A writer's distinctive use of language is called

• A. Symbolism
• B. Voice
• C. First-person narrative
• D. Narrator

Answer: (B)

The main idea tested here is the term that captures a writer’s distinctive use of language. This is voice—the unique way an author sounds on the page through their word choice, sentence structure, rhythm, tone, and figurative language. Voice gives writing its personality and makes a writer feel recognizable across different works. It’s about how something is said, not just what is said.

This differs from symbolism, which is about using objects to stand for bigger ideas; from first-person narrative, which refers to the point of view of the narrator; and from the narrator itself, who is the character or persona telling the story. A story can be told in a first-person voice or by an external narrator, but the distinctive language of the author—their voice—remains the hallmark of style.