Style and Tone

Style and Tone

Style and Tone are important to identify in a passage. Their identification helps in better understanding of the passage and also helps in solving related questions. Students often get confused between style and tone of a passage. Let us try and understand the difference.

Style
Of a passage is the way an author presents his thoughts or what mode/kind of writing does he use to convey his ideas. It can be descriptive, narrative, data driven etc. The style remains same throughout the passage. In simple words, style tells us ‘how’ a passage has been written. Following are two passages with different styles.


Passage-1
Last year I won $18,200 in cash and $800 in prize as a contestant on a now-defunct CBS-TV game show called “Now You See It.” I was a “good” contestant: tearful, swooning and avarice-driven. But now, 15 months later, I have flunked out as a bookkeeper. I can’t figure what happened to the winnings I eked out during eight shows, the bulk of which came when I answered this esoteric question: “ Who was Popeye’s hamburger-eating friend?” All know for sure is that it’s gone, and I’m back to living pay check to pay check. That’s why; it seems to me, the show would have been more aptly named. “Now You See It… Now You Don’t “- since the mullah that came my way has vanished much like magicians’ rabbits.

Style:
The author has used first person narration. Hence the style is Narrative.

Passage 2
There is always the danger of a specific type of pneumonia that may result from the inhalation of oily substances into the
lungs. For all of these reasons, nose and throat specialists warn against the introduction of medicinal preparations into the nose. It should be done only when definitely indicated and recommended by a physician for the treatment of some specific condition.
Equally useless are the mouthwashes, gargles and antiseptics urged by advertisers upon the public. These preparations may destroy germs in test tubes if given sufficient time. But none of them acts instantaneously, nor are they effective in the weak solutions that can be tolerated by the membranes of the nose and throat. Furthermore, only a very small proportion of the membranes of the nose and throat can possibly be reached by sprays and gargles.

Several other more or less universal home remedies proved valueless in our studies. Cathartics of various kinds, for example, have long figured in home treatment of colds, and are included in many of the advertised remedies. Fear of increasing that popularity prevented us from using it in our series of studies. Scientifically, there may be some basis, or perhaps excuse, for the use of alcohol in colds. It causes an increase in the blood flow to the skin, with a resultant feeling of warmth if one is wet and chilled. On the other hand, alcohol itself causes nasal congestion in some people; and many reliable studies have shown that its continuous or excessive use lowers resistance to pneumonia, the most serious complication of colds.


Style: The author has given a detailed description about the use of old and new remedies for curing common ailments. He quotes studies and investigations. Hence, the style is Descriptive.