Asking a girl out on a date can be nerve-racking no matter how many times you've done it before, and no matter how much advice you've heard (including unsolicited advice!)  However, if you can stand to listen to a few more pieces of dating wisdom, here are some essentials.< p>

Asking out a total stranger:  Just dive right in and ask.  The more you try to talk up an unknown woman before popping the question, the more likely you are to lose your nerve.  Ask first, then when her face scrunches in confusion or embarassment, you can introduce yourself and tell her how pretty she looks.  If she says no, well, it's just a stranger, no harm done.

Asking out a girl you sort of know:  If you met a friend of a friend at a party, and want to become more than a friend of a friend, get a little info before you ask her out.  Find out what she likes, then try to work it into asking her out.  She'll be more receptive if she thinks you have some thing in common besides friends.

Asking out a girl you know:  Since you may have frequent and enduring social interactions with a girl you know, make sure of a few things before you ask her out.  (1) Make sure she doesn't already have a boyfriend. (2) Make sure she didn't just break up.  This will increase your chances of a yes.  And the most important thing is to see if she is responsive to flirting.  If she's warm, ask her out.  If she's cold, spare your ego.

Remember not to take it too personally if you happen to get a no.  If a woman turns you down in a mean way, it means she has problems, not you!