touching humor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "touching humor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe humor that evokes emotions, often combining elements of sadness and joy, making it relatable and heartfelt. Example: "The film was filled with touching humor, making the audience both laugh and cry throughout the story."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

And it's in his writing — the lightness, that light touch, humor in the darkest places.

The New York Times

Nonetheless, patterns of regulation emerge from the statutes and court cases that touch humor.

The New Yorker

This entry was posted in Technology and tagged automatic updates, bad touch, humor, Microsoft, not funny, Vista, Windows on January 9, 2008 by Jonathan.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mr. Hong, whose films include "Turning Gate," handles all this with a deceptively casual touch, humor and his customary lack of visual fuss, initially calling attention to his presence only with a periodic, punctuating pan or zoom.

The New York Times

The mood is self-consciously so extreme as to be touched with humor, of a more-than-gallows variety.

The New Yorker

The series opened with the foot-stomping classic songs of the Rev. Timothy Wright, whose graceful approach to preaching, touched with humor, established a precedent of easy good will.

The New York Times

As Melissa Byers, a blogger, puts it, the novels are "filled with humor, touching moments, heartwarming scenes, and endings I adore".

The New Yorker

Her wisdom, insight, wit and humor touched everyone she met.

The New York Times

Some providers might feel really comfortable using physical touch, or humor, or eye contact as a way to develop rapport with patients.

Stanford University

His warmth and humor touched all those who knew him.

The New York Times

As casualties mounted, Lincoln's humor touched off a battle that would define Civil War comedy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "touching humor" to describe instances where humor evokes genuine emotion, creating a connection with the audience. It is best suited for situations where laughter and sentimentality coexist.

Common error

Avoid using "touching humor" in situations that require straightforward comedic relief or slapstick humor. This phrase is best suited for moments where emotional depth enhances the comedic effect, not detracts from it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "touching humor" functions as a descriptive term, combining an adjective ("touching") with a noun ("humor") to specify a particular quality of humor. It describes humor that evokes emotion, sympathy, or warmth.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Touching humor" describes humor that evokes emotion, creating a connection with the audience. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically correct, but relatively rare in usage. It appears in news, media, and academic contexts. Related phrases include "heartfelt humor" and "poignant humor". To effectively use this phrase, employ it when you specifically want to highlight the emotional resonance of the humor, and avoid overusing it in contexts that require simple comedic relief. Given its specificity, "touching humor" is best suited for describing moments where laughter and sentimentality converge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Heartfelt humor

Replaces "touching" with "heartfelt", emphasizing the sincerity and emotional depth of the humor.

Poignant humor

Substitutes "touching" with "poignant", highlighting the bittersweet nature of the humor.

Emotionally resonant humor

Expands on "touching" to explicitly state that the humor has emotional resonance.

Humor with feeling

Simplifies the phrase while retaining the emphasis on emotional content.

Humor that moves you

Focuses on the effect of the humor on the audience, highlighting its emotional impact.

Humor that stirs emotions

Highlights the humor's ability to activate and elicit emotional responses.

Humor that tugs at the heartstrings

Uses a more figurative expression to describe humor that evokes strong emotions.

Warm humor

Replaces "touching" with "warm", emphasizing the comforting and gentle nature of the humor.

Humor filled with pathos

Highlights the presence of pathos within the humor, making it deeply relatable.

Sensitive humor

Replaces "touching" with "sensitive", highlighting the delicate and understanding nature of the humor.

FAQs

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

You might say, "The movie was filled with "touching humor", making the audience laugh and cry."

What can I say instead of "touching humor"?

You can use alternatives like "heartfelt humor", "poignant humor", or "emotionally resonant humor" depending on the context.

Is "touching humor" too sentimental for formal writing?

While "touching humor" is acceptable, consider alternatives like "heartfelt humor" or "poignant humor" in formal contexts to maintain a level of emotional depth without excessive sentimentality.

What's the difference between "touching humor" and "dark humor"?

"Touching humor" evokes emotional connection and warmth, while "dark humor" finds comedy in grim or taboo subjects. The intent and emotional impact are fundamentally different.