Abstract

Humor is a characteristic not usually associated with technical publications. In this paper I discuss humor and its usefulness to text and illustrations by analyzing several examples that use humor effectively. I demonstrate some successful uses of humor in technical publications by looking at three areas. First, though technical material can be dry, humor can make it easier to use. Second, whether this can be done is a function of the author's freedom from constraints. Third, the audience must be sophisticated enough (at least with regard to the subject) to appreciate the humor.