It’s time to celebrate the grown-up men who know how to treat a woman.

If you’re dating now, you know where the boys are: on Tinder, Match, and the street, making obscene statements about what they want to do with you and where they want to do it. They’re texting sexual innuendos and asking to “hang out” because they’re afraid of committing to the idea of a proper date before they even know your last name.

None of this would be tolerated by a Real Man. He would dress and speak well, love even better, and have a great sense of humour, albeit of dubious taste at times. He would be unafraid to speak his mind, to stand firm in his beliefs, to fall madly in love, and to show his love (and fight for it, too).

Nothing beats being in the company of a man who embraces his masculinity in a way that doesn’t involve the obvious chest-pounding and catcalling, but rather the confident reserve of a gentleman.

Let me be clear before you accuse me of hating men: I adore more aspects of men than I can fit into a single article. This isn’t about man-bashing as a means of female empowerment. In fact, it’s the polar opposite. It’s a salute to the mature man’s man who knows how to treat a lady.

What does this man look like? Here are 16 signs he’s a gentleman.

1. He’s hygienic, but cleans his nails and trims his nose hairs outside of a nail salon.

Think about it: Would Hemingway or a gladiator be getting his nails buffed? Methinks not.

2. He can balance both swag and sophistication, and a career and personal life without too many proverbial exclamation points.

And certainly not multiple ones in a text message. No, no, no.

3. He reserves his “LOL” for actual laughter, which he exudes out loud and often.

4. He isn’t looking to play “pen pal” with you through your iPhone.

Because he knows that all text and no play makes Johnny a very dull boy.

5. When he’s interested in a woman, he doesn’t wait three days to call her.

But he does actually call her, and when he does, he asks her out for dinner, makes reservations, picks a great bottle of wine (because he knows how to) and then makes sure she gets home safely.

6. If he wants to see her again, he lets her know.

And if he doesn’t, he politely lets her know that it was a pleasure to spend time with her, even if it wasn’t. He does, however, let her know gently and firmly enough that he’s not interested so she doesn’t waste her time thinking it might become something it won’t.

7. He reads actual books and newspapers.

He has opinions on everything from scotch pairings to world events, while also understanding that not all of his opinions are facts and that not everyone has to agree with him in order for him to keep his relationships or his manhood.

In fact, he likes it when you don’t agree with him because it means he can engage you in a good debate or make you think about things more deeply than before you sat down in front of him.

8. He opens doors and takes coats.

Not because he feels a woman is weak, but because he’s strong enough to show that he cares about the comfort of those around him.

9. He might want to get into a woman’s bed, but he’s also interested in getting into her head.

Experience has shown him that seduction is a delicate dance, and the man who resides in her mind has conquered every other part of her.

10. He appreciates a woman who shows she cares for him, but he isn’t interested in being courted.

He enjoys taking the lead in courting and doesn’t need to be “chased” because he’s in desperate need of an ego stroke. He also won’t play “puppy dog” to a woman who takes advantage of this.

11. He doesn’t look to be anyone’s father or savior.

And he doesn’t pretend to be the leading man in any woman’s fairy tale. He’s just a man looking for a partner who can slay her own dragons, pay her own bills and explore the world alongside him.

12. He looks for a woman who doesn’t need him but wants him.

Not for money or the happiness of a baby or a safety net, but solely for who he is.

13. He has a career, a hobby, a family of close friends and a favorite way to have his steak prepared.

He isn’t the least bit intimidated when the woman in front of him shares these qualities; quite the contrary, it makes him want her more.

14. He has a strong understanding of his own character and convictions, what he values and what he doesn’t.

He’s a man who is honest with himself about himself, and therefore is OK being honest with those around him.

15. He takes as much pride in the way he treats women as he does his job and the way he looks.

16. He’s not the bad boy, a good boy, or a boy at all — he’s a man.

He’s a leading man looking for a great woman, not a good girl. Someone who can teach him something while sharing all of the solid qualities that he brings to the table.

He’ll gladly wait and work for this woman, fight for her, and hold out for her for as long as he needs to. But when she appears, he doesn’t hesitate; he’s astute enough to recognise when he’s struck it rich. And when she finds him and recognises all the signs that he’s a gentleman, she should be able to tell.