A writer may use multiple letters to indicate an elongated syllable. In real life, if someone makes a statement you do not believe, you may respond by saying, “Right,” but stretching out the word sarcastically. Therefore, a sarcastic use of the word “right” in text may be written as, “Riiiiight. " There are other examples of words being stretched out misspelled to indicate sarcasm. Someone may sarcastically type, “Excuse me” in apology as, “Excuuuse meee. " A person may also give a sarcastic, “Okay, then,” as “Oooookaaay, then!”
Usually, in sarcastic writing, a writer will choose a more intense version of a common word to indicate hyperbole. This can point to sarcasm. For example, instead of saying, “The weather’s been nice today,” a sarcastic writer may write, “The weather’s been fantastic today. " As “fantastic” is a more intense adjective, its use may indicate sarcasm. [2] X Research source Hyperbolic language is likely to indicate sarcasm if the adjective used seems to conflict with the situation. For example, say someone posts a Facebook status saying something like, “Got a D on my chemistry test and I feel like a genius!” It’s unlikely someone would feel like a genius after receiving a poor grade. Therefore, you can reasonably assume this is sarcasm. You can also look for elongated letters alongside hyperbolic language. When speaking, someone may draw out hyperbolic intensifiers to indicate sarcasm. In text, someone may add letters to indicate this verbal tendency. For example, “I just pulled an all-nighter studying for Professor Mendez’s algebra exam and I’m just feeling fantastic. "
For example, say someone is responding to another writer’s political view in the comments section of a news article. That person may say something like, “Your response is about as tempered as a Tea Party rally. " The Tea Party is a political organization known for its intense, sometimes aggressive rallies. Saying a response is “tempered” and then immediately comparing it to such a rally likely indicates sarcasm. The speaker may also ask a question that’s obviously true to indicate sarcasm. For example, someone may ask an obvious question on a forum, to which the obvious answer is “Yes. " A sarcastic speaker may respond with something like, “Could Moses count to 10?” Given Moses is known in the Bible as the bearer of the 10 Commandments, it’s very likely he could count to 10. The answer to this question is also, obviously, yes. The writer is likely being sarcastic.
For example, say someone is disagreeing with another writer’s point on a political forum. The writer may respond with something like, “Okay, THAT makes sense. " The capitalized “that” indicates that, in a sentence, the word “that” would be spoken slightly louder than the rest of the sentence. Verbally, that would indicate sarcasm. Capital letters may be used in conjunction with other elements of sarcastic writing. For example, the speaker may say something like, “Okay, THAAAAT makes sense! FANTASTIC point. " This could indicate sarcasm, mixed in with a hint of aggression.
For example, the Game of Thrones character Tyrion Lannister is known for being witty and sarcastic. The following dialogue is dripping with his signature sarcasm:[4] X Research source “No man threatens His Grace in the presence of the Kingsguard. ” Tyrion Lannister raised an eyebrow. “I am not threatening the king, ser, I am educating my nephew. Bronn, Timett, the next time Ser Boros opens his mouth, kill him. ” The dwarf smiled. “Now that was a threat, ser. See the difference?” Satire is similar to sarcasm in that it’s a way of using humor to bring attention to foolishness or weakness. Satire is bigger in scale than sarcasm; an entire book, play or movie can be satirical, and satire is usually meant to make fun of social institutions, not just individuals. For example, George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a satire of Soviet Communism. Parody is another literary device that is related to sarcasm. A parody is an imitation of a something that is meant to mock the original to comedic effect. For example, when Tina Fey appears as Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, she’s parodying Palin’s way of dressing and speaking.
Sarcasm is frequently used as a form of humor. If the writer is known to make jokes, he or she may be using sarcasm in text. Sarcasm is also used when someone is frustrated. Is this person one to get annoyed easily? Also, consider the writer’s opinions. If this is a writer is, politically, pretty far to the right, he or she saying Obama’s new healthcare policy is “just wonderful” is probably sarcasm.
What was happening leading up to the sarcastic sentence? Was the writer expressing an opinion, joking around with another person, or engaging in an argument? All three of these situations are ones where sarcasm is a likely response. You should also look at the text proceeding the potentially sarcastic portion. It may be leading in to sarcasm. For example, let’s return to an above example. If the writer spent a paragraph criticizing Obama’s healthcare plan, and then said the plan was “just wonderful,” you can reasonably assume the “just wonderful” sentiment was meant to be sarcastic.
Simply ignore the sarcastic comment. Return to the point you were trying to make without engaging in it. For example, let’s return to the healthcare example. You could simply reiterate your own points in favor of healthcare while not acknowledging the “just wonderful” comment. [5] X Research source If you want to deescalate a potentially intense situation and get back on track to making progress, simply ignoring sarcasm is a good route.
Wait a few hours to respond. If you’re frustrated by an e-mail, you may end up saying something you don’t mean in response. Give yourself time to process before firing back. Be the bigger person in this case. Do not fire back with sarcasm of your own. Instead, respond with something like, “I’m sorry you’re feeling frustrated. " As a lot of meaning is lost through written communication, it may be a good idea to take the conversation offline. Say something like, “I’ll be in my office at 3 today, if you would like to discuss this matter further. " If the sender refuses to deescalate the situation, and responds with further aggression or sarcasm, you may want to report the issue to someone in human resources.
