How to Write a Pun

A step-by-step guide to groan-worthy greatness

A few weeks ago, I was getting ready for the sound check for an event I was speaking at.

One of the other speakers, Becky, was rehearsing her opening remarks and shared that she was thinking of starting with a joke:

"Do you all know which country’s capital is growing the fastest?
Ireland. Because it’s Dublin."

I laughed. The organizer groaned. The tech crew remained perfectly silent.

When it was my turn to do the sound check, I started with,

"Becky, I’m totally on board with that joke. Do you know which country’s capital is best for walking? Roam."

Becky chuckled. The organizer groaned again. The tech crew started questioning all of their life choices.

Then Becky looked at me and asked,
"Wait... did you just come up with that?"
"I did."
"What??? How???"

If you’re pundering the same thing, read on.

Why Bother with Puns?

Yes, puns have a reputation. They’re groan-worthy. They’re silly. They make people say things like, "You’re the worst” (sometimes with a smile, other times with a clenched fist).

But for anyone looking to improve their skill of humor, puns are worth your time:

• They’re inclusive. Puns, especially dad-jokes, are typically non-offensive, don’t have a target (other than the English language) and are great for (nearly) all ages.

• They’re great practice. Coming up with puns sharpens the same mental muscles used for better jokes, analogies, and creative thinking.

• They’re fun. Especially when you make one up on the spot. As Doug Larson said, “A pun is the lowest form of humor, unless you thought of it yourself.”

So let’s talk about how.

Step 1: Pick a Theme

Start with a category. In this case, we’re working with world capitals.

Why capitals? They give you a defined list to pull from, a basic structure you can follow, and many have names that sound like other words or phrases. Perfect pun material.

Step 2: Brainstorm Words and Associations

Now that you’ve picked your theme, it’s time to gather raw material. Start by listing capital cities you know. Don’t worry about spelling or geography, this isn’t a quiz, I won’t be mad if you get too astrological and write Buenos Aries.

Here are a few to get you started:

Dublin, Rome, Seoul, Stockholm, DC.

If you're thinking, "Wait… I only know like five capital cities…" no problem. You can also use U.S. state capitals.

Columbus, Boise, Juneau, Lincoln, Raleigh

The goal isn’t to be a geography expert. It’s to fill your mental pantry with words that have potential.

Step 3: Look for Double Meanings, Soundalikes, or Twists

Now scan your list for:

• Words that sound like other words (Dublin → “doubling,” Raleigh → “rally”)

• Words that have other meanings (DC → electricity or comics, Lincoln → the president or car)

• Words that have specific connotations, such as in pop culture or history (Stockholm → Stockholm Syndrome, Columbus → Christopher Columbus)

Step 4: Create a Setup

Now think of a way to connect the pun to a setup line. The structure can vary:

• Q&A style: "Which capital is best for [x]? [capital]"

• Story style: "I decided to [x] in [country name], so I could [capital]."

• Metaphor or simile: "He was like [capital], because [pun line]."

The goal is to build a little expectation, then twist it.

Examples:
"Which capital city is the most spiritual? Seoul."
"I needed a new car so I went to Nebraska. I bought a Lincoln."
"He was like the capital of Ohio, always gaslighting me about not being lost.”

Are these any good? The last one definitely isn’t, but the other two are a solid starting point.

Step 5: Say It Out Loud (Then Tweak)

The last step is to try telling your pun to a friend, pet, or potted plant. If you get a chuckle, groan, or leaf shake, you’re on the right track.

And if it feels clunky, adjust the wording. For example:

This doesn’t quite work:

"Which capital is the hottest? Bern"

But may land better as:

"Why do you have to wear sunscreen in Switzerland? So you don’t Bern."

The goal isn’t to be perfect, just playful.

Try It Yourself

Okay, your turn. Pick a theme. You can stick with world capitals or choose your own, like fruits, professions, or movie titles.

1. Choose a topic

2. List associations

3. Look for homophones, rhymes, or wordplay

4. Build a simple setup

5. Say it out loud and adjust

Then share your results in the comments (which will spiral into a series of punny replies before we eventually exhaust any modicum of dignity).

Will These Jokes Land You a Netflix Special?

Probably not. There’s no guarantee your audience will even get it.

Like when Pretzel (my wife), was telling me that our new neighbors are from Alaska. Naturally, I asked,

"Juneau which city?"

She blinked.
"No, it didn’t come up."

I paused. "No, get it? Juneau? Like, you know?"

She looked at me like I had forgotten how language works… and then walked away.

Not every pun is a winner. But every pun is a chance to play with language. A chance to connect. A chance to find your fellow pun brethren (and sistren?)—those rare people who not only get the pun, but volley one back.

Becky ultimately opened with that joke at the event and got a great laugh. I followed up with a joke about South Korea, and multiple people shared their own capital city puns with me after my speech… and that’s good for the Seoul.

Want to Go Deeper?

In two weeks, I’m hosting a live workshop to explore the skill of humor even further.

Join me on July 30th at 12pm ET for the Skill of Humor Foundations Workshop.

It will be refreshing, ridiculous, and research-backed, and you’ll walk away with tangible tools to bring more laughter into your work and life.

Sign Up Here

-Andrew

PS. I’m going to be testing out some new techniques for re-imaging what a Zoom meeting can look like. Join me if you want to see multiple cameras, roulette wheels, and some very cool virtual overlays… while also learning about humor.

PPS. One person who hasn’t quite gotten my puns yet is Pineapple (my daughter). She turns four today, so hopefully soon! And yes, this email was scheduled beforehand, I’m fully committed to celebrating an incredible 4 years with this human today.