How Do You Properly Compliment a Woman?

You may have seen the movie "What Women Want" starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. Its premise is where a chauvinistic male is suddenly blessed with the ability to figure out the truth about "what women want", what they are thinking at any given time.

It's a superpower us guys all wish we had, but we're not all Mel Gibson (who has since had his temperament issues in real life, so that may be a bad example, but work with me here). We don't all possess the greatest amount of finesse, and when considering such a man, the first one in line might be me. So I set out to discover what women really want, starting with ways to properly address and compliment them. My findings were eye-opening.

In a world of cat-calls, sexist comments (some of which are not even fit to print) and sexual harassment allegations left and right, one might wonder what appropriate words and nicknames are proper to use when addressing female friends, acquaintances or even significant others. Surprisingly, I learned such nicknames as "dame" and "doll" still impress women, while "babe" is antiquated and somewhat derogatory, even to your closest female companion.

But I would like to know from you, the reader: what is the sweetest/most impressive compliment you have ever received or affectionate nickname ever given to you by a man?

Please let me know in the comments! We may continue this topic on other subjects in other blogs, so let me hear it.

[Via Wikipedia]