Dress. The very first step is the way you look. If we look at the intelligent people of our time, well they aren't exactly the fashion divas or the world, are they. Take for example, Bill Gates or Madeline Albright? They aren't going to win any fashion contests. The idea here is to look a little "off." What I mean by this is that maybe you haven't had your hair cut as often as you might, or perhaps your clothes are a bit outdated, or you could just go with the "professor look" ala the Professor in the sitcom "Gilligan's Island" who is always clad in a white button down shirt and khaki pants, or tweed with a pipe, and this look works for either sex. Dress can work wonders. But without the rest of the steps, you may just come off as looking like a dork.

Props. These are the items that you can carry with you or wear that will speaks simply volumes of intelligence. If you are carrying a copy of Tolstoy's "War and Peace" you may just be using it to prop up that leg of the sofa that has fallen off, but if you have it with you people will assume you're reading it. The same goes for wearing a pair of clear horn rimmed glasses. Glasses psychologists tell us, make people think that we are actually smarter than we are. But beware, if there isn't any prescription lenses inside people might suspect. If they ask you can say some dorky thing like, "I'm worried about getting cinders in my eyes." That will send them off the track. Also carry a bag, preferably from some literary non-profit, or University or Public Radio Station or Television Station and have some scholarly books inside, e.g. anything scientific by Isaac Asimov, etc. You get the general idea.

Conversation. This is the tell all, give all away item. I had a friend who, while in undergrad at Columbia University once said to me, "It is better to be silent and be thought stupid, then to speak and to remove all doubt." I don't agree with this. The way to sound intelligent is not what you say, but how you say it. If you listen to some of the great thinkers in the world you will notice what I like to call, "Putting space between the words you say." By putting a pause between your words it tends to give your words more weight. You'll have to practice. Try saying, "I (pause 2 seconds) wanted to ask (pause 5 seconds) if you (pause 2 seconds - look down, look away) how do I put this? (look away, pause 2 seconds, look back) had the time?" By pausing between your words it sounds like your words have a greater meaning. You could also say something like, "how do I put this into words you can understand." But that borders insulting, so be careful. Also say things like, "indeed." -IN your responses. You can also listen to an intelligent person, agree with them and maybe have some of their ideas come out of your mouth.

Friends. It helps if you have friends at whatever gathering you are at. You can research some topic of interest, know something about it (such as art) and then have them ask you about it. In this way you can come off as sounding intelligent by having them ask you about something you already know about, but this can backfire.

Lastly, you can actually do the homework, study up on everything and make yourself smarter and thusly not only appear smarter but actually be smarter.

Remember to be true to yourself. You may dress the part, and sound the part and even be hanging out with those brainiacs with the great cars and big houses, but in the final analysis..who are you at the end of the day? Just because you may not be smart about a some things, doesn't mean that you don't have a knowledge of anything. Be honest with you.