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\nHow to Write Funnier Jokes<\/h2>\n
In this joke writing article, “How to Write Funnier Jokes: Tip 3 – Use K-Words to Enhance Punchlines,” I\u2019ll discuss improving punchlines of jokes by substituting hard consonant sounding words in the Reveal to increase laughter. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Previously in this series of joke writing articles, you learned How to Write Funnier Jokes: Tip 1 – Make Setups and Punchlines Short. <\/i><\/p>\n
And in the joke writing technique article you learned: How to Write Funnier Jokes: Tip 2 – End Punchlines with the Reveal, <\/i>where you learned to identify the “Reveal” of the punchline and place it at the end, so you don\u2019t diminish the laugh by talking over them.<\/p>\n
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Tip 3 – Use K-Words to Enhance Punchlines<\/b><\/h2>\n
The hard consonant sounds, particularly Velar Consonants, especially \u201cK\u201d sounds which include hard \u201cC\u201d and \u201cQu\u201d and, to a lesser extent, \u201cT\u201d, \u201cP\u201d, hard \u201cG\u201d, \u201cD\u201d and \u201cB,\u201d make words and phrases sound funnier. Using words with these hard consonants instead of synonyms with softer sounds really helps improve a punchline by giving it more verbal power.<\/span><\/p>\n
Yes, I\u2019m perfectly aware this seems a little silly, but it happens to be true. Most comedians and comedy writers who have been in the business long enough will tell you the same thing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
No one really knows why this is so as there\u2019s no research done on this linguistic phenomenon, yet through experimenting with harsher sounding words, anecdotal word of mouth has formed this into a joke writing technique. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n“Words with a “K” in them are funny” – Neil Simon<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n
I teach and apply this technique in all my stand-up comedy and joke writing classes and it\u2019s proven true time after time in the performance of the punchlines of jokes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
For instance, in this version of a joke by Margaret Smith I\u2019ve replaced a couple of hard consonant words with softer ones:<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cI hate singles bars. Guys come up to me and say, \u2018Hey, sweetie, can I buy you a drink?\u2019 I say, \u2018No, but I\u2019ll take the three dollars.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
Now check out the original version with the hard consonant words that Margaret chose. Read it out loud so you can really hear the difference.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI hate singles bars. Guys come up to me and say, \u2018Hey, cupcake, can I buy you a drink?\u2019 I say, \u2018No, but I\u2019ll take the three bucks.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
This version of the joke <\/span>sounds <\/span><\/i>funnier. The K-words \u201ccupcake\u201d and \u201cbucks\u201d just have more punch than \u201csweetie\u201d and \u201cdollars.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
Joke Writing Technique: Constantly Search for K-Words<\/b><\/h2>\n
This just takes practice. When you’re writing or rewriting jokes, go through every word and challenge yourself to find as many K-words and substitute them for softer sounding words. Especially if they are the last word of phrase in the Reveal of your punchlines.<\/span><\/p>\n
When your Reveal ends with the word, \u201cboat,\u201d either make a list in your head or use a Thesaurus to find K-words instead. Like, \u201ccanoe,\u201d or \u201ckayak,\u201d that has two k-sounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Here are a few more examples of nouns: change \u201crestroom\u201d to \u201ccrapper\u201d or \u201cprostitute\u201d to \u201chooker\u201d or \u201cchair\u201d to \u201cBarcalounger.\u201d The best term may not be in the Thesaurus, but in a commercial name of a product.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Verbs can also be used: change \u201cran\u201d to \u201chiked\u201d or \u201cfailed\u201d to \u201ctanked\u201d or \u201cmurdered\u201d to \u201cwhacked,\u201d and so forth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Search for alternative names: change \u201cLeavenworth\u201d to \u201cAttica\u201d or \u201cBob\u201d to \u201cDeke\u201d or \u201cmeth\u201d to \u201ccrack.\u201d The list is only limited to your time and imagination.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
When this becomes a mental game you play all day long, you\u2019ll soon develop your own list of terms you\u2019ll automatically substitute in your everyday speaking. As you develop this into an unconscious habit it\u2019ll make you a funnier person in social situations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
In this joke writing article, <\/span>How to Write Funnier Jokes: Tip 3 – Use K-Words to Enhance Punchlines<\/span><\/i>, you\u2019ve learned that replacing softer sounding words with K-works make punchlines get bigger laughs. Also, if you practice using K-words, you\u2019ll become a funnier person in real life.<\/span><\/p>\n
In the next joke writing article, <\/span>How to Write Funnier Jokes: Tip 4 – <\/span><\/i>I’ll show you how to localize your comedy routines to get bigger laughs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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Greg Dean’s Stand Up Comedy Classes<\/h2>\n
Greg teaches his techniques in two classes.\u00a0 The first is called “How to Build a Stand Up Comedy Routine” and is the beginning class (also called the “101 class”) and the “Advanced Joke Writing & Performing Class” (also known as the “201 class”).\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Even though these classes are named a beginning and advanced,\u00a0 they are actually classes that stand up comedians of any number of years of experience can take.\u00a0 They are beginning and advanced in the Greg Dean system.\u00a0 If you’re interested in faster and better ways to create good jokes and you want to dive deeper on joke writing then you’ll want to take both of these classes.<\/p>\n
Greg teaches his classes live in Santa Monica as well as live on zoom.\u00a0 If you are in the greater Los Angeles area, you can sign up for his classes at the Santa Monica Playhouse.\u00a0 Check our Calendar of Events to see all upcoming classes.\u00a0 Calendar of Events<\/a><\/p>\n