There are many kinds of nerd. These are instructions to become a real nerd, as opposed to an emo nerd or a computer nerd, etc.

Step one: Become very well read. I’ll be glad to make a suggested reading list for you.

Step two: Pick something obscure with which to become obsessed. For example, I love the anime cartoon Inuyasha. I’m also obsessed with grammatical accuracy. Learning a second language (especially a dead or Asian language) is an extra touch.

Step three: Become very slightly arrogant, just so that you’re always certain that you’re right but not so much that you feel genuinely conceited.

Step four: Make one or two nerdy friends.

Now you just need to dress and act the part!

Find something obscure that no one cares about, and learn every tiny little detail about it. Then constantly harass people with tidal waves of inane information, and they will likely consider you a nerd.

Alternatively, learn about a topic that people already associate with nerds, like Star Wars, or Star Trek, or take up Dungeons and Dragons. It also helps if you get some nice thick-lensed glasses, if you don’t have some already. The difference they make is truly amazing.

Hope this helps.

Edit: The above post wasn’t there when I started writing, and I have to say it’s better than my advice. Glad to see we concur on step 2.