balance of your words leave you with a smile. 

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5.2: Negative Statements

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Learning Objectives

• Identify a negative statement.
• Write negative statements.

Negative statements are the opposite of positive statements and are necessary to express an opposing idea. The following charts list negative words and helping verbs that can be combined to form a negative statement.

The following examples show several ways to make a sentence negative in the present tense.

Sentence: My guests are arriving now.

Negative: My guests are not arriving now.

Negative: Jennie has no money.

Negative: Janetta doesn’t miss her mom.

Negative: I rarely go to the gym after work.

Negative: Nobody gets the day off.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

On a separate sheet of paper, rewrite the positive sentences as negative sentences. Be sure to keep the sentences in the present tense.

• Everybody is happy about the mandatory lunch.
• Deborah likes to visit online dating sites.
• Jordan donates blood every six months.
• Our writing instructor is very effective.
• That beautiful papaya is cheap.

The following sentences show you the ways to make a sentence negative in the past tense.

Sentence: Paul called me yesterday.

Negative: Paul did not call me yesterday.

Sentence: Jamilee went to the grocery store.

Negative: Jamilee never went to the grocery store.

Sentence: Gina laughed when she saw the huge pile of laundry.

Negative: Gina did not laugh when she saw the huge pile of laundry.

Notice that when forming a negative in the past tense, the helping verb did is what signals the past tense, and the main verb laugh does not have an -ed ending.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

Rewrite the following paragraph by correcting the errors in the past-tense negative sentences.

Celeste no did call me when she reached North Carolina. I was worried because she not drove alone before. She was going to meet her friend, Terry, who lived in a town called Asheville, North Carolina. I did never want to worry, but she said she was going to call when she reached there. Finally, four hours later, she called and said, “Mom, I’m sorry I did not call. I lost track of time because I was so happy to see Terry!” I was relieved.

Collaboration

Once you have found all the errors you can, please share with a classmate and compare your answers. Did your partner find an error you missed? Did you find an error your partner missed? Compare with your instructor’s answers.

Double negatives are two negatives used in the same phrase or sentence. They are considered incorrect in Standard English. You should avoid using double negatives in all formal writing. If you want to say something negative, use only one negative word in the sentence. Return to the beginning of this section for a list of negative words, and then study the following examples.

Ain’t is considered a contraction of am not . Although some may use it in everyday speech, it is considered incorrect in Standard English. Avoid using it when speaking and writing in formal contexts.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

On your own sheet of paper, correct the double negatives and rewrite the following sentences.

• Jose didn’t like none of the choices on the menu.
• Brittany can’t make no friends with nobody.
• The Southwest hardly had no rain last summer.
• My kids never get into no trouble.
• I could not do nothing about the past.

Key Takeaways

• Negatives are usually formed using a negative word plus a helping verb.
• Double negatives are considered incorrect in Standard English.
• Only one negative word is used to express a negative statement.

Writing Application

Write a paragraph describing your favorite meal. Use rich, colorful language to describe the meal. Exchange papers with a classmate and read his or her paragraph. Then rewrite each sentence of your classmate’s paragraph using negatives. Be sure to avoid double negatives. Share your negative paragraphs with each other.

What’s a Double Negative? + How To Fix It

Table of contents

Alana Chase

Double negatives happen when two negative expressions are used together in a sentence or part of a sentence — for example,

“She didn’t go nowhere .”  

Unlike in some languages, double negatives in English typically turn into positive statements. This can change the meaning of your writing and confuse your readers. 

That’s why many people say to avoid double negatives. But in my career as an editor, I’ve learned that double negatives aren’t always the grammatical no-no you might have heard they are.

In this guide, I provide examples of double negatives and explain why they matter, when to avoid them, and how to fix them so your writing stays sharp.

Key takeaways

• A double negative occurs when you use two negative expressions together — e.g., “I can’t think of nothing .”
• To fix double negatives, replace one of the negative expressions with a positive one.
• While you should avoid double negatives in formal writing, they can be useful in informal or creative writing to reflect natural speech, contribute to a playful tone, or emphasize the positive.
• Wordtune can help you catch and correct double negatives in your writing.

Double negative definition

A double negative happens when a sentence or part of a sentence contains two negative expressions . 

Negative expressions are words that change a sentence or part of a sentence to show it isn’t true, isn’t happening, or isn’t possible. 

You encounter these all the time in English! Examples of negative expressions include:

• not (especially [verb] + not — e.g., “have not,” “is not,” “did not,” etc.)

In English, double negatives can cause confusion, as two negative expressions together typically cancel each other out and create a positive statement . This can make your writing suggest the opposite of what you mean.

Examples of double negatives

The easiest way to understand double negatives is to see them in action. Let’s take a look at some examples below.

How to fix double negatives

Fixing double negatives can be quick and easy. All you need to do is replace one of the negative expressions with a positive expression . 

This is because two negative expressions together usually create a positive meaning, while one negative expression creates a negative meaning.

For example:

Below is a list of common negative expressions and their positive alternatives to help you fix double negatives in your writing.

To avoid double negatives in the first place , think about the true meaning of the sentence you’re writing. Often, a double negative is used to make a positive statement. Is this what you’re aiming to do, or do you want to make a negative statement?

In the example below, are you trying to say someone has no knowledge of a topic? 

Do double negatives always need to be corrected?

In formal writing, such as academic papers , it’s best to fix double negatives to maintain clarity and proper grammar. 

But in other types of writing or speech, you don’t always have to. You might use double negatives when:

You’re aiming for a playful, sarcastic, or ironic tone of voice

‍ It can be amusing to say something in a way that usually means the exact opposite. For example, “I’m not unhappy with the results” can cleverly convey satisfaction.

You’re writing characters or dialogue that reflects unique speech patterns

Double negatives can add depth and authenticity to your writing, especially when representing dialects, cultural backgrounds, or time periods where double negatives in speech are common.

“Very nice, indeed, if you don’t wanna go nowhere .” — said by Bert, the chimney sweep with a Cockney accent, in 1964’s Mary Poppins . 

‍ You’re writing song lyrics

‍ Songwriters often use double negatives for aesthetic, rhythmic, or stylistic purposes or to convey emotions and messages more impactfully.

The Rolling Stones song “(I Can’t Get No ) Satisfaction.”

The Bill Withers song “ Ain’t No Sunshine.”

“We don’t need no education” from the Pink Floyd song “Another Brick in the Wall.”

Double negatives are also acceptable when “not” comes before a negative adjective — e.g., “not uncommon” or “not unusual.” Phrases like these are understood as positives (“not common” = “common,” “not unusual” = “usual”) and shouldn’t confuse the reader.

Likewise, you can use double negatives in informal writing to highlight the positive — e.g., “Emily couldn’t not go to the concert with Josie.” This emphasizes that the concert is an unmissable event for Emily — that she has to go.

Double negatives occur when a sentence or part of a sentence has two negative expressions — i.e., words like “no,” “never,” “not,” “neither,” and more. 

Technically, double negatives are grammatical mistakes, so you should avoid them in formal and academic writing. For other types of writing, though, a double negative can add emphasis, reflect real-life speech, emphasize the positive, or make a message more playful or memorable.

Correcting double negatives is as straightforward as swapping a negative expression for a positive one. For an extra helping hand, though, use Wordtune . Our Editor tool can automatically detect double negatives in your work and suggest corrections in a snap.

Get Wordtune for free > Get Wordtune for free >

For more insights on becoming a better writer, check out our guides on writing concisely and effectively , fixing run-on sentences , and making your writing flow .

What is a double negative example?

An example of a double negative is “I don’t know nothing .” This suggests that the speaker does know something. When corrected, the sentence is, “I don’t know anything.”

Does Shakespeare use double negatives?

Yes, Shakespeare often used double negatives for emphasis and stylistic effect. Here’s an example of a double negative in Hamlet : “I never was, nor never will be.” 

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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument . Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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Comprehensive Negative Words List

Here is a comprehensive list of negative words we’ve compiled in alphabetical order from A to Z. There are a lot of negative tone words listed here that can help writers and students craft their articles and stories.

In this list, you’ll find a very wide range of negative words, each with its unique meaning and significance.

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Table of Contents

Negative words starting with A

Negative words starting with b, negative words starting with c, negative words starting with e, negative words starting with f, negative words starting with g, negative words starting with i, negative words starting with j, negative words starting with k, negative words starting with m, negative words starting with n, negative words starting with o, negative words starting with q, negative words starting with r, negative words starting with s, negative words starting with u, negative words starting with v, negative words starting with w, negative words starting with z.

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Essay on Negative Impact Of Social Media On Students

Students are often asked to write an essay on Negative Impact Of Social Media On Students in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Negative Impact Of Social Media On Students

Time wasting.

Social media can be a big distraction for students. Instead of doing homework or studying, they might spend hours scrolling through apps like Instagram or TikTok. This means they have less time for school work, which can lead to bad grades.

Less Face-to-Face Interaction

Students often chat with friends online instead of talking in person. This can make it hard for them to learn how to read people’s emotions and communicate well face-to-face, which is very important in life.

Unrealistic Expectations

Social media shows a perfect life that is not real. Students might feel bad about their own lives because they think everyone else is happier or more successful. This can hurt their self-esteem and make them unhappy.

Cyberbullying

Bullying on social media is a big problem. Mean comments or embarrassing photos can be shared quickly and hurt a student’s feelings. Being bullied online can make students scared to go to school and affect their mental health.

Privacy Issues

Students might not know how to protect their personal information online. They can share too much without realizing it. This can lead to dangerous situations or their private details might be used in ways they did not want.

250 Words Essay on Negative Impact Of Social Media On Students

Time wasted on social media.

Many students spend hours on social media instead of doing homework or studying. This can lead to poor grades because they have less time to learn and understand their school work. Social media apps are designed to keep users scrolling, making it easy for students to lose track of time.

Social media can take away from time spent with friends and family in person. When students focus on their phones or computers, they miss out on real-life conversations. This can make it hard for them to learn how to talk to others and understand body language, which are important life skills.

Online Bullying

Bullying on social media, also called cyberbullying, is a big problem. Mean comments and rumors can spread quickly online. This can hurt students’ feelings and make them scared to go to school. Sometimes, the hurt from cyberbullying can last a long time and make students feel alone and sad.

Social media often shows a perfect version of life that isn’t real. Students might see pictures of others with perfect bodies or perfect lives and feel bad about themselves. They might think they’re not good enough or that their life isn’t as exciting. This can make them unhappy and less confident.

Privacy Risks

Students might not know how to protect their private information online. They could share too much without realizing who can see it. This can be dangerous because strangers might learn things about them that should be kept private.

In summary, social media can have a big negative effect on students by taking away study time, reducing real-life talks, causing bullying, setting unrealistic standards, and putting their privacy at risk.

500 Words Essay on Negative Impact Of Social Media On Students

Social media can be a huge time sink for students. Many young people spend hours scrolling through apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. This is time that could be spent studying, playing sports, or even sleeping. When students give so much time to social media, they have less time for homework and learning. This can lead to poor grades and less knowledge.

Before social media, students would meet and talk in person. Now, they often chat online instead. This change can hurt their social skills. Talking face-to-face helps students learn how to read emotions and react to people in real life. Without this practice, some students might find it hard to make friends or work with others in a team.

Impact on Mental Health

Social media can also affect students’ mental health. Seeing others post about their perfect lives can make students feel bad about their own lives. They might think they are not as happy or successful as their friends. This can lead to feelings of sadness or jealousy. Also, mean comments or bullying on social media can hurt students’ feelings and make them feel alone.

Distraction from Studies

Social media can be a big distraction. When students should be focusing on their schoolwork, they might check their phones instead. Even during class, some students sneak peeks at their social media feeds. This means they are not paying attention to their teachers and could miss important information.

Privacy and Safety Concerns

Students might not always understand how to stay safe on social media. They may share private information like their address or phone number. This can be dangerous because strangers could find this information. Also, students might post pictures or say things that could embarrass them later. Once something is on the internet, it can be hard to remove it completely.

Social media often shows a world that is not real. Students might see pictures of people with perfect bodies or expensive things and think that is normal. They might feel pressure to be perfect or have the best things too. This is not a healthy way to think because it is not how most people really live.

In conclusion, social media can have many negative effects on students. It can take away time from learning, hurt face-to-face talking skills, make students feel bad about themselves, distract them from schoolwork, put their privacy at risk, and create false ideas of what life should be like. It is important for students to remember that social media is just one part of life and not to let it control them. Parents and teachers can help by teaching students how to use social media wisely and reminding them of the importance of real-world experiences and relationships.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Negative Impact Of Social Media On Society
• Essay on Negative Impact Of Social Media On Business
• Essay on Graffiti Is It Art Or Vandalism

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After being insulted, writing down your feelings on paper then getting rid of it reduces anger

A research group in Japan has discovered that writing down one's reaction to a negative incident on a piece of paper and then shredding it or throwing it away reduces feelings of anger.

"We expected that our method would suppress anger to some extent," lead researcher Nobuyuki Kawai said. "However, we were amazed that anger was eliminated almost entirely."

This research is important because controlling anger at home and in the workplace can reduce negative consequences in our jobs and personal lives. Unfortunately, many anger management techniques proposed by specialists lack empirical research support. They can also be difficult to recall when angry.

The results of this study, published in Scientific Reports , are the culmination of years of previous research on the association between the written word and anger reduction. It builds on work showing how interactions with physical objects can control a person's mood.

For their project, Kawai and his graduate student Yuta Kanaya, both at the Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, asked participants to write brief opinions about important social problems, such as whether smoking in public should be outlawed. They then told them that a doctoral student at Nagoya University would evaluate their writing.

However, the doctoral students doing the evaluation were plants. Regardless of what the participants wrote, the evaluators scored them low on intelligence, interest, friendliness, logic, and rationality. To really drive home the point, the doctoral students also wrote the same insulting comment: "I cannot believe an educated person would think like this. I hope this person learns something while at the university."

After handing out these negative comments, the researchers asked the participants to write their thoughts on the feedback, focusing on what triggered their emotions. Finally, one group of participants was told to either dispose of the paper they wrote in a trash can or keep it in a file on their desk. A second group was told to destroy the document in a shredder or put it in a plastic box.

The students were then asked to rate their anger after the insult and after either disposing of or keeping the paper. As expected, all participants reported a higher level of anger after receiving insulting comments. However, the anger levels of the individuals who discarded their paper in the trash can or shredded it returned to their initial state after disposing of the paper. Meanwhile, the participants who held on to a hard copy of the insult experienced only a small decrease in their overall anger.

Kawai imagines using his research to help businesspeople who find themselves in stressful situations. "This technique could be applied in the moment by writing down the source of anger as if taking a memo and then throwing it away when one feels angry in a business situation," he explained.

Along with its practical benefits, this discovery may shed light on the origins of the Japanese cultural tradition known as hakidashisara ( hakidashi refers to the purging or spitting out of something, and sara refers to a dish or plate) at the Hiyoshi shrine in Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture, just outside of Nagoya. Hakidashisara is an annual festival where people smash small discs representing things that make them angry. Their findings may explain the feeling of relief that participants report after leaving the festival.

• Anger Management
• Social Psychology
• Disorders and Syndromes
• Educational Psychology
• Consumer Behavior
• Anger management
• Social psychology
• Cognitive dissonance
• Self-awareness
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Collaboration

Story Source:

Materials provided by Nagoya University . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Yuta Kanaya, Nobuyuki Kawai. Anger is eliminated with the disposal of a paper written because of provocation . Scientific Reports , 2024; 14 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57916-z

Cite This Page :

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