Revealing Tone/Mood
* Word choice: This is the most general alternative, but it still emphasizes the deliberate selection of words.
* Vocabulary: This focuses more on the specific words used and their level of formality, complexity, or imagery.
* Language: This is a broad term but can emphasize the overall feeling or atmosphere created by the words.
* Style: This term encompasses a writer's overall use of language, including their word choice, sentence structure, and figurative language, which contribute to tone.
Revealing Connotations/Meaning
* Imagery: This focuses on the use of descriptive language that appeals to the senses and evokes emotions.
* Figurative language: This refers to the use of metaphors, similes, personification, etc., to create deeper meaning and suggest connections.
* Symbolism: This refers to the use of words or objects that stand for something else, often with a deeper, more complex meaning.
* Word choice (with specific focus on connotations): This emphasizes the emotional or cultural associations attached to words.
Revealing Writing Style
* Voice: This refers to the author's unique personality or perspective that emerges through their language.
* Syntax: This focuses on the structure of sentences and how they are arranged.
* Sentence structure: This emphasizes the length, complexity, and arrangement of sentences.
* Rhythm: This highlights the flow and cadence of the writing, created by the use of specific word sounds and sentence structure.
Ultimately, the best way to rephrase "diction" depends on what specific aspect of word choice you want to emphasize.