When is the right time to say "I love you"?

Being the first one in a relationship to say the big ILY is pant-crappingly scary. You know you feel it, and you're confident in your emotions, but regardless of how respectful and lovely your partner is, the fear of them just going, "WHAT? Well I don't, you utter minger," is very real. Newsflash: they are probably not going to do this. If they do, dump them immediately.

There is, of course, no one rule when it comes to the ILY timing. Some people blurt it out after a matter of weeks *cough* Love Island contestants *cough*. Others (me, once) wait EIGHT MONTHS, and go to bed every night filled with the terror of accidentally muttering it in their sleep.

Yes, we are all aware there is no golden rule or failsafe advice when it comes to such important life or death matters, but still it's nice to know what everyone else is doing and base our judgements on that. Right?!

A data journalist at YouGov decided enough was enough, and it was time to question the general public (almost 4,000 of them) about their ILY habits and put the rest of us out of our misery. The results are kind of shocking TBH.

So apparently, 16% of people have uttered the three big words within a month of meeting someone. You brave, honourable souls, please teach me your ways. 3% have blurted it out within a week (further research is needed into how this worked out for them because my Spidey-senses are telling me 'probs not good').

The most common time to wait was within three months, with 22% of people getting it done in that time. 14% did it within six months (you gotta be sure, we're here for it).

Some waited for a year (6%) and some even TWO YEARS (2%). 3% revealed they have never once told someone they love them.

I think what we can take from this is, if it feels right do it. No one except you and the person you're spilling your lovely guts to really knows when the time is right.

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Fiona Cowood

I'm Cosmo's Content Director, most interested in the serious stuff - politics, news and campaigns. Having said that, what's the deal with James Franco these days?