that is humorous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that is humorous" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that evokes laughter or amusement, often in a light-hearted context. Example: "The comedian's latest routine was filled with clever jokes and witty observations; truly, that is humorous."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The poet here sums up his personal religion, depicting a complex, imperfect deity that is humorous, cynical and kind.

The Economist

Tim Ross, an associate professor of studio art at Manhattanville, makes an engaging kind of portraiture that is humorous in a horrible sort of way.

The New York Times

The author, a South African playwright as well as novelist, conducts his story, which concerns forbidden sexual relations and their consequences, in a voice that is humorous, wry and generous, never softening the brutality visited on blacks but never denying the humanity of the oppressors as well as of the oppressed.

The New York Times - Books

And while most of you use status updates to share important achievements (via mySomeday, for instance) and life events, media that is humorous or meaningful and, of course, photos of trips you've taken and events you've attended, there are a few among you that have not yet mastered the art of the status update.

Huffington Post

In these glorious essays Hoagland tells how he worked for the circus when he was a college student at Harvard; he recounts his visit to Uganda to meet the family he sent money to for more than 20 years; he writes about the time his family first moved from the city to the country, in 1940, when he was 8; he writes about getting old in a tone that is humorous and confessional.

Los Angeles Times

That is humorous, but is it right that our civil liberties should be traded in such a bazaar?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

What results is a drama serial that's humorous, gruesome, compulsive and compelling.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Ninety-three percent of the men surveyed ages 30 to 39 said they preferred longer-form advertising in theaters and ads that were humorous or shown in multiple parts.

The New York Times

"Instead of talking at people as political campaigns often do, we engaged with them through Facebook with adverts that were humorous and spoke to them," says Kooiker.

The Guardian

Of the troops at his position, he said, 'They just left me!' He repeated 'Just left me!' in a way that was humorous.

The New York Times - Books

Originating in Italy during the Middle Ages, the novella was based on local events that were humorous, political, or amorous in nature; the individual tales often were gathered into collections along with anecdotes, legends, and romantic tales.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that is humorous" to describe situations or content that evokes a sense of amusement without being overly comedic. It's suitable for expressing a mild or understated form of humor.

Common error

While grammatically correct, consistently using "that is humorous" in formal writing can make your tone sound repetitive or less engaging. Vary your descriptions of humor by using synonyms like "amusing", "comical", or more descriptive phrases depending on the specific context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that is humorous" functions as a subjective comment or assessment, expressing an opinion about something being funny or amusing. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound. It attributes a quality of humor to a subject.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Encyclopedias

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that is humorous" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something as funny or amusing. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While "funny" and "amusing" are viable alternatives, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. The phrase maintains a neutral register and is most commonly found in news and media contexts. Keep in mind it can come across as repetitive in formal writing, so using synonyms is helpful. It is important to consider this when creating content where you want to communicate that something is funny in a more understated way.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that's funny

Replaces 'humorous' with a more common synonym 'funny'.

that is amusing

Substitutes 'humorous' with 'amusing', suggesting a milder form of amusement.

that is comical

Uses 'comical' in place of 'humorous', implying something is intentionally funny.

that is droll

Replaces 'humorous' with 'droll', indicating dry or understated humor.

that's hilarious

Emphasizes the intensity of the humor with the word 'hilarious'.

that's a laugh

Uses a more informal and idiomatic expression.

that's rich

Adds a layer of irony or sarcasm to the humor.

that is side-splitting

Emphasizes the extreme amusement or laughter induced.

that's a hoot

Uses an informal idiom to express amusement.

that is waggish

Replaces 'humorous' with 'waggish' implying playful or mischievous humor.

FAQs

What does "that is humorous" mean?

The phrase "that is humorous" is used to describe something that is funny or amusing, often in a subtle or understated way. It indicates that something evokes a sense of amusement or lightheartedness.

What can I say instead of "that is humorous"?

You can use alternatives like "that is funny", "that is amusing", or "that is comical" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "that is humorous"?

The phrase "that is humorous" is appropriate in situations where you want to describe something as mildly funny or amusing, but not necessarily laugh-out-loud funny. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it may sound slightly more formal than alternatives like "that's funny".

Is there a difference between "that is humorous" and "that's humorous"?

The difference between "that is humorous" and "that's humorous" is simply one of formality. "That is humorous" is more formal, while "that's humorous" is a contraction and is more casual. Both are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning.