English majors are a certain breed of person.

Aside from loving the smell of old books and constantly missing your bus because you’re reading something, here are the signs you’re an English major.

#1 You’re A Grammar Queen

If someone doesn’t know the difference between your and you’re, they’re out. Grammar is no joke to an English major. No shade, but is it really that difficult? Lmk.

#2 Your ‘Must Read’ Pile Is Overflowing

Maybe it’s a pile of paperbacks, or a ‘read’ list on your Kindle, but no English student is without a list of books to read. The New York Times bestseller list is my personal drug of choice when it comes to recommendations, but sometimes keeping an ear to the ground when at uni can lead to some pretty great suggestions for your next literary obsession.

#3 You Quote Jane Austen Like It’s Nobody’s Business

She’s pretty much the queen of literature, right? It doesn’t take a full dive into Miss Austen’s back catalogue of writing to find the most relatable quote ever, so luckily for those of us more inclined to modern lit, her quotes are everywhere and are super inspiring, uplifting, and encouraging for the feminists of today. You go, Miss Austen!

#4 You Flourish In A Tute Room

Discussions are like crack to English majors. In a tute environment, when most students would shudder at the word “discuss” or even “have a quick chat” to fellow classmates, this is our time to shine. I mean, if we can write 5000 words about a book, talking for five hours about it isn’t much of a stretch (#humblebrag).

#5 You Read The Book Before You See The Movie

It’s a cliche, but let’s be real, the book is almost always better than the glamorous, Hollywood version of a story. Take Harry Potter, arguably one of the biggest film franchises of all time — and yet, I’d rather reread those books than sit through two and a half hours of action sequences, dramatic pauses and animated creatures. Plus, there’s often a reason books are offered movie deals — because they’re number one bestsellers, and therefore super deserving of a read!

#6 You Aren’t Afraid Of The Word Limit

If there’s one thing English students can do well, and without hesitation, it’s writing about anything and everything. Book reports, critical reflections, essays, you name it – we’ll write wayyyy too much about it. In many subjects at uni, a word limit is an intimidating prospect. But for English students? BRING IT!

#7 You’ll Happily Live In The Library

Again, it may seem cliché but for many English majors the library is a pretty amazing place. Walls upon walls of books, journals and periodicals with information spanning hundreds of years? Super comfy couches to sink into with a book in hand? Now you’re talking my language (pun intended).

#8 Your Hands Are Constantly Covered In Ink Marks

Often, the worst enemy of an English student is a biro. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to scrub my hands clean of blue ink blots after class. Not cool.

#9 You’ve Always Got A Pen Handy

You know those annoying people in lectures who plead with anyone who’ll listen for a spare pen? They aren’t English majors, that’s for sure. Having a pen handy in every handbag you own is an essential for English students, because you never know when inspiration might strike. That novel won’t write itself!

#10 You Make Birthday Cards Your Bitch

Writing cards may seem an arduous task for the average student, but English majors will breeze through them — making them super sentimental and tear-inducing to boot. Writing is never a task for English students. Throw me a blank card and a fountain pen any day.

(Lead image: Gilmore Girls/Warner Bros)