How to Sound Smarter Than You Are

Do you want to impress people at the next dinner party with your wit and intelligence? The good news is you don't have to be an Einstein to dazzle people with your intellect. Here are six simple ways to sound smarter than you actually are.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Read a High Profile Newspaper Twice a Week.
   
   Instead of reading your local newspaper every day, twice a week read a copy of The Washington Post, The New York Times, or the Wall Street Journal. These papers will expand your cultural horizons and make you a more informed conversationalist. Practice talking about some of the stories you read in these newspapers with your family.

2. Read Amazon Book Reviews.
   
   Smart people are usually well read and love to share their opinions about the latest literature. If you don't have the time or inclination to read books on the bestseller lists, read the book reviews at Amazon. You'll have just enough information to talk intelligently about what's hot in the world of literature without spending all of your free time reading.

3. Be an Expert in Something.
   
   Pick a topic that's frequently discussed at social gatherings and become an expert in some narrow facet of it. For example, you may not have the time to become a classical music expert, but you can dazzle people with your knowledge of the life of Mozart. When you speak so eloquently about Mozart, people will naturally assume you're a classical music expert.

4. Listen.
   
   One way to sound smart is to learn to be a good listener. Instead of opening your mouth about a topic you know little about, it's better to listen closely to what the other person is saying and acknowledge their viewpoint. Repeat what they're saying back to them. You can bet that after the conversation is over, the other person will say you were one of the most charming and intelligent people she talked to at the party.

5. A Word a Day.
   
   One secret to sounding smarter than your are is to have an extensive vocabulary. There's an easy way to expand your vocabulary. As soon as you get up in the morning, visit one of the word a day sites on the internet and write down the word for that day. Make it your goal to use that word at least three times during the day to reinforce it in your mind. You'll expand your vocabulary by thirty words each month. With practice, using these words will become second nature and you'll sound smarter and smarter.

6. Watch how you Speak.
   
   When you speak, don't use trite words, phrases, or cliches. For example, which sounds better? “The dog was as fat as a little butterball” or “The dog was carrying some excess weight”. Intelligent people rarely use clichés. Also avoid using “fluff” words such as “and it's like”, “you know”, and “um”. Sometimes it helps to tape record yourself when you're talking.