"My best advice for asking someone out on a date is to keep things as clear and direct as possible. When emotions are running high, it can be easy to get tripped up in your own words, so come up with a plan for what you want to say and stick to it when the time comes.
"Some people deal with nervousness around asking someone out by using vague or ambiguous language, and I understand the impulse to do that; if it isnât clear whether youâre asking someone to hang out as friends or as a date, then you might be able to backtrack and save face if the other person isnât interested in dating. It might feel safer to ask someone out if you can pretend you meant it as a platonicâ question all along if they donât want to explore anything romanticâ with you.
However, an ambiguous question leaves room for ambiguous answers; if the other person says yes, you wonât know if they have agreed to an actual date or not! They might even be unsure how to answer the question if they arenât sure exactly what youâre asking. Being clear means youâre putting yourself out there more than you would be if you kept things vaguer, but it also means youâre more likely to receive a clear answer in return."
Mo Ranyart, How do I ask a guy out?
