Language

Jonathan Safran Foer’s essay “How Not to Be Alone” is constructed using formal language. This does not affect the clarity of his arguments and message. For example, he sometimes uses complex words such as “declension” (l. 83), “schlep” (l. 86), “articulateness” (l. 99), “emotional computation and corporeal compassion” (ll. 147-148), but their meaning can be grasped in the context of the sentence: “It’s easier to make a phone call than to schlep to see someone in person.” (ll. 8…

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Choice of words

The choice of words reveals that the writer mostly uses words that are meant to have an emotional impact and inspire empathy: “being comforted” (l. 13), “tears came harder” (ll. 14-15), “difficult conversation” (l. 20), “feel worse, or be inappropriate” (l. 26), etc.

Sometimes, Foer uses positive words in connection with the importance of paying attention to others or showing empathy: “helpful” (l. 27), “straightforward logistical way” (l. 28), “affluent neighborhood” (l. 29), “comfortably encouraging” (l. 43), “undivided attention” (l. 60)

Othe…

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Sentence structure

Foer uses sentences of different lengths in his essay to give it a dynamic rhythm and maintain readers’ attention. Shorter sentences convey concise facts, arguments, or thoughts: “Intervening might make her feel worse, or be inappropriate.” (ll. 25-26)

Longer sentences provide explanations and context: “It is harder to intervene than not to, but it is vastly harder to choose to do either than to retreat into the scrolling names of one’s contact list, or whatever one’s favorite iDistraction happens to be.” (ll. 34-38)

In the case of longer sentences, Foer also fragments some of them to add emphasis to his ideas by introducing additional information: “The problem with accepting — with preferring — diminished substitutes …

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Tone

Jonathan Safran Foer uses various tones in the text, combining sarcasm with concern and critique.

For example, the writer begins on a curious and sympathetic tone as he describes the crying teenager talking to her mother and his own curiosity: “…crying into her phone. I heard her say, ‘I know, I know, I know’ over and over. What did she know? Had she done something wrong?” (ll. 9-13)

On several occasions, Foer uses a serious…

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Anecdotes

Anecdotes are stories that have the role of conveying a message or moral about the topic of the text. Foer uses two personal stories in the essay with this purpose. The first is about a girl crying in public: “A couple of weeks ago, I saw a stranger crying in public. I was in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood, waiting to meet a friend for breakfast.” (ll. 2-5)

The purpose of the story is to show how technology prevents the writer from even trying to make a choice between comforting the girl or not: “The phone didn…