The Tone Spectrum Explorer is an interactive tool designed for anyone interested in tone of voice to:

• Define and explore tone of voice positioning across 5 distinct tone spectrums using interactive sliders
• Analyze sub-dimensions of tone (4 unique sub-dimensions per spectrum)
• Explore 50+ linguistic devices with definitions, examples, and UX impact
• Generate comprehensive content standards following a structured schema
• Detect anti-patterns to identify conflicting tone signals
• Export standards as markdown files or copy to clipboard

Inspiration

I spent years figuring out how to place the tone needle at a certain place on the spectrum. it became an intuitive act for me, figuring out how to be more serious or playful, and all of the various linguistic and literary devices that I might use to do that, or to reverse engineer content to figure out how they did that.

And over the years, I even documented this knowledge so that I could teach it to other people. But not everyone had the time, interest, or opportunity to learn the ins-and-outs of tone in the way that I had designed. And then, it all clicked. This interactive tool, which is really just a standalone HTML page with some CSS and JavaScript, takes my years of literary and linguistic documentation around tone of voice and places it into a tool that feels interactive, navigable, and also enriched with examples.

It's a starting point

I wanted this tool to be a starting point for people to think more deeply about tone of voice in a way that would allow them to document their preferred tone of voice preferences and then carry those preferences forward into human and machine-readable formats. This is why I put together a tone of voice standard schema so that, based on where a user sets their particular spectrum, they can generate a content standard for that type of tone of voice and make good things happen.

Here's an an example of a content standard generated by this tool:

Tone of voice standards for Spectrum: Playful vs. Serious | Position: 9/100 | Configuration: Strongly Playful

1. Metadata

id: TONE-346
type: tone_voice
spectrum: playful-serious
position: 9
level: Global
owner: Jason's team
version: 3.0
created: 2026-01-08
last_updated: 2026-01-08
related_standards: []

---

2. Context

• Domain: UX writing
• Content types: Interface text, notifications
• Target audience: End users, internal teams
• Channel: Web interface, mobile app
• Scope boundaries: Applies to interface text, notifications across ux writing contexts

---

3. Tone Configuration

3.1 Primary Positioning

• Spectrum: Playful vs. Serious
• Position: 9 out of 100 (Strongly Playful)
• Rationale: This positioning creates highly engaging, expressive content that prioritizes connection and personality that aligns with user needs and brand voice requirements for ux writing.

3.2 Sub-Dimension Breakdown

Sub-Dimension: Creative Expression

• Spectrum: Imaginative ← → Literal
• Positioning: Strongly Imaginative
• Active Devices (3-5 specific techniques):
  1. Metaphorical language: Apply in creative expression to achieve imaginative quality
  2. Wordplay: Apply in creative expression to achieve imaginative quality
  3. Anthropomorphism: Apply in creative expression to achieve imaginative quality
• Manifestation: Content creative expression demonstrates strongly imaginative characteristics through metaphorical language

Sub-Dimension: Rhythmic Quality

• Spectrum: Varied ← → Consistent
• Positioning: Strongly Varied
• Active Devices (3-5 specific techniques):
  1. Dynamic sentence length: Apply in rhythmic quality to achieve varied quality
  2. Alliteration: Apply in rhythmic quality to achieve varied quality
  3. Tempo variation: Apply in rhythmic quality to achieve varied quality
• Manifestation: Content rhythmic quality demonstrates strongly varied characteristics through dynamic sentence length

Sub-Dimension: Structural Approach

• Spectrum: Non-linear ← → Hierarchical
• Positioning: Strongly Non-linear
• Active Devices (3-5 specific techniques):
  1. Unexpected information hierarchy: Apply in structural approach to achieve non-linear quality
  2. Narrative flow: Apply in structural approach to achieve non-linear quality
  3. Interrupt patterns: Apply in structural approach to achieve non-linear quality
• Manifestation: Content structural approach demonstrates strongly non-linear characteristics through unexpected information hierarchy

Sub-Dimension: Information Density

• Spectrum: Spacious ← → Concentrated
• Positioning: Strongly Spacious
• Active Devices (3-5 specific techniques):
  1. Elaborative details: Apply in information density to achieve spacious quality
  2. Breathing room: Apply in information density to achieve spacious quality
  3. Contextual storytelling: Apply in information density to achieve spacious quality
• Manifestation: Content information density demonstrates strongly spacious characteristics through elaborative details

---

4. Linguistic Guidance

4.1 Primary Devices (DO Use)

Metaphorical language

• Definition: A linguistic technique in creative expression that creates specific tonal effects
• Application: Use metaphorical language in your content to reinforce the desired tone positioning
• Example: "Example text demonstrating this device"

Wordplay

• Definition: A linguistic technique in creative expression that creates specific tonal effects
• Application: Use wordplay in your content to reinforce the desired tone positioning
• Example: "Example text demonstrating this device"

Dynamic sentence length

• Definition: A linguistic technique in rhythmic quality that creates specific tonal effects
• Application: Use dynamic sentence length in your content to reinforce the desired tone positioning
• Example: "Example text demonstrating this device"

Alliteration

• Definition: A linguistic technique in rhythmic quality that creates specific tonal effects
• Application: Use alliteration in your content to reinforce the desired tone positioning
• Example: "Example text demonstrating this device"

Unexpected information hierarchy

• Definition: A linguistic technique in structural approach that creates specific tonal effects
• Application: Use unexpected information hierarchy in your content to reinforce the desired tone positioning
• Example: "Example text demonstrating this device"

Narrative flow

• Definition: A linguistic technique in structural approach that creates specific tonal effects
• Application: Use narrative flow in your content to reinforce the desired tone positioning
• Example: "Example text demonstrating this device"

Elaborative details

• Definition: A linguistic technique in information density that creates specific tonal effects
• Application: Use elaborative details in your content to reinforce the desired tone positioning
• Example: "Example text demonstrating this device"

Breathing room

• Definition: A linguistic technique in information density that creates specific tonal effects
• Application: Use breathing room in your content to reinforce the desired tone positioning
• Example: "Example text demonstrating this device"

4.2 Secondary Devices (Use Sparingly)

• Modal verbs: Use occasionally to soften directives
• Rhetorical questions: Use sparingly for engagement
• Transitional phrases: Use when connecting complex ideas

4.3 Avoid (Anti-Patterns)

• ❌ Technical precision: Conflicts with strongly playful positioning by introducing literal characteristics
• ❌ Functional descriptions: Conflicts with strongly playful positioning by introducing literal characteristics
• ❌ Uniform sentence structure: Conflicts with strongly playful positioning by introducing consistent characteristics
• ❌ Steady rhythm: Conflicts with strongly playful positioning by introducing consistent characteristics
• ❌ Logical information architecture: Conflicts with strongly playful positioning by introducing hierarchical characteristics
• ❌ Conventional presentation patterns: Conflicts with strongly playful positioning by introducing hierarchical characteristics
• ❌ Dense information packaging: Conflicts with strongly playful positioning by introducing concentrated characteristics
• ❌ Minimal exposition: Conflicts with strongly playful positioning by introducing concentrated characteristics

4.4 Content Patterns

Sentence structure: Varied length, fragments acceptable, conversational flow Punctuation preferences: Liberal use of exclamation points, em dashes, and ellipses for expressiveness Word choice principles: Colloquial language, contractions, accessible vocabulary Rhythm/Pacing: Quick tempo, varied rhythm, conversational pacing

---

5. Examples

5.1 Correct Usage

Interface Labels

Context: Primary navigation and action buttons
- "Let's get your account set up!"
- "You're doing great so far"
- "Oops! Something went wrong, but we'll fix it right up"
Why it works: Demonstrates strongly playful positioning through appropriate device usage

Notifications

Context: System messages and status updates
- "Woohoo! Your file uploaded successfully"
- "Just a heads up - your session expires in 5 minutes"
Why it works: Maintains consistency with strongly playful tone across all touchpoints

Error Messages

Context: Input validation and system errors
Example: "Oops! That didn't work. Let's try again."
Why it works: Uses informal language and contractions
Why it works: Balances playful characteristics with user needs

5.2 Incorrect Usage with Corrections

❌ Incorrect: "Your request has been processed according to standard protocol."
Why it fails: Too formal - uses technical language that conflicts with playful/casual positioning
✓ Correct: "Got it! We're on it."
How it's fixed: Applied contractions, informal phrasing, and exclamation point

❌ Incorrect: "Please refer to section 4.2.1 of the documentation."
Why it fails: Overly technical reference undermines approachable tone
✓ Correct: "Check out our help docs for more info!"
How it's fixed: Used casual phrasing, contractions, and friendly punctuation

---

6. Sub-Dimension Matrix

---

7. Implementation

7.1 Validation Rules

{
  "tone_positioning": {
    "spectrum": "playful-serious",
    "target_position": 9,
    "acceptable_range": [0, 19],
    "sub_dimensions": {
      "creativity": {
        "name": "Creative Expression",
        "target_stance": "Strongly Imaginative",
        "required_devices": ["Metaphorical language","Wordplay","Anthropomorphism"],
        "minimum_device_count": 2
      },
      "rhythm": {
        "name": "Rhythmic Quality",
        "target_stance": "Strongly Varied",
        "required_devices": ["Dynamic sentence length","Alliteration","Tempo variation"],
        "minimum_device_count": 2
      },
      "structure": {
        "name": "Structural Approach",
        "target_stance": "Strongly Non-linear",
        "required_devices": ["Unexpected information hierarchy","Narrative flow","Interrupt patterns"],
        "minimum_device_count": 2
      },
      "density": {
        "name": "Information Density",
        "target_stance": "Strongly Spacious",
        "required_devices": ["Elaborative details","Breathing room","Contextual storytelling"],
        "minimum_device_count": 2
      }

    },
    "anti_patterns": ["Technical precision","Functional descriptions","Uniform sentence structure","Steady rhythm","Logical information architecture","Conventional presentation patterns","Dense information packaging","Minimal exposition"]
  }
}

7.2 Automated Checks

content_rules:
  - name: overall_spectrum_position
    trigger: content_analysis
    validation: position_within_acceptable_range
    error: "Content tone does not match target positioning"

  - name: subdimension_device_presence
    trigger: linguistic_analysis
    validation: minimum_devices_present_per_dimension
    warning: "Consider using more recommended devices for sub-dimensions"

  - name: anti_pattern_detection
    trigger: linguistic_analysis
    validation: no_opposite_spectrum_devices
    error: "Detected conflicting devices that undermine strongly playful positioning"

  - name: consistency_check
    trigger: multi_content_analysis
    validation: tone_consistent_across_content_types
    warning: "Tone variance detected across different content types"

---

8. Testing Criteria

Spectrum Position

• Overall position within acceptable range (9 ±10 points)
• Tone intensity matches strongly playful level

Sub-Dimension Adherence

• Each sub-dimension demonstrates correct stance
• Minimum 60% of recommended devices present per sub-dimension
• Devices applied appropriately in context

Quality Checks

• No anti-pattern devices from opposite spectrum
• Consistent application across all content types in scope
• Context appropriateness score above 75%
• User comprehension validated (if applicable)

Integration

• Aligns with related standards
• Works across defined channels
• Scalable to team implementation

---

9. Maintenance

• Review Cycle: Quarterly
• Trigger Events:
  • Major product/brand changes
  • Audience shift
  • Tone positioning adjustment
  • Sub-dimension rebalancing
• Approval Process: Jason's team, Content standards governance committee
• Communication Plan: Share updates via team channels, update documentation

---

Generated on 2026-01-08 using Tone of Voice Engine Spectrum: Playful vs. Serious | Position: 9/100 | Configuration: Strongly Playful

---