How to Use an Objective Tone in Your Writing: 6 Tips You Should Know

Objective tone tends to be impersonal, because it doesn’t include any information about the writer. Rather than including opinions, the writer focuses on sticking to only the facts and figures. To practice using an objective tone in your writing, focus on these 6 tips:

Use Facts and Data

Before writing, you need to do vast amounts of research to help support your ideas. Locate quality non-biased sources to help you achieve the objective tone that you want. Also, don’t forget to cite your sources to show your reader where the ideas came from for your writing.

Show Opposing Viewpoints

Another way to stay unbiased is to show all sides of the argument. Balance your ideas by discussing counter arguments, too. When presenting all viewpoints, be wary of using language that would show your reader which view you tend to side with.

Refrain from Using Personal Pronouns

Since you don’t want to focus on yourself as the writer, it’s important to avoid personal pronouns. Some of the personal pronouns that should not be used in objective writing include:

• I
• My
• Me
• Mine
• You
• We

By including these pronouns, your writing will seem more subjective. You shouldn’t even say things like “Now, I’ll explain the second point…” When you do this, the reader assumes that you will inject your ideas and opinions into your writing.

Avoid Contractions

Unless you’re including a direct quotation, refrain from using contractions. These tend to add a casual tone in your writing. So, rather than saying “don’t” or “can’t,” write out “do not” and “cannot” when using an objective tone.

Consider Your Word Choice

Since you need to stick to the facts, it’s important to consider your word choice. Use vocabulary and jargon to discuss the topic. However, refrain from using hyperbole, colloquialisms, or words that show judgment or opinions. This includes words like awesome, terrible, very, or sarcastic. Think about the words you choose and make sure that you refrain from including your opinion, which could impact the meaning of your ideas.

Don’t Ask Questions

Rather than asking the reader questions, you should reword the ideas as statements. This will help keep the writing impersonal, so you can focus on presenting the facts as they are.

The objective tone is sometimes referred to as the “academic tone.” As you present the facts in a research paper or other types of writing, it’s important to refrain from infusing your writing with your opinions. This way, readers can learn the facts and form an opinion on their own.