Why do people say "Excuse the pun"?

Question

It's said that jokes worth telling don't need explaining. In that case, why do some bother to write "excuse the pun"? I see it written quite often and can't see the point of it. There's no offence so why should it need excusing? It's an unnecessary comment and destroys any subtlety of the pun.

"No pun intended" is another comment that adds nothing meaningful. If the pun isn't intended why draw attention to it by saying "no pun intended"? Why bring it up at all? I start thinking that it was intended after all. May as well say, "Pun fully intended."

Answer 1

Because they're underestimating the intelligence of whoever they're talking to. They think they're so smart that others won't catch on.

Answer 2

its like writing 'sic' - which means, 'i'm using a word with a different meaning than the context may suggest'. ie, if I was talking about music and used the word 'sound' to mean 'of reliable quality' i'd write a [sic] after it. No Pun Intended or Excuse the Pun comes from accidentally making a pun where the aim was not to make a pun : in a way, it was used to show the intelligence of the speaker/writer, as you may look foolish if you don't notice a pun... however, it became a tag-line that STRESSES the fact that a pun has been made for comedy reasons, especially when the pun is barely noticeable / tenuous, and then developed further into a humorously redundant statement : following puns that are obvious AND intended (ie, a rubbish pun). Saying Pun Fully Intended is like saying 'There's a river of water' - it's whats called a 'pleonasm'. If a pun is fully intended, its gonna be pretty obvious, which implies that it must be intended... word up?

...its also pretty funny to say Excuse the Pun when no pun has actually been made. confusion = great

Answer 3

Excuse The Pun

Answer 4

"No pun intended" usually means precisely what it says; someone unintentionally said something that could be taken as a pun, but realized the faux pas too late. Of course, it can be said ironically, which would indicate that the pun was intended.



Puns are AKA 'groaners' for a reason, and a lot of people can't stand them. "Excuse the pun" is not usually intended as an explanation, but rather as a back-handed apology for causing the groans. It does serve to alert the slower or less attentive in the group, but that's not the intended point of the apology. Personally, I love puns and see no reason to apologize for making them under most circumstances.

Answer 5

You're right, "excuse the pun" is worthless, but "no pun intended" can transform something said normally, into something pretty funny. This of course is when other people don't tend to see a word connection in the normal conversation they are having and someone points it out with the "no pun intended" line.

Answer 6

I've not heard of "excuse the pun" but for "no pun intended", I always read it as the pun is intended and the writer is just messing around, making a joke of it.



The logic is kinda like pretending to be humble but they're not? That's how I see it, anyway.

Answer 7

Sometimes people, when talking, inadvertantly make a pun (play on words) which might appear humorous in a serious situation, or flippant. If this happens, they might say "excuse [or pardon] the pun" or "no pun intended". Sometimes people say "pardon the pun" to bring attention to the fact that they have just made a pun and want the listener to know that they have punned, in case they're stupid or inattentive.



"Immanuel doesn't pun; he Kant." — Oscar Wilde

(Kant: play on "can't", in the name of philosopher Immanuel Kant)



"A man sent a list of ten puns to a friend, hoping at least one would make him laugh. No pun in ten did.

(A play on the phrase no pun intended, used after somebody unintentionally makes a pun.)



http://www.answers.com/topic/pun

Answer 8

Dear Lt. Or should I say Colonel? Or maybe Lt Colonel? Missing in action is entirely different than dereliction of duties. A flowering flower needs much attention and to go dry for a day is unacceptable and does not fit any standards of conduct either in the gardern or at Dairy Queen. Do I make myself clear? DQ'd that excuse. Write on.

Answer 9

Probably because they think the people they're talking to won't get the joke and feel they have to point out that it is a pun.

Answer 10

I usually write it if I genuinely didn't mean to make a pun. I think puns are lame so I'd feel like a dick if people thought I was doing it intentionally.

Answer 11

because they think they are smart