Let's face it. Chances are, someone is probably going to get really gung-ho about who they're going as for Halloween this year and will end up appropriating, stereotyping, or insulting an entire cultural or ethnic group with an overly-caricatured costume.

It happens every year without fail, and has become almost as much of an American Halloween tradition as barfing from eating too much candy in one sitting or accidentally leaving your jack-o-lantern outside until it turns completely green with mold. But, hopefully, these tips will help reduce the number of bad costume faux-pas and awkward Halloween party encounters so that everyone can enjoy their night just a little bit more.

1. Try to pick a career or occupation.

Yeah, it might seem easy, but let's be real: thinking of Halloween costumes is actually pretty hard. And the fact that Halloween happens right after midterms doesn't exactly leave you a ton of time to plan out an elaborate costume. Got a lab coat and goggles? Be a scientist! Got a black robe? Go as a judge! Heck, got some sweats and a coffee thermos? Go as a college kid! Ultimately, these options tend to be pretty race-neutral, so odds are you'll be safe choosing one of these.
source: reddit.com

To be honest, I firmly believe that dogs should feel free to dress up as any career they want, any day of the year.

2. If you're going as a specific person, make sure you stick to being just that person, rather than a broad generalization.

Do you wanna dress up as Princess Jasmine for Halloween? Great, don your blue harem pants and carry around a stuffed tiger that you keep calling "Raja." It'll even give you an excuse to burst out in "A Whole New World" whenever you want. But do not start putting on an accent or pretending to be a Middle Eastern girl. Not only is this extremely offensive to a significant portion of the world population, but it also means you've lost focus of your original costume. Be a person, not a people.

Your broad generalizations do not amuse Jasmine and Raja.

3. You never have to change your skin, even if you're going as a person of a different ethnicity.

It's surprising how many people, including Americans, I have met who do not know about this country's contentious history with practices like blackface and yellowface. No matter what, don't use makeup, tanner, or whatever else to make yourself look a different skin color. Even if you're a person-of-color dressing up as a character who happens to be white, don't do it. I very strongly believe that if you are truly good at Halloween costumes, than you will still be able to portray a certain character without having to make yourself look like a different ethnicity.

Just take a hint from Mulan and wipe it off.

4. Run your costume by a friend.

Do you know how many terrible ideas could have been stopped if people had simply run them by a friend first? Kanye running for President, Ricky Gervais hosting the 2012 Golden Globes, Pluto not being considered a planet anymore: All of these probably could have been prevented if someone had just taken the time to ask a pal. Chances are, the look on your friend's face will tell you what you need to know.

5. No matter how a great you think a costume might be, it is never worth the trouble caused by cultural appropriation.

In the end, Halloween is the one time of year that people get to show off how inventive they are by dressing up as creatively as they want. But no matter how big of a hit you think your costume may be, I can assure that it's not worth the pain caused by cultural appropriation. On a night when everybody wants to have fun, the last thing people want to do is be publicly confronted with the stereotypes and generalizations that people tend to make about their culture.

Ultimately, if you can come up with and make a killer, unique costume that doesn't step on anybody's toes, then you've just proved you're not only intelligent, but aware.. Take the challenge, and try to be more culturally aware this year.