Some signs that a guy is a gentleman are old-fashioned while some are new conventions. Either way, class never goes out of style, does it? Look for these signs to see if the guy you’re into is a keeper or just a waste of time.
- He puts his phone away when he’s out with you. It shows he’s interested in you and what you have to say. Who wants to spend time with someone who’s not even paying attention to you?
- He holds the door open for you. This is controversial but it shouldn’t be. It’s a small thing to show respect and appreciation for a lady to open the door for her. Think of the opposite—he opens the door and barges in first. WTH is that? He’s putting himself first, that’s what.
- He pays. Come on ladies, let’s get real. The dude should pay! What men don’t appreciate is how much ladies spend before the date—hair, makeup, clothes, etc. Frankly, women spend way more money on dating prep than guys, so a guy paying for dinner isn’t asking too much, is it?
- He keeps the cussing to a minimum. Swearing has its place: at a poker game or pool hall. Not on a date with a classy lady. Come on, show some respect.
- He notices your hair. And your shoes. A gentleman is first and foremost observant, and if he’s observant, he’s more likely to be thoughtful and complimentary. A guy raised properly knows how much a lady cares about her hair and her shoes. If he calls out how great you look rocking those Louboutins, he’s definitely a keeper.
- He offers to drive. But is cool when you’re at the wheel. A gentleman should offer to do lots of things without being asked and driving is one of them. Still, a real man will be totally OK with you driving. It shows he’s comfortable and not a control freak, which is sexy!
- He’s on time. Honestly, I get that mobile phones have totally changed the how we meet up and flex every appointment and date. But for the love of God, when a guy is meeting you for a date, at the very least he should show up at the appointed time. Tardiness is a bad sign—it suggests a lack of conscientiousness on his part, and that he doesn’t value you. Not good!
- He’s kind. Not just to you—that’s a given—but how does he treat the wait-staff? The valet? A gentleman takes no pleasure in being a petty tyrant bossing around working people. It makes him look small and weak and is completely classless.
- He pumps the gas. Unless you’re living in New Jersey, you’re going to have a date where you need to fill ‘er up. And when that happens, a gentleman will hop to it and fill the tank. This shouldn’t be controversial, should it?
- He offers you his coat. Is it a little chilly on your after-dinner walk along the esplanade? I gentlemen won’t think twice to offer you his jacket. In fact, he will have brought it along expressly for this reason. This is a good sign.
- BONUS. While a gentleman will open a door and let a lady go through first, it’s a little-known fact that for revolving doors, it is considered polite to actually go through the door first, not last. Once through, of course, the guy should step aside and wait for you to walk through. Find a guy who knows this and you know you’ve got a guy who was raised well!