Single or not?

Before asking anyone out, it's important to determine if your person of interest is single. While this is not necessary (surely the person will inform you once you do the asking), knowing the person's status in advance can spare some potential embarrassment. Of course, this can be easier said than done.

Eliminating married men and women is a pretty straightforward task. A ring on the left ring finger is a pretty sure sign that someone is taken. Now, if there's no ring, the task becomes tougher, especially if you only know the person in a casual setting and share no friends.

If you come straight out and ask if the person is single, that's a pretty sure sign that you're interested, and you might as well have just asked the person out anyway. For those not so bold, there are some other options. You could ask a co-worker or someone who knows the person well. Of course, then you might run into the chance that the person you ask tells the object of your affection that you're asking about them.

Another option is to work it somehow into conversation. For instance you could ask if she and her boyfriend (or he and his girlfriend) have plans for this weekend. A simple "no," means she probably has a boyfriend. But if there is no one in the picture, she may clarify that no, she doesn't have a boyfriend. Or you could talk about a movie that's coming out and say, "Oh, I bet you and your significant other would love that!" Again, if there's no SO, the person will probably clarify.

There are other more discreet ways as well. You can look for the person on Facebook or MySpace, or you can google the person and see what comes up.

What are the best methods you have for finding out if someone is single? Do you usually take the straightforward or the discreet route?