A quick one

We have spoken before about precision, but perhaps just as important as precision in your writing is brevity. In a sense, the two qualities reflect each other - they are two sides of the same coin.

A good joke is a concentrated mechanism for laughter: even if it is gentle, the information in it should be expressed as efficiently and punchily as possible.

Crucially, no word should be wasted. Indeed, if you find yourself repeating words in a joke, that usually means it needs further work.

One of the reasons stand-ups like Jimmy Carr, Tim Vine and Gary Delaney are...