How to Act More Intelligent

Everyone wants to make a good impression, and coming across as intelligent is a surefire way to impress. Thinking about the way you speak and present yourself will let people believe you are smart, and can be the first step in actually improving your intelligence.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Sounding Intelligent When You Speak

1
Improve your vocabulary. A wider vocabulary is a great way to show you are intelligent. Expand the number and type of words you know, and look for more creative ways to express yourself.
- Read more to find new words to use, and start writing more to make use of them. Signing up for a word of the day email from dictionaries like Merriam-Webster are also ways to build your vocabulary slowly, and in interesting ways.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Avoid swearing. Littering your language with inappropriate words will make you appear less intelligent. In the wrong circumstances, you can even get yourself in trouble with rules surrounding office or classroom conduct.^{[2]XResearch source}
2
Be expressive when you talk. When you talk, avoid a monotone. Change your pitch and tone slightly as you talk, and add emphasis to important words. It will help create energy, and make people think you are interested in what you are saying.^{[3]XResearch source}^{[4]XResearch source}
- Be sure to make eye contact when you talk to people. It will help you appear more focused and confident. If you are speaking to a group of people, try to make momentary eye contact with as many of them as possible.
- Keep an eye on your talking speed too. In general, it is better to speak slowly and clearly, which will help you look confident and make it easier to understand you. The other option is to speak more quickly than usual. Cramming more words into a small space of time will make you appear intelligent for knowing all that information.^{[5]XResearch source}
3
Cite your sources. You learned your information from somewhere, so when you talk to someone, go ahead and mention your sources. This will let others know that you are well read, and like to consider different ideas.^{[6]XResearch source}
- A simple introduction to a point or question like “I read a newspaper article the other day that said...” should be enough to suggest that you picked up the idea from somewhere else.
4
Ask questions. It may seem counterintuitive, but intelligent people ask more questions. They like learning about how or why things work. Asking questions shows that you are curious and want to learn more about something.^{[7]XResearch source}
- If you don’t think you have something intelligent to ask, something vague like “What do you think about this?” is a good place to start. This lets the other person know that you recognize his intelligence and ability. Plus, by giving him the opportunity to talk about subjects he knows, you will probably learn something as well.
- Asking questions is also a good way to remind yourself that you don’t always have all the answers. It suggests you are confident in your intelligence level without having to be right all the time.
5
Play the Devil’s Advocate. Don’t be afraid to provide a well-reasoned counter to someone’s idea. You don’t have to disagree with everything others suggest, but pointing out flaws in an argument, or being able to provide a contrary opinion will show you as someone willing to think differently.^{[8]XResearch source}
- When you disagree, remember to keep your focus on the other person’s argument or position. Avoid personal attacks, which will only make people angry at you, and doesn’t make you look very intelligent.
6
Speak last. Let other people open the conversation with their ideas and thoughts. This will give you time to collect your thoughts, and build on what other people have said. Even if you can’t come up with your own idea, you can help to summarize other people’s thoughts.^{[9]XResearch source}
- One good idea is to repeat someone else’s thoughts as a way to agree with it. Make sure you give credit too, so you’ll want to say something like “I agree with Jerry, that’s a great idea to increase productivity.”
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Appearing More Intelligent

1
Use confident body language. People associate intelligence with confidence, as it suggests you know what you are talking about. Stand or sit up straight, and don’t be afraid to approach people directly while looking them in the eye.^{[10]XResearch source}^{[11]XResearch source}
- Smiling often is another way to project confidence, and make people feel more comfortable around you.
2
Dress appropriately. People respond well to those who are dressed well for their setting. Your clothes don’t need to be the cutting edge of fashion, but should fit you well and be appropriate for your work or classroom.
- Purple, maybe matched with grey, is a good color to wear that suggests intelligence.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Keep your body covered, and avoid revealing too much. Showing skin makes people focus on your body, rather than your mind.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Adding items to carry around with you can make you feel more intelligent as well, especially if they have something to do with your job.^{[14]XResearch source} Even carrying something like a notebook or clipboard can help give you the impression of a hard worker with something important to do.
- Wear glasses. Wearing glasses is a common stereotype of intelligent people, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of this. It can be less effective if you don’t really need them and people know. They will likely recognize them more as a fashion statement, which diminishes the effect.^{[15]XResearch source}
3
Carry around something to read. People associate reading with intelligence, so having some reading material with you suggests that you have other things on your mind. Just make sure it is the kind of thing that other people will believe is smart reading, so children’s books or comic books are probably not a good idea.^{[16]XResearch source}
- Make sure your reading material fits the setting. Reading a novel can be good for general settings, but something like the Wall Street Journal is much better in a business area. Just make sure you aren’t reading when you should be doing your actual job.
You don’t want to be having regular arguments with yourself, but talking very quietly will make it seem like you are thinking about something important. Verbalizing your thoughts is also a good way to help yourself work through complex ideas.^{[17]XResearch source}
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Becoming More Intelligent

1
Read. One of the best ways to improve your intelligence is to read a variety of different things. Reading non-fiction, including books, magazines, and newspapers, gives you facts that build your base of knowledge. Readers are also more likely to be good at solving problems and finding meaningful patterns.^{[18]XResearch source}
- This includes fiction as well. Fictional works can help improve your pattern-finding too. Plus, reading fiction can improve your emotional intelligence, that is your ability to read and respond to other people’s feelings.
2
Work on improving your memory. You probably already know a lot of facts and other information, but sometimes have trouble recalling it. Find ways to work on improving your fact recall, such as writing down information when you learn it the first time.^{[19]XResearch source}
- When learning new information, find ways to associate it with other, easier to remember, things. Try to use or develop acronyms (using first letters to create words, like “ROY G. BIV” for the colors of the rainbow) or acrostics (using first letters to create sentences, like “Every Good Boy Does Fine” for lines of a treble music staff).
Find people smarter than you are, and try to spend time with them. These people will be able to share their knowledge with you, even if it is just showing you better ways to learn things. It can be tough on your confidence at times, but it will help you remind yourself that there are always things you can learn.^{[20]XResearch source}
Rather than reading the same books or watching the same TV shows, look for something new and different. Visit a museum, see a music group, or even do something adventurous like hiking. People tend to think those who experience more diverse events are more intelligent. This will also give you good stories to tell about looking at art or listening to new and interesting things.^{[21]XResearch source}
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How can I be the smartest person in my classes?
César de León, M.Ed.
Educational Leadership Consultant
César de León is an Educational Leadership Consultant and currently serves as an Assistant Principal for the Austin Independent School District in Austin, TX. César specializes in education program development, curriculum improvement, student mentorship, social justice, equity leadership, and family and community engagement. He is passionate about eradicating inequities in schools for all children, especially those who have been historically underserved and marginalized. César holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Biology from Texas State University and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from The University of Texas at Austin.
César de León, M.Ed.
Educational Leadership Consultant
Expert Answer
Many times we think that the most intelligent person will get into college and have a successful job, but that's not always the case. So don't think about intelligence as a race or competition. It's not about being the best or showing off. Think about academic intelligence as a way for you to excel currently where you're at.
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Keep learning. If your supervisor or senior members of your group mention concepts you are not familiar with, read up so that you can talk about it. Find news related to your work so you can introduce and discuss new ideas with your coworkers.
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There are a lot of similarities between appearing intelligent and actually being smart. Many of these steps are also good ways to improve your intelligence.
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