Ditch Pickup Lines and Polish Up Punchlines.

• Position: ROMANCE - Brief article

When two strangers meet, the more times a man tries to be funny and the more a woman laughs at those attempts, the more likely it is for the woman to be interested in dating. However, an even better indicator of romantic connection is if the two are spotted laughing together. Those findings were among the discoveries made by Jeffrey Hall--associate professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas, Lawrence--in his search for a link between humor and intelligence.

For the past decade, research has debated whether women appreciate men's humor, which often is cited as one of the most-valued traits in a partner, because it allows them to suss out the smarts of potential mates. Hall, however, says finding someone who appreciates your sense of humor is valuable in its own right.

"The idea that humor is a signal of intelligence doesn't give humor its due credit. If you meet someone who you can laugh with, it might mean your future relationship is going to be fun and filled with good...