a pun of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a pun of" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would typically be "a pun on." Example: "He made a pun on the word 'bark' when talking about dogs."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

He has just finished writing "Three Mistakes of My Life," a pun of sorts, this being his third novel.

The New York Times - Books

Sir Thomas More's learned satire Utopia (1516)—the title is based on a pun of the Greek words eutopia ("good place") and outopia ("no place")—shed an analytic light on 16th-century England along rational, humanistic lines.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"To analyze a pun of Hamlet's, for instance, I would first have to consider why a man so grief-stricken by the death of his father would bother to joke at all.

University of California, Berkeley

There he would receive visitors, and his companion Phyllis King, in a reception room filled with clutter, pictures and curios, including his harmonium, some ivory cutlery (a pun, of course) and a wax ear stapled to the wall with six-inch nails - proof of his dedication to the Noise Abatement Society, because of which he forbade his audience ever to whistle in appreciation at his work.

The Guardian

The title of the album series, New Amerykah, is a pun of Badu's name.

Wikipedia

I just hoped I wouldn't fail to live up to a pun of this magnitude.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Internet of Elephants (a pun on "Internet of Everything") brings together and tips its hat at a number of innovations in the worlds of mobile and gaming.

TechCrunch

Even the title, "Une Histoire d'Eau" ("A Story of Water"), was a pun — on the title of the erotic best-seller "Histoire d'O" ("The Story of O").

The New Yorker

And if I had a dollar for everyone who has made a pun out of my last name, I would be a very rich man.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ethically and humanly it is not necessary to make a pun out of someone's name.

Huffington Post

But at least it was identifiable as a pun on Mary, Queen of Scots.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always double-check your grammar when using the phrase in formal writing to avoid the incorrect 'of'. Using 'on' or rephrasing is generally preferred.

Common error

A common mistake is using "of" instead of "on" after "pun". Remember, the correct preposition in this context is almost always "on". For example, say "a pun on" not "a pun of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a pun of" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically intended to indicate the basis or subject of the pun. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the standard and grammatically correct phrasing is "a pun on".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a pun of" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI points out that it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct and preferred phrase is "a pun on". The examples provided by Ludwig show that "a pun of" can be found across News & Media, Wiki and Academia but it's still better practice to use "a pun on" or alternative expressions like "a play on words" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a play on words

This alternative is a more common and widely accepted way to describe a pun, focusing on the manipulation of language.

a wordplay based on

This alternative specifies that the pun relies on the manipulation of words, emphasizing its linguistic nature.

an instance of wordplay

This is a slightly more formal way to refer to a pun, highlighting it as a specific example of linguistic creativity.

a humorous use of language

This alternative focuses on the intended effect of the pun, which is to create humor through language.

a clever twist of phrase

This emphasizes the ingenuity and skill involved in creating a pun, pointing out its inventive quality.

a double entendre

This refers to a specific type of pun that has two meanings, one of which is often risqué or suggestive.

a paronomasia

This is a more technical term for a pun, referring to the use of words that sound alike but have different meanings.

a linguistic joke

This alternative frames the pun as a type of joke that relies on linguistic properties.

a comedic device

This describes the pun in terms of its function within a larger comedic work, highlighting its role in generating laughter.

a form of wit

This alternative connects the pun to the broader concept of wit, which is characterized by intelligence and cleverness.

FAQs

What is the correct way to refer to a pun?

The correct way to refer to a pun is "a pun on", as in "The comedian made "a pun on" the word 'orange'". Using "a pun of" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "a pun on" and "a pun of"?

"A pun on" is the correct and widely accepted phrase used to describe when a pun is based on something. "A pun of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect, though it may appear in some contexts.

How can I use "a pun on" in a sentence?

You can use "a pun on" in a sentence like this: "The movie title is "a pun on" a famous saying".

What are some alternatives to saying "a pun of", if it's incorrect?

Since "a pun of" is generally incorrect, use alternatives like ""a pun on"", "a play on words", or rephrase the sentence to avoid the issue altogether.