3 Ways to Appear More Intelligent

Yes, I said?appear?intelligent, not become more intelligent. I do think you should try to become more intelligent too. However, I’ll save that topic for another article.

Appearing intelligent, though not as useful as actually being intelligent, is important in our world. Everyone you meet, either consciously or unconsciously, gauges your intelligence and places you somewhere along a spectrum they’ve developed through their perception and judgment.

You might think it’s unimportant to appear intelligent to people.?Phooey on that,?you might say.?I know I’m a genius. I don’t need to do anything to convince people they should think so too.

Well, maybe you don’t. But… That attitude might close off better relationships, promising career opportunities, the ability to influence people for the better, etc.

Not that smart

When you get down to it, it’s essential to appear intelligent as well as to be intelligent in order to receive the credit, respect, and responsibility you deserve in society. So, how can you appear more intelligent?

1. Write and speak in proper, grammatically correct English.

This is the biggest factor that will cause people to doubt your intellect. Certain words like?’ain’t’, ‘gonna’,or?’tryna’?can be trigger words that cause others to question your smarts.

Furthermore, grammatically incorrect statements such as?’We wasn’t planning to go’?or similar phrases also lessen your perceived intelligence.

Finally, it’s important to stay grammatically correct in written English, arguably even in casual emails or text messages. Steer clear of using abbreviated slang like?’g2g’, ‘lol’,?etc. or abbreviating words like?’u’, ‘r’,?etc. These things may seem small, but they do make a difference.

2. Avoid making discriminatory remarks in any way, shape, or form.

Statements that marginalize or refer to a specific portion of the population in a derogatory light are to be avoided.

This goes beyond merely trying to sound like a more intelligent person. This is about not being an ignorant person and embracing diversity.

Racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination are alive and well in the world, and when your words or actions support such harmful institutions, those around you will notice and question your intelligence and character.

3. Don’t feel the need to speak constantly or blurt; think before you speak.

One of the things that can most quickly turn me off to someone (and cause me to perceive them as being unintelligent) is when they can’t seem to shut their damn mouths.

These people seem utterly oblivious to the fact that everything they’re saying is irrelevant to my interests and really?should be?left unsaid.

I’m not saying I never say anything excessive or without thinking it through, but I genuinely make an effort to consider who I’m speaking with and how what I want to say will add to the conversation/interaction before speaking.

A good rule of thumb is to ask, “Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?”, before saying much of anything.

Best of luck…

And with that, you should now at least have a basic idea of what kinds of things may turn some people off or cause them to discount your intellectual stamina.

This is a very short list, and there are certainly countless other ways to appear more intelligent and also to diminish your perceived intelligence.

Luckily, a lot of this boils down to being conscientious about what you say and?trying?to be a considerate, thoughtful person.

Being considerate and thoughtful isn’t as hard or lame as it sounds. It’s actually quite fun and rewarding. Give it a try, and good luck.