With the right work you can get smarter, but there are also things you can do to appear to be more intelligent, and you can use some of them right now. So if you want to impress your boss or your friends with your intelligence, try a few of the techniques below. Some of them may actually improve your thinking skills too.

1. Study a current topic. Everyone has opinions about events in the news, but they usually don't know much about these things. Learn more than the usual about one such current topic, and have an alternate view and you'll definitely look smarter to others. If taxes are in the news, for example, not many people will know what the "Laffer Curve" is, and why it is so important. If you can explain this simple but relatively unknown idea, you'll be the only one in the room with something truly unique to say about the issue.

2. Make it your conversation. Stick to topics you know something about, and you'll always appear smarter. If there are things about which you are very knowledgeable, steer the conversation towards those subjects.

3. Use questions to look smart. Ask questions to which you know the answer. Immediately follow the other person's answer with a clarification or another question, and you'll appear to have understood the issue very quickly.

4. Spend time with intelligent people. Others will notice if you hang out with the most intelligent people around. You'll may also learn a lot. However, don't say much, except to ask an occasional smart question.

5. Increase your vocabulary. Read the "Enrich Your Vocabulary" section of Reader's Digest or open the dictionary each day and choose a word to learn. A bigger vocabulary can impress others, and you'll get smarter as well, because language is a big part of functional intelligence - but be sure to see the warning below.

6. Know how to use words. You might impress people with a better vocabulary, but using a word incorrectly can immediately lower their opinion of your intelligence. Expand that vocabulary, but use those words only when you are sure your usage is correct.

7. Have an obscure specialty. Suppose you know a little bit about the history of the Inuit people or the origin of gold mining. You'll likely be the only one in the room who knows anything about these. This sets you apart, and any errors you make will pass undetected as well. Talk a bit about your "specialty" to impress, but be careful not to bore your audience with too much obscure knowledge.

8. Play a few intelligent games. Many people immediately think you are more intelligent when they learn that you play chess - and playing it might also help you get smarter. Scrabble will impress as well, and improve your vocabulary. Another intelligent game? Using the techniques here.

9. Openly appreciate other's ideas. When someone has a great idea or a unique understanding of an issue, compliment them for it. When you recognize a person's intelligence, he or she will often think you are more intelligent. And shouldn't we give credit where credit is due in any case?

10. Learn a little about a lot of topics. Instead of reading only the usual magazines that interest you, browse several that cover unfamiliar subjects. Knowing a little about many things not only makes you appear more knowledgeable, but could help you get smarter as well. With enough general knowledge, when a woman brings up her favorite topic, you can ask an intelligent question to impress her and to learn more from her. It will impress people when you are familiar enough with a topic to know what to ask.