in order to laugh

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in order to laugh" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when explaining the purpose or intention behind an action that leads to laughter. Example: "She told a funny story in order to laugh with her friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

They had come in order to laugh.

The Guardian - Books

And in order to laugh at the joke, readers only have to know that the good-cop, bad-cop genre exists.

The New Yorker

In order to laugh at something, it is necessary (1) to know what you are laughing at, (2) to know why you are laughing, (3) to ask some people why they think you are laughing, (4) to jot down a few notes, (5) to laugh.

The New Yorker

By Robert Benchley In order to laugh at something, it is necessary (1) to know what you are laughing at, (2) to know why you are laughing, (3) to ask some people why they think you are laughing, (4) to jot down a few notes, (5) to laugh.

The New Yorker

One does not need a joke (or Jay Leno) in order to laugh.

Huffington Post

This sounds obvious, but you don't even have to find something funny in order to laugh.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

We do not all have to look the same, be the same, think the same, in order to know, laugh, cry and argue.

The Guardian - Opinion

We must not financially support the beating, deprivation, death and confinement of wild animals in order to mindlessly laugh over their clumsy, forced attempts at imitating humans.

Los Angeles Times

[And] playing a weird or silly character in order to get laughs is not specific to one gender".

The Guardian

"I have a friend who's a very physical comedian, and his life has been about literally hurting himself onstage in order to get laughs," he said.

The New York Times

I tried to mirror the architecture of "Eat, Pray, Love" in a funny way in order to get laughs, and to move my story along.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in order to laugh" to clearly state the intention behind an action or situation, making the purpose of eliciting or experiencing laughter explicit.

Common error

Be mindful of using overly verbose constructions. While "in order to laugh" is correct, sometimes the simpler "to laugh" is sufficient and more impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in order to laugh" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose. It modifies a verb, explaining the reason or intention behind an action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage for indicating purpose.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in order to laugh" serves as an adverbial phrase of purpose, clearly indicating the intention behind an action related to laughter. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and utility in expressing purpose. While alternatives like "to laugh" or "so as to laugh" exist, "in order to laugh" provides a more explicit and emphatic expression of intent. Predominantly found in News & Media, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts. While not exceedingly common, the phrase is a valuable tool for writers seeking to articulate the motivations behind seeking or creating laughter.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so as to laugh

Formal synonym, replacing "in order" with "so as".

to laugh

More concise, removing "in order" for brevity.

for the purpose of laughing

Emphasizes intent using a more descriptive phrase.

with the intention of laughing

Similar to 'for the purpose of', but slightly more verbose.

aiming to laugh

Focuses on the goal or objective of laughing.

seeking laughter

Highlights the act of looking for or trying to find laughter.

to elicit laughter

Focuses on provoking laughter from others.

hoping to laugh

Expresses a desire or expectation of laughing.

striving for laughter

Implies effort or struggle to achieve laughter.

desiring laughter

Directly expresses a wish or craving for laughter.

FAQs

How can I use "in order to laugh" in a sentence?

You can use "in order to laugh" to express the purpose behind an action. For example, "She told a joke "in order to laugh" with her friends".

What are some alternatives to "in order to laugh"?

Alternatives include "so as to laugh", "to laugh", or "for the purpose of laughing", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it always necessary to use "in order to laugh", or can I use a simpler construction?

While "in order to laugh" is grammatically correct, you can often use the simpler "to laugh" without losing clarity. The choice depends on the specific context and the emphasis you want to place on the intention.

What's the difference between "in order to laugh" and "so as to laugh"?

"In order to laugh" and "so as to laugh" are largely interchangeable, with "so as to laugh" sounding slightly more formal. The meaning remains the same.