7Who Do You Think You Are? Tone and Style
“Style is the dress of thoughts.”
—Lord Chesterfield
“Proper words in proper placesmake the true definition of style.”
—Jonathan Swift
“When we come across a natural style, we aresurprised and delighted; for we expectedan author, and we find a man.”
—Blaise Pascal
HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU OVERHEARD someone complain, “It’s not what he said but how he said it. Who does he think he’s talking to?” Tone of voice is an important factor in our professional and personal relationships. When you neglect to use the appropriate tone in speech or writing, you undermine your reader’s ability to respond with a positive or open attitude to your message, no matter how important or logical or persuasive its content. In the sets ...
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