Terms

How the winner is determined

We don't rank captions by raw vote count. After submitting, players are shown pairs of other captions and pick the funnier one — a head-to-head matchup, not a popularity count. Rankings are based on a Wilson score lower bound, a statistical method that weighs both a caption's win rate and how many matchups it's actually been judged in. A caption that's won 9 of 10 matchups ranks above one that's won 1 of 1 — a single lucky win isn't enough to take the top spot.

To keep this fair, matchups are weighted to favor captions that have been judged fewer times, so newer and lower-visibility captions still get enough head-to-head data to be ranked accurately, instead of only the already-popular ones getting shown.

Standings go final once the day's contest freezes (shown in the archive). After that, the winner and final rankings for that day don't change.

Your captions

Captions are limited to 250 characters. All submissions become the property of Punchline and will not be acknowledged or returned.

You keep the copyright in your caption. But by entering, you grant Punchline — and anyone we authorize — your irrevocable, perpetual permission and consent, without compensation or attribution, to (i) use, reproduce, print, publish, transmit, communicate to the public, distribute, sell, perform, adapt, enhance, or display your caption, and your username and city, for editorial, advertising, commercial, and publicity purposes, in any and all media now existing or later created, throughout the world — including, for example, posting daily winners on Punchline's social media accounts; (ii) do (or omit to do) any act with respect to your caption that would otherwise infringe your moral rights in it; and (iii) edit, adapt, and modify your caption.

You represent and warrant that your caption is your own original work, that it has not been copied from anyone else, and that it does not violate the rights of any other person or entity.

Except to the extent prohibited by law, Punchline excludes all conditions, warranties, and terms implied by statute, general law, or custom. By entering, you release and discharge Punchline, its judges, and anyone else involved in developing or administering the contest — along with their employees, agents, and representatives — from any and all liability arising out of or connected to the contest, including any legal claims, costs, losses, damages, demands, or actions of any kind.

Changes

This is a small, evolving project — these terms and the contest mechanics may change as we keep improving it.