Tone and Style

by Kevin C. Peters, Research Specialist, GrantStation.com

Have you or your organization had a proposal rejected, even though it was based on a truly great idea? Often, the problem may not be with the idea itself, but with the way the proposal is presented. This series will help you write more effective letters of inquiry and proposals by focusing not on what you are saying, but on how you are saying it.

We will approach writing in two steps: how to create the proper tone and style to meet the needs of your intended recipient, and how to streamline your writing, and make other alterations, to create more efficient and effective inquiries and proposals. For each of these steps, we will look at specific techniques that can improve your writing.

Tone and Style

Tone is the feeling your writing conveys. Think about your newspaper's letters to the editor. The letters can show anger, concern, thankfulness, or an array of other emotions. Style is how that tone is shown. Things like exclamation points, rhetorical questions, CAPS LOCK, and word selection are stylistic choices that help you shape the tone of your writing....