A humorous essay is a personal or familiar essay with the main aim of amusing readers rather than advising or persuading them. Also known as a comic essay or light essay.

Humorous essays often rely on narration as a dominant rhetorical and organizational strategy.

Three Quick Tips for Creating a Humorous Essay

1. You must have a story, not just jokes. If your objective is to create compelling nonfiction, the report must come first; what do you mean to show, and why should the reader care? When the comedy takes a backseat to the story, the humorous essay is adequate, and the finest writing is complete.
2. The humorous essay is not a place to be spiteful. You can possibly skewer a politician or injury lawyer with abandon, but you should be calm when mocking the common man. If you seem mean-spirited and make cheap shots, we aren’t so willing to laugh.
3. The funniest individuals don’t guffaw at their own jokes. Nothing kills a joke more than the comedian teller banging a bony elbow into your side, winking, and shouting, ‘Was that hilarious, or what?’ Again, subtlety is the most effective tool.