When people say: “You’re a geek!”, “You’re a nerd!” what does that mean? Are they compliments, or what? So let’s try making this easy and not confusing, by unraveling what exactly the difference is and whether you can relate to them or not.

Social Attributes

A modern day Geek is usually more interested in creative works such as, science fiction/ fantasy, computers, video games, comic books, graphic novels, and of course the internet. They are generally very knowledgeable and show vested interest in one particular thing, even to the point of obsession when it comes to the particular topic of interest.

A Nerd, on the other hand, is overly intellectual & obsessed towards academics such as math and science. Or let’s say the general implication is of an irritating and unattractive person who may be brilliant, but who chooses to focus on non-social pursuits. These kinds are seemingly least interested in the details of daily life, being more focused on the macroscopic concepts, such as scientific possibilities and the future of humankind. They also tend to show attributes such as being a bookworms, library hounds, and love to achieve academic honors.

Fanatic About

A Geek may enjoy board games, film, tech gadgets, hacking, and techno music. Geeks can be included in the list of people who are fanatic about watching Star Wars.

Whereas, for a Nerd, their interest lies in games that are strategic such as Dungeons & Dragons and television shows such as Star Trek, as it shares the same level of complexity.

Socializing Behavior

The Geeks react better to social stimuli than nerds, but tend to use obscure references abundantly which eventually bore those that do not understand it. They can also be prone to being pretentious and long-winded, especially when the topic happens to land on their particular passion.

While the Nerds love using gobbledygook-guff or unfamiliar terminology in their dialogue, they have a tendency to keep to themselves or seek the company of others that share complex and academic interests.

Occupational Interests

Geeks want fun while they work. As a result, they gravitate toward jobs that let them indulge in their interests and use their obscure expertise on a particular subject for a more practical purpose. Hence, they land up becoming writers, graphic artists, or animators.

A Nerd is also referred as a “four letter word” with a “six-figure income”. As such, they end up in fields with a focus on the applied sciences like computer programmers, scientists, professional abacus builders, engineer, or an inventor, or even a brilliant recluse who rarely sees the light of day, as they tend to seek jobs that benefit from their devotion to all things academia.

Dress Code

Geeks, try to pull off something that reflects their interests. The most common of all Geeks can be spotted wearing a sneaker, jeans, and a graphic tee featuring a cartoon, movie, or other intellectual property, which according to them is their interpretation to standard.

A Nerd on the other hand carries a conservative mindset and is more of an introvert. Slacks, button down shirts, and dress shoes are some of this species’ favorites.

Geeks, try to pull off something that reflects their interests. The most common of all Geeks can be spotted wearing a sneaker, jeans, and a graphic tee featuring a cartoon, movie, or other intellectual property, which according to them is their interpretation to standard.

A Nerd on the other hand carries a conservative mindset and is more of an introvert. Slacks, button down shirts, and dress shoes are some of this species’ favorites.