The 40 Year Old Virgin has been nominated as one of the top screenplays of the year by The Writers Guild of America.

The off-beat comedy goes up against heavyweight Oscar-competitors like Crash and Good Night and Good Luck for the title of best original screenplay. Brokeback Mountain and The Constant Gardener are amongst some of the names nominated for best adapted screenplay.

With the Producers Guild of America about to name its top film nominees the lists will serve as a useful dry-run test for the Oscars later this year, and hopefully indicate the hot tips for the coveted awards.

Other films that have earned a nomination include Russell Crowe's Cinderella Man, A History of Violence and Capote.