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- Tone, register and audience
Tone, register and audience
Examiners reward writing that selects and adapts tone, style and register for the audience and purpose (AO5 in the GCSE, AO4 in the International GCSE). The same message sounds very different to a head teacher and to Year 7.
Key words
Register: how formal or informal your language is.
Tone: the attitude your writing shows: serious, light-hearted, urgent, angry, warm.
Audience: who will read or hear it.
Purpose: what it is for: argue, persuade, advise, inform, explain.
Tone: the attitude your writing shows: serious, light-hearted, urgent, angry, warm.
Audience: who will read or hear it.
Purpose: what it is for: argue, persuade, advise, inform, explain.
Formal and informal
Matching the task
A letter to a council: formal, polite, reasoned.
A speech to your year group: semi-formal, lively, direct address, but no slang.
An article for a teen magazine: lively and engaging, still accurate.
In the exam, never use text-speak.
A speech to your year group: semi-formal, lively, direct address, but no slang.
An article for a teen magazine: lively and engaging, still accurate.
In the exam, never use text-speak.
Rewrite formally: 'The park is a total mess and the council should sort it out.'
- 'total mess' becomes 'in a very poor condition'.
- 'sort it out' becomes 'take action to improve it'.
- Keep it polite but firm.
Answer: The park is in a very poor condition, and I urge the council to take action to improve it.
Work out your audience and purpose first, then choose a register and tone to match. Formal does not mean dull: it means precise, polite and controlled.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
Check you have got it
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