Kate Fox calls it “The Importance of Not Being Earnest rule” in her book ‘Watching the English - the Hidden Rules of English Behaviour’. Such a clever and typically English observation. In just that one rule it combines irony, sarcasm, a pun, an understatement and a level of self-mockery. I only wish I had thought of it myself. I also have to give Ms Fox the credit for the title of this research project, 'British Rumour Rules'.

Whilst bearing in mind that these types of humour are not unique to the British, lets take a closer look at them in order to get a greater understanding as to why they are viewed as typically British:

• Irony
• Sarcasm
• The puns
• Understatement
• Self-mockery

To find out more about these types of humour, click on the links on the right-hand side of this page.