Select any topic below to dive into the structure, delivery, word-based comedy, and styles that make humor work. Learn more about each technique with examples and understand how to apply them effectively in your own comedy writing and performances.
Structure
Delivery
Word-Based
Style
Structure
Structure is the backbone of comedy, involving setups, punchlines, misdirection, callbacks, rule of three, exaggeration, incongruity, and more.
Subtopics
Setups
A setup provides the context for the joke. It's the foundation that the punchline plays off of.
Examples:
"Two ants are sitting on a log. One says, 'How's the weather today?'"
"I decided to take up gardening. But I couldn't get to the root of the problem."
"My friend started a band called 1023MB. They haven't gotten a gig yet."
Punchlines
A punchline is the final part of the joke, where the humor is delivered, usually in a surprising or unexpected way.
Examples:
"Because they don't have the guts."
"Turns out, the weather forecast was just a bunch of hot air."
"In the words of Henny Youngman: 'Take my wifeāplease!'"
Callbacks
A callback is a reference to something mentioned earlier in the routine, bringing it back for a punchline later on.
Examples:
Starting with "I told you I have a split personality," and later saying, "Well, that's me, again."
Opening with "I need three things to survive: coffee, chocolate, and my sarcasm," and later joking, "Looks like I forgot one."
First mentioning "My friend is a terrible cook," and later adding, "That's why we order pizza every time."
Misdirection
Misdirection occurs when a joke sets up the audience to expect one thing but delivers something completely different.
Examples:
"Iām reading a book on anti-gravity. Itās impossible to put down."
"I bought a new chair. Now it just sits there."
"I started a company selling land mines disguised as prayer mats. Prophets are going through the roof."
Rule of Three
The Rule of Three is a principle that states things are funnier in threes. The first two items set up the pattern, and the third breaks it for comedic effect.
Examples:
"I went to the store for eggs, milk, and a sense of purpose."
"She bought three cats, two dogs, and a parrot that only says 'Hello!'"
"He needed three things to make it through the day: coffee, patience, and a sense of humor."
Exaggeration
Exaggeration involves overstating something to an extreme degree for comedic effect.
Examples:
"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!"
"This bag weighs a ton."
"I've told you a million times."
Incongruity
Incongruity humor arises from combining things that don't normally go together, creating an absurd or surreal situation.
Examples:
"A man walks his pet lobster on a leash in the park."
"She brought a spoon to the board meeting."
"He wore a tuxedo to his dentist appointment."
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition places two contrasting elements side by side to create humor through their differences, such as big vs. small, serious vs. silly.
Examples:
"Heās as tall as a tree, but as graceful as a bulldozer."
"Her voice was like thunder, but her personality was as gentle as a kitten."
"The tiny elephant strutted through the room, making everyone laugh."
Delivery
Delivery involves the performance aspect of comedyāhow a joke is told, including timing, pauses, deadpan delivery, and other factors that influence how the joke is received.
Subtopics
Timing
Timing is crucial in comedy, as pauses, emphasis, and delivery speed can greatly influence the effectiveness of a joke.
Examples:
"Comedy is all about... timing."
"He finished his sentence with a dramatic pause, making everyone wait for the punchline."
"She delivered the joke too quickly, leaving the audience confused."
Deadpan
Deadpan delivery is characterized by a deliberate lack of emotion or expression, allowing the humor to come through the contrast between the delivery and the content.
Examples:
"Iām not arguing, Iām just explaining why Iām right."
Delivering a funny statement with a completely straight face: "I have a degree in sarcasm."
"I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure."
Shock Value
Shock value uses surprising, outrageous, or taboo content to elicit a strong reaction, often laughter, through its unexpectedness.
Examples:
"I have a split personality," said Tom, being Frank.
"Why did the scarecrow become a successful neurosurgeon? Because he was outstanding in his field."
"I tried to catch some fog yesterday. Mist."
Repetition
Repetition involves repeating words, phrases, or actions to emphasize a point or create a comedic rhythm.
Examples:
"Iām not lazy. Iām on energy-saving mode."
"He keeps saying, 'I need a break,' and I keep saying, 'You need a vacation, not just a break.'
"She said, 'No pain, no gain.' And I said, 'Then why is my coffee cold?'"
Tension & Release
Tension and release build up an expectation and then release it, often through a punchline that resolves the built-up tension in an unexpected way.
Examples:
"I used to play piano by ear, but now I use my hands."
"She said she was hungry, so I gave her a map. Now she's searching for food."
"He started a diet but kept eating cookies. The tension built up until he finally said, 'I'm just here for the snacks.'
Physical Comedy
Physical comedy relies on bodily movements, gestures, and facial expressions to create humor, often involving slapstick elements.
Examples:
Slipping on a banana peel only to land in a perfectly orchestrated pose.
Tripping over an invisible obstacle and maintaining a straight face.
Doing exaggerated dance moves that suddenly stop in a comical pose.
Word-Based Comedy
Word-based comedy relies on the clever use of language, including puns, sarcasm, wordplay, irony, hyperbole, paraprosdokian, and more.
Subtopics
Wordplay
Wordplay involves manipulating language to create humor, often through puns, double entendres, and clever twists of phrase.
Examples:
"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana."
"I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me."
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx"
Puns
Puns are a form of wordplay that exploit multiple meanings of a term or similar-sounding words for humorous effect.
Examples:
"Iām reading a book on anti-gravity. Itās impossible to put down."
"I used to be a banker but I lost interest."
"The bicycle couldn't stand on its own because it was two-tired."
Sarcasm
Sarcasm uses irony to mock or convey contempt, often saying the opposite of what is meant in a biting manner.
Examples:
"Oh, great! Another rainy day. Just what I needed."
"I absolutely love waiting in long lines. Itās my favorite pastime."
"Sure, Iād love to help you move. I was just looking for something to do."
Non-Sequiturs
Non-sequiturs are statements that do not logically follow from the previous statement, creating absurd or surreal humor.
Examples:
"I bought a new fridge. It started singing opera."
"She opened her umbrella inside, and the toaster began to sing."
"He decided to knit a sweater while riding a unicycle."
Irony
Irony involves saying something that is opposite to what is meant or expected, often highlighting discrepancies between appearance and reality.
Examples:
A fire station burns down.
"The lifeguard who can't swim."
"A pilot afraid of heights."
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, used to emphasize a point or create strong impressions.
Examples:
"Iām so hungry I could eat a horse!"
"This bag weighs a ton."
"I've told you a million times."
Paraprosdokian
A paraprosdokian is a sentence where the latter part is surprising or unexpected, often leading to humor through the twist.
Examples:
"Iāve had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasnāt it."
"I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure."
"You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice."
Comedy Style
Comedy style defines the overall tone and type of humor, including satire, absurdity, dark humor, surreal humor, self-deprecating humor, and more.
Subtopics
Satire
Satire uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or highlight flaws in individuals, organizations, or society.
Examples:
"Why do we call it a building if it's already built?"
"If at first you donāt succeed, redefine success."
"Iām starting a company selling land mines disguised as prayer mats. Prophets are going through the roof."
Dark Humor
Dark humor finds comedy in subjects that are generally considered serious, taboo, or distressing, often providing a way to cope with difficult topics.
Examples:
"I told my therapist about my fear of commitment. Now I have two therapists."
"I'm reading a book on the history of glue. I just can't seem to put it down."
"I asked my doctor how long I have left to live. He said, 'Ten.' I asked, 'Ten what? Years? Months?' He replied, 'Nine... eight...'"
Absurdity
Absurdity relies on illogical, nonsensical, or bizarre elements to create humor through the unexpected and the surreal.
Examples:
"A man walks into a library and asks for a book on anti-gravity. The librarian says, 'It's impossible to put down.'"
"She decided to bake a cake for her pet fish but it had a gluten allergy"
"He tried to juggle oranges while riding a unicycle and then a bear came and punched him in the balls."
Parody
Parody imitates the style of a particular genre, work, or artist in a humorous or exaggerated way to create comedic effect.
Examples:
"I started a new diet where I only eat foods that start with the letter 'P.' It's going greatāpizza, pancakes, and potatoes!"
"Her singing style is like a rooster trying to harmonize with a kazoo."
"He wrote a romantic novel where the main character falls in love with a vending machine."
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism attributes human characteristics to non-human entities, making them relatable and humorous.
Examples:
A talking dog that complains about its ownerās poor fashion sense.
"The toaster decided it was tired of making bread and wanted to be a spaceship."
"My car refuses to start unless I compliment its paint job."
Meta-Humor
Meta-humor refers to jokes that are self-referential or comment on the nature of humor itself, often breaking the fourth wall.
Examples:
"This joke is so bad, itās funny."
"I'm writing a joke about time travel, but you didn't like it."
"Why did the comedian write a joke about jokes? Because it was his own setup."
Self-Deprecating Humor
Self-deprecating humor involves making fun of oneself, often to appear humble or to create a connection with the audience.
Examples:
"Iām not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?"
"I tried to be normal once. Worst two minutes ever."
"My wallet is like an onion. Opening it makes me cry."
Surreal Humor
Surreal humor combines bizarre, fantastical, or illogical elements to create an unexpected and often dream-like comedic effect.
Examples:
"Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side of the existential crisis."
"The clock decided to take a vacation, leaving time confused."
"I saw a field mouse at the helm of an 18 wheeler... on the moon."
Observational Humor
Observational humor focuses on the commonplace aspects of everyday life, highlighting the absurdities and ironies in ordinary situations.
Examples:
"Have you ever noticed how when youāre driving and looking for an address, you turn down the radio?"
"Why do we press harder on the remote when we know the batteries are getting weak?"
"'Why do they call it a 'building'? It looks like they're finished. Why isn't it a 'built'?' - Jerry Seinfeld"
Physical Comedy
Physical comedy relies on bodily movements, gestures, and facial expressions to create humor, often involving slapstick elements.
Examples:
Slipping on a banana peel only to land in a perfectly orchestrated pose.
Tripping over an invisible obstacle and maintaining a straight face.
Doing exaggerated dance moves that suddenly stop in a comical pose.