In an essay written in a formal style, what kind of tone should the writing have?

• A. casual
• B. clichéd
• C. objective
• D. opinionated

Answer: (C)

In formal essay writing, the tone should be objective. This means presenting information impartially, supported by evidence, and avoiding personal feelings or biases. An objective tone relies on precise, formal language and often uses third-person perspective, which helps readers judge the argument based on the facts rather than the writer’s personality. Casual would be too informal for scholarly work, clichés weaken originality and authority, and an opinionated voice pushes a personal stance into the analysis, which clashes with the expectation of neutrality in formal writing. So, objective is the best fit, and you can keep it strong by citing data and using phrases like “the data show” or “the evidence indicates” rather than “I think.”