humor aside

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "humor aside" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to indicate that one is setting aside any humor or jokes in order to focus on a serious or important matter. Example: "Humor aside, we need to address the issue of our decreasing sales numbers. We need to come up with a solution quickly before it's too late."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Gallows humor aside, it's a real issue.

The New York Times

Humor aside, Jenkins said he regretted the incident.

The New York Times - Sports

Humor aside, it was a safe and professional operation.

The Washington Post

Humor aside, she valued her students' scholarship and cultural insights.

The New York Times

Self-effacing humor aside, Rabbi Bleich has inadvertently caught a cultural wave.

The New York Times

Mr. DeLay's humor aside, the convention prominence being given to politicians like Govs.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

And today, his little humor routine aside, Mr. Gore used his speech to about 450 members of the Anti-Defamation League to draw a contrast between Mr. McCain and Mr. Bush.

The New York Times

But Alderson, his humor put aside, also acknowledged that trading a member of the Mets' fairly deep starting rotation might be the best way to acquire talented players to fill some of the holes in the Mets' lineup.

The New York Times - Sports

The addresses of 2013 were much more personal, infused with self-deprecating humor, raunchy asides and references to the speakers' own humble or distant origins.

The New York Times

"You've got to have a sense of humor about this". Aside from the clothes they sell, including stacks of bell-bottoms, vinyl pants and velour pullovers, Mr. Brick designs wraparound skirts and dresses constructed from different nylon prints.

The New York Times - Style

Humor and bluntness aside ("I'm Italian, what the frick can I tell you?" Mr. Panetta said in an interview on Monday with NBC News), the new defense secretary's focus in the job is in striking contrast to that of the self-contained Mr. Gates.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "humor aside" to clearly signal a transition from a lighthearted or humorous tone to a more serious discussion. This prepares your audience for a shift in focus.

Common error

Avoid using "humor aside" when the preceding content was not actually humorous. It can sound unnatural or forced if there was no prior levity to set aside.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "humor aside" functions as a transitional phrase. It signals a deliberate shift in tone from a humorous or lighthearted context to a more serious or earnest discussion. This is confirmed by Ludwig and its real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

21%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "humor aside" is a versatile transitional phrase used to indicate a shift from a lighthearted or humorous tone to a more serious discussion. As confirmed by Ludwig, it serves to prepare the audience for a change in subject matter, signaling that the preceding levity is no longer the primary focus. While generally neutral in register, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, with notable presence in formal business and Wiki sources. When employing this phrase, ensure that the preceding content genuinely contained humor to avoid sounding forced or unnatural. Alternatives such as "jokes aside" or "but seriously" can also be considered, depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

jokes aside

Replaces "humor" with "jokes", maintaining the meaning of disregarding levity.

all joking aside

Emphasizes the shift from joking to serious discussion.

leaving the jokes aside

A more emphatic way of saying to set aside jokes or humor.

putting jokes aside

Similar to "leaving the jokes aside", this alternative underlines the action of setting jokes aside.

serious talk aside

Frames the humor as something to be set aside for the serious discussion.

levity aside

Replaces "humor" with a more formal term, "levity".

on a more serious note

Shifts the focus to a more serious tone.

but seriously

A common way to indicate a shift to serious discussion.

in all seriousness

Similar to "but seriously", this alternative indicates a genuine shift to serious considerations.

without joking

Directly states the absence of joking or humor.

FAQs

How can I use "humor aside" in a sentence?

You can use "humor aside" to transition from a funny or light-hearted discussion to a more serious topic. For example, "Humor aside, we need to discuss the budget cuts."

What are some alternatives to "humor aside"?

Alternatives include "jokes aside", "all joking aside", or "but seriously", depending on the context.

Is "humor aside" formal or informal?

"Humor aside" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in various contexts, from news articles to business discussions. However, it might not be suitable for highly formal or academic writing where more precise language is preferred.

What's the difference between "humor aside" and "seriously"?

"Humor aside" explicitly acknowledges a preceding humorous context, while "seriously" simply indicates a shift to a serious topic without necessarily implying previous levity.