out of tone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "out of tone" is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to describe something that does not match the mood, attitude or style of the others in a situation. For example, "His loud laughter was out of tone with the somber mood of the funeral."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

This rather sweeping opinion seems out of tone with the rest of the book which, with wit and style, condemns the industry for crudely colonising an event that many still consider sacred.

The Economist

The holiday on Saturday evening to Sunday evening commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Jewish Temples of Jerusalem, is somewhat out of tone with campaign events, but provides a compelling backdrop for Mr. Romney's message about the threats facing Israel.

The New York Times

He added: "There have not been words that were out of tone or were in a different place.

BBC

They were triggered by its attempt to show how rape happens in a step-by-step way that felt completely out of tone with the rest of the show.

Vice

Also learn Atones (out of tone notes) to make the music sound interesting.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It has the complicated, joy-out-of-sadness tone of a New Orleans funeral parade.

Los Angeles Times

"Treme" is about recombination and rebirth, about making things -- music, food, money, a safe place -- out of whatever's at hand; it has the complicated, joy-out-of-sadness tone of a New Orleans funeral parade.

Los Angeles Times

The track slips in an out of electronic tones, and by the end, you don't know if you're dancing to a dance DJ or an indie-rock band.

Vice

We then propose a scheme to use a narrow-bandwidth, out-of-band busy tone channel to make reservation for broadcast and link error detection frames only.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

As the protocol requires the transceivers to listen to the out-of-band busy tones whilst transmitting, complex RF units are required due to additional filters and duplexers involved.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Copies have leaked out, however, and as Bloomberg News and Charles Gasparino of Fox Business Network have pointed out, the tone of the report is much more measured than Ms. Whitney herself was in the "60 Minutes" appearance.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "out of tone" when you want to emphasize that something doesn't fit the overall mood, style, or context of a situation. It implies a sense of disharmony or inappropriateness.

Common error

Avoid using "out of tone" to describe physical sounds that are simply unpleasant or discordant. The phrase is better suited for describing a lack of contextual or emotional appropriateness, not just auditory discomfort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of tone" functions as an adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something that is unsuitable, discordant, or inappropriate in a given context. It indicates a lack of harmony or agreement with the prevailing atmosphere or style. Ludwig's examples show this use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "out of tone" is used to describe something that is inappropriate or discordant within a particular context. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of the phrase. While grammatically correct, it's most frequently found in news and media, and is considered to be rare. When using this phrase, consider whether it accurately reflects a lack of contextual harmony rather than just a general unpleasantness. Alternatives like "incongruous" or "inappropriate" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incongruous

This term directly implies a lack of harmony or agreement, often used when something feels out of place.

inappropriate

This suggests something is unsuitable or doesn't fit the context, highlighting a lack of propriety.

discordant

Implies a lack of agreement or harmony, often used in more formal contexts.

unsuitable

Focuses on the lack of fitness for a specific purpose or situation.

amiss

Indicates something is wrong or not as it should be, lacking harmony with the situation.

not in keeping

Emphasizes a lack of alignment with established norms or expectations.

at odds

Highlights a conflict or disagreement with the surrounding circumstances.

jarring

Suggests a disruptive or unpleasant effect due to a lack of harmony.

in disharmony

Directly points to a lack of musical or metaphorical harmony.

not in sync

Implies a lack of coordination or agreement with the environment or other elements.

FAQs

How can I use "out of tone" in a sentence?

Use "out of tone" to describe something that doesn't match the overall feeling or style of a situation. For example, "His casual joke was "out of tone" with the serious discussion."

What's a more formal way to say "out of tone"?

For a more formal alternative, consider using phrases like "incongruous", "discordant", or "inappropriate", depending on the specific context.

Is "out of tone" the same as "out of tune"?

No, "out of tone" refers to a lack of harmony in terms of mood or appropriateness, while "out of tune" refers to a lack of harmony in musical notes.

What's the difference between "out of tone" and "insensitive"?

"Out of tone" describes something that doesn't fit the context, while "insensitive" describes something that lacks consideration for others' feelings. Something insensitive can also be "out of tone", but the terms aren't interchangeable.