How to Properly Mix Up Humor into Your Academic Essays

Updated: 13th Aug, 2020 |

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There are times when academic essays can get you bored to death. However, you should not be disappointed.

You can always add some humor to your essays and have fun. If you do it right, it can spice up your papers and improve your grade. Here’s how to do it like a boss:

Safe Ways to Add Humor to Academic Essays

Of course, using humor can be a risky strategy. Some teachers can find it inappropriate. Others may not get it. If you have some doubts as to your teacher’s sense of humor but want to use some funny stuff all the same, the following safe strategies can help you:

Choose a funny quote of a famous and respectable person. For instance, Bernard Shaw and Mark Twain said a lot of funny things. Then you can tell your teachers, it’s not you, it’s those famous authors.
Choose funny examples from movies or literature.
Find striking statistics or bust a myth.

With these approaches you can be certain that your readers will stay awake.

Examples of Appropriate and Inappropriate Humor

A single joke can make or break your academic essay. That’s why you should always be careful:

No!	Yes!
Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.	“Get your facts first, the you can distort them as you please” Mark Twain.
What’s the difference between a black man and a pizza?	“I am sick of reasonable people: hey see all the reasons for being lazy and doing noting” Bernard Shaw.
The young fighter had a hungry look, the one you get from not eating for a while.	Saudi prince sues Forbes for underestimating his fortune.

Make sure that your irony or sarcasm is obvious to avoid any misunderstanding. Try to make your academic essays fun, but know the limits. Respect your readers and be sure not to hurt their feelings.