I choose to believe that every person is endowed with a particular passion partial to him or her. I am not exempt from this belief; my twin passions are reading and writing. In consequence, I am an English nerd to the highest degree. As such, there are some characteristics you should know about me and about any other English nerd.
1. We enjoy using big words.
It's nothing out of the ordinary if we say words such as "ludicrous," "vituperation," and "propensity." Personally, I keep a mental list of my favorite words that I like to use in everyday conversation as often as contextually possible. It might be wise to invest in a dictionary around us.
2. We daydream about fictional characters.
We call these characters our "literary crushes" and our dreams about them blur the line between fiction and reality. How can normal guys compete when I expect a romantic similar to Mr. Darcy?
3. We would rather be reading.
Sometimes if invited to social functions, we pretend that we're busy when in actuality we just want to curl up with a book. If we favor reading over friends, it's not personal; we're in a committed relationship. With books.
4. We make allusions to books.
We include references to less than popular books in conversation. Sometimes we say obscure things that manage to make only us laugh. I suppose it just makes us strangers to conventional society (did you catch that allusion?)
5. We're not afraid to correct your grammar.
For us, the difference between "their," "there," and "they're" is more than a construction of the mind, it's a way of life. We will judge you for using incorrect grammar. It's why we all keep red pens around to correct such egregious errors.
6. Any time is reading time.
We try to incorporate reading into every aspect of our lives. We read during meals, in the bathroom, as we walk, wait for class to start, or even in the shower. We're still waiting for fully waterproof books.
7. Our ultimate date is a reading date.
Dates try to incorporate what both people love; English nerds expect no different and thus envision a date comprised of reading. Even though we would both be immersed in our different worlds, it would be nice to share the experience, since reading is usually such a solitary enterprise
8. We are proud fandom members.
Literary worlds seep into our everyday world through fandoms and the memorabilia attached to them. I would be lying if I said my roommates and I weren't decorating our apartment with a Harry Potter theme. By the way, we're still waiting for our letters.
9. We narrate our thoughts.
We refer to ourselves in the third person in order to analyze our own actions. Likewise, we narrate the lives of those around us as though they are all characters in a book. I apologize in advance for analyzing your every action.
10. Don't interrupt our reading time.
Talking and reading are mutually exclusive. If someone converges their talking with our reading, chaos will ensue. It's painful to be ripped out of one world and thrust into another one, especially if we're being forced into reality.
