This week: Hyperbole Edited by: Robert Waltz  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
Hyperbole is not easily dealt with. Usually, it collapses under its own weight.
—Gwen Ifill
I think writers are prone to hyperbole sometimes.
—John Legend
Hyperbole is something I'd better avoid.
—Terry Gilliam |
There are a million reasons to use hyperbole in comedy.
There are also a few reasons not to.
First, the basics: Hyperbole is a fancy Greek-derived word for exaggeration. The word itself is related to hyperbola, which is one of the conic (not comic) section curves you would have learned about in math class if you had been paying attention, which you weren't. Exactly what the linguistic connection is, I'm not sure, because they didn't teach us that in math or English classes.
It's pronounced "hy-PER-bo-lee," not "hyperbowl," which would be the name of the next step up from the Superbowl, if one can imagine such a thing. Since we're talking about exaggeration, sure, I can imagine it. I can also ignore it just like I ignore the Superbowl.
So, reason #1 to use hyperbole in comedy: exaggeration for emotional emphasis. You can say it took you forever to get your house clean enough for your mother-in-law to visit, but did it, really? No. It just took way longer than it should have, because your mother-in-law is a picky, condescending, passive-aggressive piece of work. Since it obviously didn't take "forever," or even a thousand years, but more like a day or so, anyone listening would understand that you meant you didn't want to do all that work.
Reason #2: Certain quantities just don't register on people. I've probably told around 500 jokes in my life (so far), but I'm going to tell you I told fifty thousand jokes, because 500 just doesn't seem like a lot for someone as funny, and old, as I am. (How many different jokes I've told, I'll just keep to myself.)
Reason #1,000,000: Proving that you can't count, because you didn't pay attention in math class.
As for reasons not to use hyperbole, well, just like with all comedy, it's important to read the room. Certain people, such as children, tend to take things literally (which is weird because they're always coming up with invisible friends, unicorns, fairies, honest politicians, and other things that only exist in their mind). Exaggerating in front of a person who takes things literally quickly turns the joke back around on you. Like, they might say, "It did not take forever to clean your house, or you'd still be doing it."
And then they laugh. Not with you. At you. And that's the worst thing ever. |
No exaggeration, here are some funny things I found:
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Last time, in "Moving Pictures" , I discussed the use of animated gifs.
Sum1  : I confess that I can't stand gif, and here's why. The first time seeing one, it's cute. BUT, once it's posted on your feed, it's there forever. It only seems to disappear when several people post on the same feed, moving it off the screen.
I can see how that can get real old real fast. My phone has a thing where if someone sends me a gif via text, it freezes after just a few repetitions so it's not constantly drawing attention to itself. One can always tap the image to re-animate it (if only that worked for my former houseplants).
So that's it for me for May! See you next time. Until then,
LAUGH ON!!!
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
Comedy: May 21, 2025 Issue [#13139]
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
