Is It Correct to Say “Funnier” or “More Funny?”

Comparatives can be a tricky aspect of mastering the English language. Sometimes, the comparative is built into the word itself, and other times, it is paired with “more” or “less.” Unlike the term fun, which is a noun in and of itself and is almost always reserved for use with “more” or “less.”

Example:

I expected the game night to be more fun than that.

The term funny is an adjective and can, therefore, be a bit more fluid. Let’s take a look.

Comparisons: Is funnier correct?

So, is funnier a word? In short, yes.

When comparing two separate entities, funnier is the correct word to use. It is the comparative of funny. For example, walking out of an open comedy mic, you might remark to your friend, “The first comedian was definitely funnier than the second.” Or, if you have your own little friendly competition, you might protest, “My joke was funnier than yours!”

On the other side of that coin, when talking about things that lack humor—or lack it in comparison to other things—you could say, “The second comedian was not as funny as the first,” or “Your joke was less funny than mine.”

The term more funny on its own feels a bit awkward and, thus, generally does not hold up. Funnier has a built-in comparative aspect and an easier flow off the tongue.

More funny or funnier? Comparing to itself

When the comparison is vaguer or internally focused, “more” and “less” come into play in a more prominent manner. Let’s say you have seen a movie that you found moderately humorous; you might say, “It was more or less funny,” or “It was more funny than not.” This tells the listener that you are willing to cede some level of humor—but not that it was the funniest thing ever.

If you are unsure how to use comparatives, an English tutor online can help you a lot. Learning with a tutor on LiveXP brings more benefits and makes studying more effective and less stressful.

Examples of using “funnier”: