Connotation refers to the emotional or cultural associations of a word beyond its literal meaning. Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject. The Digital SAT tests your ability to recognise how word choice conveys attitude, mood, and purpose.
Core Concepts
Denotation vs. Connotation
- Denotation: dictionary definition.
- Connotation: emotional/associated meaning.
"Thrifty" and "cheap" both mean spending little money, but "thrifty" is positive and "cheap" is negative.
Tone
Tone is the author's attitude, conveyed through word choice and style:
- Formal, informal, serious, humorous, critical, admiring, sceptical, nostalgic, objective, passionate...
Identifying Tone
Look at:
- Word choice (positive, negative, neutral?)
- Sentence structure (short and punchy vs. long and flowing)
- Subject treatment (sympathetic, critical, detached?)
Strategy Tips
Tip 1: Focus on Adjectives and Verbs
These carry the most connotative weight. "The politician argued" vs. "The politician ranted" — very different tones.
Tip 2: Context Determines Meaning
The same word can have different connotations in different contexts.
Tip 3: Eliminate Extreme or Inappropriate Tones
If the passage is measured and analytical, "furious" or "ecstatic" are unlikely tone answers.
Worked Example: Example
"The old house stood stubbornly against the wind, its weathered walls refusing to yield."
Tone: admiring, respectful (personification suggests resilience). Connotation: "stubbornly" and "refusing to yield" suggest strength and determination.
Key Takeaways
Connotation = emotional association beyond literal meaning.
Tone = author's attitude, revealed through word choice.
Focus on adjectives, verbs, and descriptive language for connotation clues.
Eliminate answers with inappropriate intensity for the passage's style.
