{"id":62481,"date":"2022-03-16T20:07:06","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T00:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=62481"},"modified":"2022-03-18T11:42:05","modified_gmt":"2022-03-18T15:42:05","slug":"humor-in-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/humor-in-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use Humor in Writing (Without Being Cringy)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you want to know how to use humor in writing? How do you make your humor sound natural rather than forced?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rule of thumb is that if you find something funny, include it. Just make sure you’re not trying to force humor into your writing because the readers will be able to tell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some tips on how to add humor to your writing, from On Writing Well <\/em>by William Zinsser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Spice Up Your Writing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Humor is a writing form that uses a lighthearted or funny approach to reveal absurd or harsh truths about humanity. Zinsser believes sometimes not being \u201cserious\u201d is the best and only way to talk about serious topics, like war, famine, violence, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, in \u201cThirty-Nine Rules for Making a Hawaiian Funeral into a Drinking Game<\/a>,\u201d Kristiana Kahakauwila reveals truths about family dynamics and cultural traditions by turning the emotional experience of a funeral into a humorous drinking game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re writing and find something humorous, include it. Zinsser advises against worrying about whether or not people will think it\u2019s funny\u2014if you genuinely think it\u2019s funny, someone else will too. And you can always change your mind about it later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zinsser provides a few tips on how to include humor in writing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n