Tone and Style Control

Tone and style determine HOW your content feels. The same information can be delivered formally or casually, seriously or playfully, briefly or comprehensively.

Tone vs Style

Tone = Emotional quality (friendly, professional, urgent) Style = Structural choices (concise, detailed, conversational)

Both should match your audience and purpose.

Tone Examples

Now with a different tone:

Same message, completely different feel.

Common Tone Descriptors

Professional Spectrum

• Formal: Legal documents, official announcements
• Professional: Business emails, reports
• Semi-formal: Internal memos, client updates
• Casual: Team chat, friendly emails
• Informal: Social posts, personal messages

Emotional Spectrum

• Serious: Crisis communication, sensitive topics
• Neutral: Factual reporting, documentation
• Warm: Customer support, welcome messages
• Enthusiastic: Marketing, announcements
• Playful: Social media, brand personality

Exercise: Match Tone to Context

Style Specifications

Length Style

• "Be concise" / "Be comprehensive"
• "One paragraph only" / "Detailed explanation"
• "Tweet-length" / "Long-form article"

Structure Style

• "Use bullet points" / "Write flowing prose"
• "Short paragraphs" / "Academic format"
• "Numbered steps" / "Narrative structure"

Language Style

• "Use simple words" / "Technical terminology is fine"
• "Avoid jargon" / "Industry-standard terms expected"
• "Active voice" / "Passive voice acceptable"

Style Directives

Combining Tone and Style

Exercise: Specify Tone and Style Together

Audience-Tone Matching

Audience	Appropriate Tone
C-Suite executives	Concise, authoritative, data-driven
New customers	Warm, welcoming, reassuring
Developers	Direct, technical, example-heavy
Students	Encouraging, clear, patient
Frustrated users	Empathetic, solution-focused
Investors	Confident, factual, opportunity-focused

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Conflicting Directives

Problematic: "Be extremely detailed but also very brief" Better: "Be comprehensive on key points, brief on background"

Vague Tone Words

Vague: "Make it sound good" Specific: "Confident and authoritative, like a trusted advisor"

Mismatched Audience-Tone

Wrong: Playful emoji-filled email to the board of directors Right: Professional with measured optimism

Practice: Tone Transformation

Tone and Style Checklist

Before finalizing your prompt, verify:

• Tone matches the situation's seriousness
• Style suits the audience's reading preferences
• Length is appropriate for the context
• Language level matches audience expertise
• No conflicting tone/style directives

Mastering tone and style gives you control over how your message lands.