What characteristic is essential for a written work to have humour?

For a written work to be considered humorous, it fundamentally needs to engage readers by provoking laughter. This engagement often stems from various comedic techniques, such as timing, exaggeration, wit, or absurdity. When humor is successfully executed, it creates a joyous connection between the reader and the material, aiming to amuse or entertain.

While other characteristics like serious themes, vocabulary complexity, or conflict can enhance a narrative, they are not essential for establishing humor. The primary goal of humor is to evoke a sense of enjoyment, which makes the engagement of readers in laughter the defining characteristic of humorous writing. Thus, the focus on eliciting laughter is what ultimately distinguishes a humorous piece from other forms of writing.