joking aside

USAGE SUMMARY

'joking aside' is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used when you want to switch from a humorous discussion to a more serious one. For example, "We've been joking around a lot, but joking aside, let's get back to discussing the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

OK, joking aside, this is important.

The New York Times

All joking aside, he is not very popular.

The New Yorker

But joking aside, futurism is a big and fascinating business.

MIT Technology Review

All joking aside, Bartlett has been a driving force behind Berkeley Law's surging business law program.

University of California, Berkeley

His joking aside, Mr. Eissler's proposal has an uncertain future as an amendment to other legislation.

The New York Times

But joking aside (insofar as one can put joking aside in this deeply comic scenario), I am hugely in favour of this house share.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

If you cannot say a word, then all "terrorists win" jokes aside, the terrorists win.

HuffPost

And adding: "Jokes aside.

The Guardian - Sport

Put all the UMBC jokes aside, please.

The Washington Post

Jokes aside, his résumé is impressive.

The Guardian - Business

All jokes aside, they can really dance.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "joking aside" to clearly signal a shift from a humorous or lighthearted tone to a more serious discussion. This helps avoid confusion and ensures your audience understands the change in focus.

Common error

Avoid using "joking aside" immediately followed by another joke. The phrase is meant to indicate a transition to a serious point, so following it with humor can undermine its purpose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "joking aside" functions as a discourse marker, signaling a transition from a lighthearted or humorous tone to a more serious point. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase helps to steer the conversation or writing towards a more earnest discussion, clarifying the speaker's intent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

17%

Science

10%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "joking aside" is a common and useful phrase for transitioning from a humorous or lighthearted tone to a more serious discussion. As Ludwig AI correctly points out, it serves as a discourse marker, signaling a change in focus and ensuring clarity in communication. Predominantly found in News & Media, it bridges a gap between light-hearted commentary and earnest analysis. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, it's essential to use it judiciously to avoid undermining its intended purpose with subsequent jokes. Alternatives such as "all kidding aside" or "in all seriousness" offer similar functionality with slight variations in formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

all kidding aside

Replaces "joking" with "kidding", offering a slightly more informal tone while retaining the core meaning.

putting jokes aside

Explicitly mentions setting aside humor, similar to the original phrase.

in all seriousness

Emphasizes the shift to a serious tone directly, without referencing the preceding humor.

seriously speaking

Similar to "in all seriousness", but with a slightly more conversational feel.

humor aside

A more concise version, directly indicating the end of the humorous portion.

but seriously

A more direct and abrupt way to indicate a shift in tone.

all levity aside

Replaces "joking" with "levity", suggesting a more formal or sophisticated tone.

on a serious note

Introduces a serious topic, similar to transitioning away from jokes.

to be serious

Signals a shift to a more serious discussion, often used abruptly.

no more jokes

A more direct way to signal that the humorous part of the conversation is over.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "joking aside" in a sentence?

Use "joking aside" to smoothly transition from a humorous or lighthearted discussion to a more serious topic. It signals to your audience that you are now being earnest, as in, "We've had our fun, but joking aside, we need to address the real issues".

What are some alternatives to saying "joking aside"?

You can use alternatives like "all kidding aside", "in all seriousness", or "but seriously" to indicate a shift to a more serious tone.

Is it appropriate to use "joking aside" in formal writing?

While "joking aside" is more common in spoken language, it can be used in some forms of writing, particularly when transitioning from a lighthearted introduction to a more serious discussion. Consider alternatives like "in all seriousness" for a more formal tone.

What's the difference between "kidding aside" and "joking aside"?

"Kidding aside" and "joking aside" are largely interchangeable. "Kidding aside" might be perceived as slightly more informal, but both phrases serve the same purpose of signaling a shift from humor to seriousness.