main tone

USAGE SUMMARY

"main tone" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
The main tone of the article was one of optimism.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

In musical terms, the observations saw the first two harmonics above the main tone.

The New York Times

A protest outside the French embassy in Sofia attracted all ethnicities under banners reading "We are all Roma .The main tone is pessimistic.

The Economist

For example, cosmologists believe they can roughly calculate the size of the waves corresponding to the main tone in the early universe.

The New York Times - Science

Last year, the Boomerang team detected the main tone but found no clear evidence for the overtones, raising the possibility that the inflation theory could be wrong.

The New York Times

The main tone and its harmonics, he said, take the form of huge acoustic waves -- closely related to ordinary sound waves in air -- in the hot primordial gases.

The New York Times - Science

The way that works is that the closer to the bridge you play you actually get more of what are called harmonics, which are sort of the upper notes above the main tone.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Locations of these analyzed spots were chosen according to the main tones and the heterogeneities observed in the painting.

Heritage Science

The traditionally proportioned open-wheel pedal car wears a silver and black colour scheme, with a red flourish between the two main tones.

BBC

Mandarin Chinese has four main tones, as follows: The first tone is a high, flat tone.

WikiHow

Bitterness over having had to go through what they went through to win the war was the main emotional tone of the North, and the humiliation of defeat was the main emotional tone of the South.

Huffington Post

These effects essentially fall into two categories: the harmonic lobes of the main pure tone or modal excitations and the modulation lobes between these excitations.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the overall feeling or sentiment of a piece of writing, consider using "main tone" to describe the dominant emotional quality conveyed.

Common error

Avoid using "main tone" when simply referring to the quality of a sound or color. "Tone" alone often suffices when the focus is not on identifying the primary or dominant quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "main tone" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often used to describe the predominant characteristic or quality of something. As Ludwig exemplifies, it can refer to the musical aspects of sound waves or the emotional feeling in a piece of writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

33%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "main tone" is a useful noun phrase for identifying the predominant quality or characteristic of something, be it music, writing, or even a situation. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently encountered in news, science, and general writing. While alternatives such as "primary emphasis" or "dominant characteristic" can be used, "main tone" offers a specific focus on a fundamental quality. Remember that it is not to be used when you are referring to tone in isolation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary emphasis

Focuses on the central point, shifting from tonal quality to importance.

dominant characteristic

Emphasizes the key feature rather than a specific tone.

chief aspect

Highlights the leading component, diverging from the sound or musical connotation.

overriding sentiment

Shifts the meaning to the prevalent feeling or emotion, instead of sound.

central theme

Emphasizes the core subject or idea, changing the concept from tone.

prevailing mood

Highlights the emotion instead of the tonal quality.

key feature

Focuses on the most important attribute, deviating from sound.

principal element

Emphasizes the major component, rather than tone.

general atmosphere

Focuses more on the surrounding feeling than on a single tonal element.

overall impression

Shifts the meaning to the total effect, instead of focusing on tone.

FAQs

What does "main tone" mean?

The "main tone" refers to the primary or dominant sound quality or feeling that characterizes something, whether it's a piece of music, a work of writing, or a particular situation.

How can I use "main tone" in a sentence?

You might say, "The "overriding sentiment" of the article was pessimistic" or "The "central theme" of the music was somber."

What are some alternatives to using "main tone"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "primary emphasis", "dominant characteristic", or "chief aspect" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "main tone" the same as "tone"?

While related, "tone" refers to the general quality or character, while "main tone" specifies the most prominent or dominant quality. Therefore, "tone" is more general while "main tone" is more specific.