How to be funny
Ever wondered why some people seem effortlessly funny while you're still struggling to get a chuckle around the boardroom table or lunch room? Good news: comedy isn't a mysterious talent you're born with. It's a craft with learnable rules.
Whether you're prepping for an open mic night, wanting to add something extra to your presentations, or just want to be the person people actually want to talk to at parties, these techniques will transform how people respond to you and make you a whole lot funnier.
People laugh at people they like
So rule one of comedy is be likeable. Work out what’s likeable about you. There is an easy way to find out. Call your ex and say “I know you don’t like me. But what did you like about me?” Take a pen and write what they say down. But tread with caution when doing this!
People tend to laugh more at people they like because laughter is deeply social. It’s less about the perfect punchline and more about connection. Research by psychologist Robert Provine found that people laugh far more in company than when they’re alone, and often at things that aren’t even traditional jokes.
On stage, being likeable is like having a firelighter for your material. If an audience warms to you, they’ll follow you into riskier territory, and will laugh at topics and jokes they wouldn’t normally laugh at. When they laugh at things they wouldn’t normally laugh at, that’s when they laugh the hardest. Connections is a huge part of bringing out belly laughs.
Confidence vs arrogance
The difference between confidence and arrogance is whether you like the person or not. Think about the people you like, but maybe some people don’t. Are they confident or arrogant? People like Sam Newman, Simon Cowell and Kyle Sandilands come to mind.
This reveals something interesting about human psychology too. When someone we admire speaks with absolute certainty, we call it confidence. When someone we dislike displays the identical behaviour, we call it arrogance.
Simon Cowell built an empire on being brutally honest and direct. Music industry professionals respect his confidence and honest feedback. People who were watched one of his talent audition shows, and didn’t like him, would see the same comments as arrogant put-downs. The behaviour hasn’t changed, the viewer’s perception has.
Kyle Sandilands operates similarly on radio. His fans tune in for his confident willingness to say what others won’t. His haters see him as an arrogant bully. Again, identical behaviour, polar opposite labels.
This explains why likability is so important in comedy and public speaking. If your audience likes you first, they’ll give you permission to be bold, direct, and even a little edgy. They’ll see you as confident. But if they haven’t warmed to you yet, those same qualities (and jokes) can come across as arrogant.
The lesson? Build connection before you build your persona. Make people like you first, then you can get away with being confidently yourself. It’s not about changing who you are, it’s about timing when you reveal it.
If people like you, they are way more likely to laugh at your material.
Different types of jokes
Did you know there are different types of jokes? Even if you’re not a comedian, it’s worth being across these different types to see what blendd feels right for you. You can’t just use one.
1 Character confirmation
This is when you point out a behaviour or trait that’s exactly what we’d expect from a certain type of person or stereotype. The laugh comes from the audience thinking, “Yep, that’s exactly what they’d do”.
It works best when the exaggeration still feels true to life.
Examples of this from the greats are:
Mitch Hedberg: “I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too.”
Rodney Dangerfield: “I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous, everyone hasn’t met me yet.”
Jimmy Carr – “I have no empathy whatsoever. I‘m like, ‘Oh, your grandmother died? Mine didn’t.’”
2 Self-referential
A self-referential joke talks about the comedian, the show, or even the act of telling a joke. It lets the crowd in on the process and makes them feel part of the moment.
You’re not just telling the joke. You’re showing you know you’re telling a joke.
Examples are:
Mitch Hedberg: “I’m against picketing, but I don’t know how to show it.”
Emo Philips: “I used to think the brain was the most important organ. Then I thought, look what’s telling me that.”
Steven Wright: “I have to go now, my applause break is over.”
3 Distortion
Distortion takes something ordinary and stretches or twists it until it’s ridiculous. It exaggerates or alters reality into something surreal or physically impossible. It can be visual, verbal, or about the situation itself.
The humour comes from seeing a familiar thing through an exaggerated, almost cartoonish lense.
Examples include:
Stewart Francis: “My therapist says I have a preoccupation with vengeance. We’ll see about that.”
Steven Wright: “I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he’s gone.”
Jimmy Carr: “I once asked my North Korean friend how it was there, he said he couldn’t complain.”
4 Reversal
A reversal sets you up to expect one thing and then flips it in the punchline. It’s the comedy equivalent of pulling the rug out from under someone.
Done right, the punchline feels both surprising and completely logical.
Examples are:
Jack Handey: “I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather… not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.”
Rodney Dangerfield: “My wife and I were happy for 20 years. Then we met.”
Rodney Dangerfield: “I haven’t talked to my wife in years. I didn’t want to interrupt her.”
Bob Monkhouse: “When I said I was going to become a comedian, everybody laughed. They’re not laughing now.”
Emo Philips: “I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.”
5 Absurdity
Absurdity is about committing to something utterly ridiculous or completely illogical as if it’s totally normal. It’s logic turned on its head, or reality with a few wires crossed.
The joy is in how far you’re willing to go with it.
Jokes sound like this:
Mitch Hedberg: “I bought a candle holder, but they were out of candles. So I bought a cake.”
Steven Wright: “I intend to live forever. So far, so good.”
Mitch Hedberg: “I haven’t slept for ten days… because that would be too long.”
6 Extrapolation
Extrapolation starts with a small truth and pushes it further and further until it’s blown out of proportion. It’s a “what if” game that ends in an extreme conclusion.
The fun is in watching the idea spiral.
Examples include:
Louis C.K.: “My kids were late for school today… so I figured I’d skip the whole term.”
Ellen DeGeneres: “If we evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys? Some of them didn’t want to get jobs?”
Demetri Martin: “I used to play sports. Then I realised you can buy trophies. Now I’m good at everything.”
7 Negation
Negation says what something isn’t, often contradicting itself in the same breath. It’s quick, sharp, and works well for short punchlines.
You set up an expectation and kill it instantly.
Jokes include:
Jimmy Carr: “I’m not saying your perfume is too strong. I’m just saying the canary was alive before you got here.”
Anonymous: “I’m not arguing. I’m just explaining why I’m right.”
Groucho Marx: “I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.”
8 Wordplay / pun
Wordplay relies on double meanings, sound-alikes, homophones, or clever twists in language. The switch in meaning is where the laugh is hiding.
They can be corny or clever, but timing makes all the difference.
Examples include:
Steven Wright: “I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.”
Unknown: “I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.”
Tim Vine: “Crime in multi-storey car parks… that’s wrong on so many levels.”
Stewart Francis – “I was going to join the debating team, but someone talked me out of it.”
Phil Kay: “I used to be in a band called ‘Missing Cat’… you probably saw our posters.”
9 Parody / mimicry
Parody mimics a style, person, or genre so closely that we can’t help but recognise it and laugh at the flaws. It’s part accuracy, part exaggeration.
The trick is picking something your audience knows well enough to get the joke instantly.
Examples include:
Sean Lock: “I was in the library, and I asked if they had any books on paranoia. The librarian whispered, ‘They’re right behind you.’”
Celia Pacqualo: “Wine mums on Facebook are like, ‘I only drink on weekends.’ Yeah, the weekend you’re referring to is 2020–2025.”
Celia Pacqualo: “Influencers always start their videos with, ‘A lot of you have been asking…’ No one’s been asking, Jessica. Not even your mum.”
Ready to put these comedy joke archetypes into practice?
Whatever the reason you want to be funny, these nine joke types are your toolkit for getting genuine laughs. Remember it's a skill that gets better with practice and proper technique. Even for seasoned professionals. They didn't wake up funny; they learned the craft through understanding what makes people laugh and endless practice in front of audiences. It’s why you can still find Dave Chapelle and all the greats trying out new material late at night at underground comedy clubs. They don’t advertise they will be there, cause they’re coming in a ground zero, trying something new.
Here’s your comedy homework
Write down 5 of your most likeable attributes
Pick three of these joke type and write one joke using each
Test them on friends, family, or colleagues (gauge their genuine reactions, not just polite chuckles)
Start small: practice at work presentations or social gatherings before hitting the comedy stage (if that’s your end game)
Want to master the art of being funny?
Understanding these joke types is just the beginning. Whether you're looking to enhance your public speaking, improve your workplace presentations, or simply become more engaging in everyday conversations, understanding comedy fundamentals can transform how people respond to you.
As Woody Allen said, a joke is just a vehicle to display your character. So, write material that runs parallel to your character. If you do this, this will help you come across most genuine to the audience and help you portray yourself or your character onstage.
Keep practicing, keep experimenting, and most importantly, keep making people laugh, and spread happiness and good vibes.
