The laugh-out-loud workplace comedy “30 Rock” (2006–2013) averaged more than seven jokes per minute, using the gamut of gags to get guffaws. Beyond a spectacular cast (Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski—need we say more?), the series’ success stemmed from its fearless exploration of multiple comedy genres, like the 10 most common joke types we compiled here.
Jokes are stories or statements meant to provoke laughter (even, ironically enough, anti-humor), with a structure that helps create this effect. While the average jokester probably isn’t thinking too deeply about structure, successful comedians have some understanding of why, exactly, a bit works.
At its most stripped down, a joke consists of a setup establishing the context and a punchline—the clever, often unexpected climax. Beyond the setup and punchline, the best jokes usually contain at least two of what comedian and “Joke Doctor” Jerry Corley calls “laughter triggers”: surprise, superiority, embarrassment, incongruity, recognition, release, configuration, ambivalence, and coincidence.
How to Write a Joke: A Full Guide to the Perfect Set-Up & Punchline1. Wordplay manipulates language for comedic effect, as seen in puns, double-entendre, spoonerisms, and oxymorons. Linguistic wizards like Bo Burnham cleverly incorporate multifaceted wordplay into their humor—and even, sometimes, their music.
2. Self-deprecation is in the purview of some of the most beloved comedians past and present. From Rodney Dangerfield and Don Knotts to Nathan Fielder and John Mulaney, plenty of comedians know that it can be funny to make fun of yourself.
3. Slapstick or physical comedy is a type of humor that involves exaggerated body movements. Over-the-top gestures, pratfalls, and often chaotic mishaps are the name of the game in this timeless genre.
4. One-liners are witty statements that squeeze together the setup and punchline into a single sentence or two. These pithy lines are often combined with wordplay to really pack a punch, as deftly demonstrated by comedians like Tim Vine and Gary Delaney.
5. Anecdotal humor draws on an individual’s personal experiences, often exaggerated for laughs. Part absurd, part relatable, and fully hilarious—such as a personal story about growing up with 12 siblings—it’s a cornerstone of comedy.
6. Observational humor also focuses on the absurdity of everyday situations and behaviors, but through the lens of shared experiences. It encompasses universal topics such as buffet etiquette, the sluggishness of the DMV, and how people in government talk a little “strange.”
7. Character comedy is when a comedian creates and performs as a distinct, exaggerated character—like Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G, Borat, and Brüno, or the fictionalized anchorman portrayed by Stephen Colbert on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” (2005–2014). It’s all about crafting a distinct persona that explores and satirizes certain people and worldviews.
8. Irony highlights discrepancies between expectations and reality, contrasting the literal meaning of something said with the intended meaning—such as Eddie Izzard’s “cake or death.”
9. Deadpan or dry humor also juxtaposes delivery and content for comedic effect. A deadpan comedian like Demetri Martin, Steven Wright, or Tig Notaro keeps a straight face and a serious tone, making the punchline that much more striking.
10. Farcical comedy confronts the absurdity of life by dialing it up to an 11 and reveling in the playful chaos. It’s over-the-top and nonsensical, with exaggerated and improbable situations—almost like taking a “four-mile hike to show you a dog turd.”
Whether you’re an up-and-coming standup or injecting humor into your creator content, these tips can help.
Observe and practice. If you want to refine your abilities with a specific joke type, watch how other comedians perform it, and then practice, practice, practice. Perform for family and friends before branching out to larger audiences; it might be tough going at first, but the funniest comedians are forged in fire.
Apply sparingly. Some forms of humor should be used in moderation. For those who think they might give self-deprecation a try, for example, Jim Gaffigan recommended making jokes “in doses.”
Be inspired by the ordinary. Find the funny in your lived experiences and strive to grow along the way. In his final interview, George Carlin emphasized that his legendary observational comedy skills evolved with age. “Observations made by a 60-year-old are compared against a much richer data set,” he said, “and the observations have more resonance; they’re richer.”
Embrace your quirks. Wright, king of deadpan delivery, advises embracing natural mannerisms to achieve your signature style. The famously dry comedian’s style stems from a combination of his natural voice and his initial fears of performing. “It’s basically how I talk, but when I was onstage, I was really afraid of talking in front of the audience so I had even more of a deadpan,” he said. “I was concentrating on saying the joke the right way, thinking, What is the next joke? So I was very focused; I wasn’t laughing even though what I was saying was funny. So that serious pace and that deadpan way I speak anyways, that just worked by accident to get where I am.”
Act it out. Even if you’re not performing character comedy, it can help to think of your comedian self as a character. Crafting a persona that’s a mix of your real and aspirational selves can help you embody humor, according to Nate Bargatze. “It’s the old saying of: Do you say things funny or say funny things?” he said. “I think in the beginning you are trying to say funny things. But then you change to where you are what is funny—your character per se. When you get that, you’ve arrived, because anything you say will be funny.”
Master your comic timing. Generally, you’ll want to create an overall rhythm and place a pause right before the punchline to make your delivery land.
Read the room. Humor often comments on shared social norms, experiences, and everyday situations—but something that’s comedy gold for a frat house may not hit quite the same for a retirement home. Strive to communicate and connect with each individual audience so you can revise your performance as needed and keep the laughs coming.
