The Science of Dad Jokes

Why the "Worst" Humor Might Actually Be the Best

Happy Father's Day weekend!

Back in May, I wrote in “An Un-Mothers’ Day newsletter” about the importance of parental humor and how it strengthens parent-child bonds. Today, let's give dads their comedic due.

When we think about fathers and comedy, one thing immediately comes to mind: dad jokes.

You know the ones. The puns so obvious they make you wince. The wordplay so predictable it's almost painful. The jokes that reliably produce groans from everyone within earshot.

Exhibit A: "Dad, how do I look?" "With your eyes, son."

But recent research suggests we might be wrong about dad jokes. So take heart, dads, because far from being the comedic failures, dad jokes might actually represent something sophisticated about humor, language, and, most importantly for us, relationships.

The Pun Puzzle

This study descriptively analyzed hundreds of dad jokes from social media¹ to understand what makes them tick. While analyzing social media jokes isn't exactly randomized controlled trial territory, the linguistic patterns identified are worth thinking about. Based on their analysis, dad jokes aren't just random attempts at humor; they're linguistic puzzles that rely on four simple types of wordplay:

Homonymy: Same sound, same spelling, different meanings

• "I told a chemistry joke, but there was no reaction." (reaction = chemical process vs. audience response)

Homophony: Same sound, different spelling, different meanings

• "To start a zoo you need at least two pandas, a grizzly and three polars. It's the bear minimum." (bear vs. bare)

Homography: Same spelling, different sound, different meanings

• The classic English puzzle: "Read and lead rhyme, and read and lead rhyme. But read and lead don't rhyme, and neither do read and lead."

Paronymy: Slight differences in sound and spelling

• "I gave her a shoulder to crayon." (crayon vs. cry on)

What's remarkable is that these aren't accidents or failed attempts at cleverness. They're sophisticated plays on the ambiguity inherent in language itself.

The Relationship Secret Hidden in Groans

But here's where it gets interesting for those of us who spend way too much time thinking about relationships and connection.² Dad jokes work precisely because they're predictable, not despite it.

This laughable logic flies in the face of the belief that the biggest laughs emerge from the unexpected.³ So let’s look at this a little more closely.

When your dad delivers a groan-worthy pun, several things happen simultaneously:

1. Shared linguistic competence: Understanding the joke requires linguistic sophistication. You have to simultaneously hold two meanings in your mind and appreciate the wordplay.

2. Benevolent teasing: The corniness of dad jokes creates a safe space for playful interaction. Nobody's feelings get hurt because everyone's in on the fact that it's intentionally cheesy.

3. Predictable surprise: There's comfort in knowing dad will deliver a pun, even as the specific wordplay catches you off guard.

4. Permission to connect: The groan itself becomes a form of affectionate interaction. It's not rejection—it's participation in a shared ritual.

When someone delivers a dad joke and we groan, most of us are not actually expressing displeasure. We’re signaling that we understood both the wordplay and the social dynamic. That groan is connection disguised as complaint.

Or, that’s the sunny view of it, anyway. The cloudy view would be that we're all just enablers of bad humor.

The Wisdom of "Bad" Dad Humor

This connects to something deeper about humor in close relationships. The best family comedy isn't necessarily the cleverest or most original. It's the humor that creates space for everyone to participate, that builds rather than excludes, that prioritizes connection over performance.

Dad jokes accomplish this by being:

• Accessible: No insider knowledge required

• Safe: No one's the target or butt of the joke

• Inclusive: Everyone can participate (even if it's just groaning)

• Repeatable: The formula can be endlessly recycled

In a world where so much humor relies on wit, timing, and social hierarchy, dad jokes are refreshingly inclusive. They invite participation rather than admiration.

The Father's Day Takeaway

So this Father's Day, maybe we can reframe those eye-roll-worthy puns. When dad delivers his latest groan-inducer, remember that he's not failing at humor, he's succeeding at creating a moment of shared understanding, linguistic play, and gentle connection.

The research suggests that people who "don't get" dad jokes often lack sufficient language proficiency to appreciate the wordplay. And maybe there's another kind of literacy at work too: the ability to recognize that making and laughing at corny jokes can foster the best relationships.

Because at the end of the day, isn't that what the best family humor does? It doesn't just make us laugh—it helps us feel like we belong.

(And in case you were wondering, this entire research-backed defense is 100% a transparent attempt to get my family to give me an easier time about my terrible mom jokes.)

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What's your favorite dad joke? Help other readers expand their repertoire!

P.S. Fun fact: The study found that social media accounts posting dad jokes get massive engagement, with audiences actively participating in the comment sections with their own puns. People love dad jokes more than they admit!

P.P.S. If this post made you groan with recognition (or just groan), hit that like button, the digital equivalent of appreciating a good dad joke. And if you know someone who needs scientific validation for their pun addiction, consider sharing this with them!

1. In case you are on a quest for a whole lot more dad jokes, you can check out the account on X/Twitter from which dad jokes were analyzed: @Dadsaysjokes.

2. I’m assuming that most readers of this Substack think too much about relationships and connection, which I’m grateful for. You are definitely my people!

3. Interested in learning more about what is funny and why from a nerdy, scientific perspective? Check out the book Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And how anyone can harness it. Even you.)