Pun

A pun is a joke or turn of phrase that plays on a word with two meanings, or on two words that sound alike, so a single phrase says two things at once.

"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." The line plays on "flies" as a verb and as a noun, and on "like" as a comparison and a taste. One word, two jobs.

Kinds of pun

• Homographic. Same spelling, two meanings: "I used to be a banker, but I lost interest."
• Homophonic. Same sound, different words: "A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two-tired."
• Near-sound. Words that almost match: "Atheism is a non-prophet organisation."
• Visual. A pun that works only on the page, through spelling or layout.

Puns in serious writing

Puns are not only for jokes. Shakespeare used them in tragedies. Mercutio, dying in Romeo and Juliet, says "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man", playing on grave as serious and as a burial place. Headlines, titles and slogans lean on puns too.

Why it matters to a writer or editor

A pun adds a second layer, and it can deliver or damage the tone. In a headline it grabs attention. In a serious scene it can break the mood. The editor's question is whether the pun serves the reader or only the writer. A good one is easy to get and tells you something. A forced one stops the text while the writer takes a bow. Close relatives are the double entendre, the malapropism and the spoonerism, and many riddles are built on a pun.

Frequently asked questions

What are the types of pun?

The homographic pun uses one spelling with two meanings. The homophonic pun uses two words that sound alike but are spelled differently. The paronomasia pun leans on words that sound nearly alike.

Is a pun the same as a double entendre?

Close, but not the same. A pun plays on a word's two meanings for wit. A double entendre has a second, usually suggestive, meaning that the speaker can deny.

Why do people groan at puns?

The groan is part of the form. A pun asks you to notice, a little reluctantly, that language has been bent, and the groan is a polite way of admiring the trick.