Q&A for How to Write a Limerick

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What makes a good limerick?

Alicia Cook
Professional Writer
Alicia Cook is a Professional Writer based in Newark, New Jersey. With over 12 years of experience, Alicia specializes in poetry and uses her platform to advocate for families affected by addiction and to fight for breaking the stigma against addiction and mental illness. She holds a BA in English and Journalism from Georgian Court University and an MBA from Saint Peter’s University. Alicia is a bestselling poet with Andrews McMeel Publishing and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets including the NY Post, CNN, USA Today, the HuffPost, the LA Times, American Songwriter Magazine, and Bustle. She was named by Teen Vogue as one of the 10 social media poets to know and her poetry mixtape, “Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately” was a finalist in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards.

Alicia Cook

Professional Writer

Expert Answer

Limericks are meant to be funny, and sometimes they're baudy or even rude. For instance, you might write a limerick as a funny toast.

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Question

How is a limerick structured?

Alicia Cook
Professional Writer
Alicia Cook is a Professional Writer based in Newark, New Jersey. With over 12 years of experience, Alicia specializes in poetry and uses her platform to advocate for families affected by addiction and to fight for breaking the stigma against addiction and mental illness. She holds a BA in English and Journalism from Georgian Court University and an MBA from Saint Peter’s University. Alicia is a bestselling poet with Andrews McMeel Publishing and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets including the NY Post, CNN, USA Today, the HuffPost, the LA Times, American Songwriter Magazine, and Bustle. She was named by Teen Vogue as one of the 10 social media poets to know and her poetry mixtape, “Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately” was a finalist in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards.

Alicia Cook

Professional Writer

Expert Answer

Limericks are usually a verse with 3 long and 2 short rhyming lines. The rhyme scheme is AABBA. The first two lines are longer and they rhyme, the next two lines are shorter and they rhyme, and the last line is longer and it rhymes with the first two lines.

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Question

How do I even find a rhyme for the word?

Community Answer

Some dictionaries contain "rhyming dictionary" sections which will tell you, for instance, that "help" is one of the words likely to rhyme with the spelling "-elp".

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Question

Does it have to be funny? I'm writing a limerick for school and I just can't make it funny.

Community Answer

Yes, it has to be funny and amusing. That is the whole point of a Limerick -- one that leaves you humored.

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Question

Can limericks be used to address serious things?

Community Answer

Yes, they can.

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Question

Does it have to follow the pattern?

Tom De Backer

Top Answerer

Yes; a limerick is not a limerick if it doesn't strictly follow the pattern. There are many fixed and free patterns to poetry, and if you chose to write a limerick, you must follow the pattern.

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Question

Does it have to have 5 lines?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes.

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Question

Can I write a limerick without using rhyme words?

Donagan

Top Answerer

No. A limerick is specifically defined as having the rhyme pattern shown in Part 2 Step 1 above.

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Question

Can a limerick be long, as in 5 or more paragraphs?

Donagan

Top Answerer

No, a limerick is defined as having five lines.

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Question

I can’t seem to find a way to make my poem funny; any tips?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Generally speaking, humor consists of leading an audience in one direction and suddenly shoving them in another wry or ironic direction. Limericks are no exception: set up the punchline by describing someone in one way and then unveiling an unexpected and contrary side.

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Question

Can a limerick be nonsense?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes, as long as it's funny, too.

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Question

Can a limerick be sad?

Community Answer

No. According to the introduction, "A limerick is a short, comical poem that often borders on the nonsensical or obscene... they are meant to make your readers laugh."

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Question

How long can a limerick be?

Community Answer

A limerick needs to be 5 lines long, no more and no less.

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