The best compliments feel tailor-made. Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman warns that generic compliments that could apply to anyone, like “you’ve got a nice smile” or “your hair is pretty”, often come across as superficial.
This might seem like a no-brainer, but don’t compliment her unless you really mean everything that you’re saying. Insincere compliments can make you seem disingenuous, or worse – like you see the compliment as an obligation.
Instead of telling a woman that she’s pretty, take a closer look at her profile. Is her bio witty and well-crafted? Does she seem like she has interesting hobbies? Complimenting these personality-based attributes is a much surer shot to getting that coveted message back.
Researchers reported that vocabulary use is actually one of the ways that humans select potential mates. Generally speaking, the size of your vocabulary correlates strongly with your intelligence level — the smarter you are, the more words you know in your native language.
Here’s an easy tip: never add a qualifier to your compliment. If you think a woman is beautiful, just say that she’s beautiful — no need to say that she’s pretty for her race or her size, or that she’s too good-looking for her chosen career path or field of study.
To many women, being approached by a strange man in public, even if he’s saying something nice, can be a frightening experience. From a very early age, many women are trained to learn tricks to stay safe while walking alone, especially at night.
Whistling, shouting, honking, or commenting on the physical appearances of women on the street are all completely inappropriate behavior. You might think you’re being kind, but to the woman you’re shouting at, your words feel like harassment.