what's the difference between a play on words and a pun?

Answer 1

I always thought they were the same who knew puns were so complicated with a rich history.
"A fight broke out in a kitchen. Egged on by the waiters, two cooks peppered each other with punches. One man, a greasy foie gras specialist, ducked the first blows, but his goose was cooked when the other cold-****** him. The man who beet him, a weedy salad expert with big cauliflower ears, tried to flee the scene, but was cornered in the maize of tables by a husky off-duty cob. He was charged with a salt and battery. He claims to look forward to the suit, as he's always wanted to be a sous-chef."

1662, probably a clipped form of pundigron, which is perhaps a humorous alteration of It. puntiglio "equivocation, trivial objection," dim. of L. punctum "point." The verb is attested from 1670. Johnson has also punster, defined as "a low wit who endeavours at reputation by double meaning."

Answer 2

Word Play Puns

Answer 3

Word Pun

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
what's the difference between a play on words and a pun?

Answer 5

they are the same basically. A play on words is a type of pun, a pun is of two catagories....one of which I can't remember...the other is a play on words! Now ain't that punny? . ~the crowd groans~

Answer 6

A pun is one of about 17 types of "plays on words". I don't remember MOST of the names for the other types. Google "wordplay" if you like.

A pun is characterized by substitution for the true word intended another word that sounds very similar but has a significant difference in meaning, or that sometimes has the same meaning, but is being used in an unconventional way. The substituted word may be related in meaning to the original inspiring word, differing subtly or have an opposite meaning or an absurd relationship or an outrageously contrasting meaning; the substituted word may just generate a mental image which is funny.

One American author in the 18th century claimed he had written the "pun to end all puns", but it depends for its humor on a figure of speech peculiar to New England AND also the odd pronunciation for a key word in that region, so his pun was not widely enjoyed. This is it, embedded in a question-answer format for a joke:

Q: When is charity like a top?
A: When it begins to home.

If I begin to explain it, you are likely to groan with exaggerated disgust.

In New England, "to home" was a common alternative to "at home". In New England, when the words "to home" are said, it sounds to many, like the words "to hum".

So, written as it SOUNDS, the joke is:
Q: When is charity like a top?
A: When it begins to hum
.
Now it isn't funny at all, is it?

Answer 7

They're the same thing, but puns are supposed to be clever and funny.

Answer 8

A play on words is usually used to get through loopholes in the law and sometimes in general speaking it is NOT meant to be funny a pun is meant to be funny (pun-fun see) unfortunately 99% of puns are absolutely terrible

Answer 9

A Play on words is a drama, a pun is funny

Answer 10

A pun is a kind of word play.

"Word play is a literary and narrative technique in which the nature of the words used themselves become part of the subject of the work. Puns, phonetic mixups such as spoonerisms, obscure words and meanings, clever rhetorical excursions, oddly formed sentences, and telling character names are common examples of word play."