The Grammar Guru: Inspiring Halloween Costume Ideas for Language Lovers

Not all Halloween costumes are created equal, and here at QuillBot, we cater to writers.

Here are some literary- and language-inspired Halloween costume ideas to wear to that upcoming mad monster party.

Literary costume ideas

There's nothing more immersive than becoming your favorite character.

1. Hamlet

Alas, poor Yorick . . . this costume is so simple.

If you're yearning to go as The (Emo) Prince of Denmark this Halloween, all you need is a prop skull. That's right: Hamlet's graveyard speech is so iconic that the moment you hold up that head, people will know what you're going for.

Bonus points if you want to add eyeliner and swoopy sidebangs.

2. Frankenstein's monster

The monster is a cultural icon, sure, but did you know he originated in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein? No green skin, no bolts in the neck, no fashionable combat boots. In the original story, he just looked like a guy.

But Halloween isn't about just looking like a guy.

Here is Quilly, modeling the classic purple shirt-black blazer combination the Hollywood-ized Frankenstein's monster is known for wearing. Slap on some green paint and you're ready to go.

3. Holden Caulfield

Controversial? Maybe seventy years ago, when The Catcher in the Rye was published. Listen, Holden has been breaking hearts and taking names from every generation since the '50s, and it's only right we include him in our iconic literary Halloween costumes list.

All you need to look like America's most loved and hated narrator is a red hunting hat, a suit jacket, and a briefcase. A snarky attitude is optional but recommended (try walking around and asking people, "Where do the ducks go in the winter?").

Language costume ideas

For the linguistically inclined.

Grammar police

If debates over the Oxford comma or the number of spaces after a period keep you up at night, this grammar police costume is for you.

Grab a cop costume from your local Spirit Halloween, and you're just one step away from grammar police. You simply need to cut out some punctuation marks and attach them to your shirt, as Quilly demonstrates below.

Don't judge a book by its cover

Everyone loves an idiom costume, right?

Fashion a book out of an old box you have lying around. It doesn't matter which book you choose to make; it can be your favorite or your least. All that matters is that it's big enough to wear, or at least cover your torso.

Once you're wearing the book, grab a mallet and don a curly wig. When someone asks you what your costume is, sofly reply, "Don't."

Hopefully, these Halloween costume ideas are just write for you.