What expresses the author's attitude through word choice?

The correct answer is the author's tone, as it specifically refers to the attitude or emotional stance that an author conveys through their choice of words. Tone encompasses the feelings and perspectives that the author imbues their writing with, influencing how the reader perceives the text. By selecting particular words, the author can evoke a range of emotions—from humor to sadness, from seriousness to irony—thereby shaping the reader's experience and understanding of the message.

The author's theme refers to the overarching idea or message that the text seeks to convey, but it is not focused on the author's emotional attitude. The style of writing encompasses the overall manner in which the author expresses their thoughts, including elements like syntax and structure, but it is more about form than attitude. A literary device is a tool used by authors to enhance their writing, such as metaphors or alliterations, and while it can contribute to creating tone, it does not directly express the author's attitude. Therefore, tone is the most precise term for discussing how word choice reflects the author's attitude towards the subject matter.