Final answer:
The tone of a message is the writer or speaker's attitude as conveyed through language choice, style, and presentation. It is not related to the language, formatting, or length of a message, but rather the conveyed attitude like formality or sarcasm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tone of a message refers to the writer or speaker's attitude as it is conveyed in a composition or verbal communication. It reflects the type of language used to address the audience and may include a variety of styles such as informal, formal, sarcastic, or playful.
For example, the tone of an email to a friend may be colloquial while a business email should maintain a polite, courteous, and respectful tone.
The content must be understandable, ensuring the message is well received, and it should be proofread for spelling and grammar to convey respect and credibility.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: the attitude writing can take towards its subject or audience. This does not necessarily refer to whether the message is written in a foreign language, formatted correctly, good news or bad news, or its length.
Tone involves choices in diction, syntax, and the overall presentation that convey a particular attitude or atmosphere. For instance, one might choose a word like 'joyful' instead of 'happy' to convey a more intense level of happiness.