Your comments

Alex, Leeds
Swearing is somthing that is low life in my oppinion, it is used for various reasons by these types, insecure people, people of low intellect, poser's, morons, thugs, attention seekers, bullies, people that only care about themselfs as they lack all morals and respect for others, they think it gives them status, far from it, what sort of low leveled minded people swear in public, in front of children, offend the elderly, the decent people of our society, these people do not even care about respect, even for themselves never mind others, some people think it is ok because it is heard quite often, yes it is heard quite often because people do not stand up to it, and if that is the way they feel then it will only get worse, thse who say its funny, its a laugh, well as i say i think it is low intelligence that is talking, not a reasonable or even a well thought out statement, some may be clever in some things but not in others, to give statements of this sort, and to say behaving like an animal, would be derogartory to the animal, after all are we not supposed to be the intelligent life?

Naomi Wiggins, New Zealand
What about women swearing? The other week my husband told me I was the most foul-mouthed woman he had ever met! My retort was that he hadn't met enough women. In fact I found it very funny and felt strangely proud. He hasn't called me the 'most beautiful,' 'most intelligent' or anything like that - at least I've got something :-) I'd be interested to hear what other people think about women who swear.

alias dave2, Leicester
Entries on swearing and swear words make serious reading. after reading them this bank holiday I'm infinitely better informed- so thank you all for contributing. If the F-word is heard in school, I shall remind the user of the status of a cliche in polite circles.

Rebekah Ireland, Stockport
Swearing is completely normal; it allows us to use language as an escape. I mean swearing when humans react to certain situations, e.g. pain, humour, disbelief, anger, etc. I don't agree with people who use foul language in the wrong contexts (i.e. scallies)-it's just offensive. Of course, children practice with swear words (usually the milder ones) as they grow up, and use them at the wrong time, much to the embarassment of their parents! So, it's important to learn when it's appropriate to swear and when not to, but most people are intelligent enough to realise that anyway. I don't see anything wrong with swearing when you're angry-that particular word you use is emotionally loaded-if you just said 'oh blast it' you probably wouldn't feel justified!

Christine (15) from North Carolina, USA
Living by my dad's proverb, "The only people who use four-letter words are those who are too stupid to come up with more intelligent ones," I am the only one in my group of friends who refuses to swear. I've relayed the proverb to them and always let them know I diapprove but it doesn't do any good. I think people (especially my generation) have gradually lost interest in proper (polite) speech, and something should be done about it. (I'm being an awful prude again...he he)

Vicky Pollard from bristol
Yeah,but,no,but,yeah, but what happened was I think swearing does have a place in modern language today,one use maybe to place an emphasis on ones point,for example some comedians use certain words in "punch-lines" and research shows that this is an effective comedy tool, perhaps providing an element of shock.However alternativly one might swear to draw attention to themselves within their social reverance group and boost their ego,depending on what values underline their subculture or sommit or nuffink.And this second useage of these "Rude words" may offend others around them. Having said that,any attempt to discourage these people from using these words is ristricting ones freedom of speech.Do we really want to live in a world where we are unable to say what we want?

Alice Dixon from cambridgeshire.
i think swearing is fine between people you no, but i think it is very rude when you are in a shop for instance and you hear somone swear for no reason and they say them really loud and it makes you feel uncomfortable and they don't even no they are saying it loudly

K from Michigan, USA
I dislike it in part for the reasons that many posters have suggested as a positive: "It gets your emotions out." Unless I have harmed you, you have no right to spew all the anger in your soul onto me as I innocently carry out my daily business.

An innocuous bystander from East Anglia
Swearing is undoubtedly on an upsurge and I believe the superfluity of it either reveals the inarticulate sector of society or is simply (due to the flippant and casual nature with which the media employs such derogatory terms) a convention or habit, i.e. another form of non-fluency features in speech, for instance: 'you know'or 'erm'. To profess it is simply an inability of an individual to express themself coherently is to adopt a narrow-minded and archaic view. The use of it is hihgly under-rated, it has a multitude of functions and applications and can often produce positive effects if utilised deftly. Ask yourself, "Is the gratuitous use of expletives a result of our ever-increasing liberal society?" One worth considering.

John M J from Mumbai, India
Swearing, if it is being used anywhere and wherever, in whatever context, has to be usefull for the person using those swear words. How effective it may prove depends on the actual situation. It (its usage) sub-consciously allows a person to reveal his feelings about the particular topic in hand. According to me it has the following effect or impact 1) It attracts attention, in an otherwise boring conversation 2) If used against a person, s/he wants the other person insulted or feel offended. Of course, in this case it may be correct to assume that it is the lack of good vocabulary" or culture which may induce the use of bad, offending words. 3) Swear words are basically forbidden words. Words - nevertheless. Therefore it is used sparingly in old world culture while the present generation, inspired by few elders and media, thinks it as 'cool' to use it as a form of rebellous assertion.

Phil, Hinckley
Best comment and 100% true (Paul, Nottingham ), absolutely no argument could be stronger - but why just "formal situations"?

Geordie
The only people who do not swear are on the tv soaps. Swearing is no more popular today than it was 20 years ago. People just notice it more because we live in a society where we take too much notice of each other. Swearing can be a gang thing, like a pack of animals having there own words that other people would find offensive but belong just to them. I have noticed that even people from 2 miles from Newcastle hold conversations using swear words only they understand and we use our own. Stop taking so much notice of other people and live your own lives and you neevr know you might just have a life.

Coco - London
Some people use swearing instead of violence. That is better.

A&A, Sheffield
we think swearing is sometimes neccessary. it can releive stress and show release of anger. however used all the time can show immaturity and is vulgar.

sarah and jake from sheffield
we do not agree with swearing, we think it is completely inapropriate in this day and age. if you are angry or upset, it can be used personally but should not be used in general conversation as it is disrespectful to the individual recieving the obscene language and is a bad example to elders and the young.

Mark from Southport
Swearing is so rife nowadays especially among youth culture. This is because it is perceived, in most cases, as a well-trusted, handy adverb in order to respond to the moment of a particular conversation or amusing anecdote. Individuals who deliberately limit or consciously control the quantity of tabboo words they utter are usually regarded primarily as outsiders by the supposedly 'hip' groups (mostly chav, scalls etc)as squares.

Jess, Hampshire
swearing is awesome, its fun, makes people laugh and lets people know exactly how you feel. everyone can relate to what swear words mean. everyones heard them before! have a swear it makes you feel looooads better!!!!

Michael Taylor from Wetherby, Leeds
To be honest I can't see the problem with swearing, it's completely man made, it does no harm and I can't see how it is offensive. People say you can't swear in front of children, yet children swear far more then adults. Using the F word is just as descriptive and useful as saying "oh flip", and what about the word s**t, who decided that that was a bad description for a substance but the word poo was not? Madness, swearing does not annoy me but people who moan about it do, by the way I am not a big swearer.

David from Twickenham
I didn't swear much when I was at school in the forties and fifties as I was a bit isolated being rather a swot. When I did my national service I quickly took up swearing especially the f word as everyone used it all the time. But eventually I found out that those who had always sworn knew (as I didn't) that you didn't swear in front of ladies and I got into trouble for swearing when I shouldn't!

T.Langley Newbury
I relish having a good swear, particularly when my father asks me if that's all they taught me at University! Having said that I do not swear in front of my children (aged 7 and nearly 2) apart from to curse our bloody cats when they decimate the local wildlife population. I have heard my 7 year old swear only once, it was clearly experimental, I felt genuiunely cross and expressed such outrage and horror that I don't think she'll do it again for a while.

Ruth, Suffolk
I think constant swearing shows a lack of intelligence and manners. I occassionally swear, which makes people take more notice because they know I do not swear normally therefore it has more of a effect. I find it very upsetting when I hear young children using the f word in every other sentence, I feel that it too much.

Mark Winn
Swearing when used at the right moment is not only just as descriptive but even more descriptive than the alternatives. For example if you have a car accident how many people would say oh gosh or dam it F it would sum up exactly how you feel.

Matthew Davis from Lincoln
The fact remains that the people who are offended by swear words are only justifying their existance. Sometimes I want to cause great offence - so, far from indicating a lack of vocabulary, actually hints at the opposite. It is for this reason that I rarely use words that have become part of lazy, mainstream vocabulary (damn, bugger, shit etc...). For what is a swear word if not, by its very nature, offensive? If I tell someone to 'go fuck themselves' I want it to really mean something.

Cathy from Swindon
I dont see anything wrong with swearing in informal situations, I use the f word so often that I dont sometimes notice that I've done so. I don't believe that it shows a lack of vocabulary as I will often accompany the expletives with long and descriptive sentences. Having said that, I make a concerted effort not to swear at a job interview as they are very formal situations and it is not the best way to impress a prospective employer!

Joanna, Stoke On Trent
I am currently at university and have a lecturer who sometimes swears in his lecture. This just makes me cringe - I find it so inappropriate and unnecessary. However, I do occasionally swear myself and have no problem with swearing in a social setting.

Pat from London
I think swearing is funny, clever and grown up.

Carolyn, Kent
I believe that those people who swear at least twice in one sentence has an extreme lack of vocabulary. However, I could not state that I never swear. There are occassions when I am so frustrated with a situation that the only verbal expression of my frustration is to swear. I think that it is not swearing that is on the increase, I think it is a lack of respect in teenagers. I would never swear at my elders, and neither would my son because of respect.

Tim, Redditch
Language reflects one's subjective construction of one's world. Many use auxiliary swearing in their everyday conversation; this puts no extra information in to the conversation, only social acceptance by their peers. The use of auxiliary swearing transmits a limited understanding and appreciation of the environment, small-world ideology.

Sarah K, London
I think we all need to accept that swearing IS increasing and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Language change is apart of living, it is meant to happen. Yes, so the 'f word' is shocking to our parents, but to us young generation it is nothing uncommon. Words follow a cycle, this being pejoration (gaining negative meaning) and ameliaration (gaining postive). I agree that in some respects it shows a lack of imagination - cant people find other, less colourful words to describe there feelings? yet this is something that cannot be helped. When i am a parent i expect i shall tell my children off for swearing because they need to learn the most important aspect of language - how it is used, and who it is in front off. e.g. between friends and parents. There is a distinct line. It is impossible to tell if this line will widen or just become more flexible. only time will tell!

Alex Hove Actually
Swearing is great, a fantastic way of expressing how you feel (not very English!!). An inappropriate expletive at the wrong person on the wrong day can be devastatingly effective, like a whip cracking at the back of your head. The smug satisfaction, it's out there, you said it. No point bottling it up. But without context words are meaningless. Pins in the fabric of life.

Marie, Durham, North Carolina, US
I have been trying to cutback on my swearing as it gives a bad impression to other people. I thought my spates of swearing were not so bad until I had a new friend come back to the states with a very active "potty mouth." It sounded so gratuitously coarse and crude that I was emberassed for her. Realising how offensive it sounds has helped me moderate my own swearing when frustrated. I still swear when I am scared, such as when driving in scary traffic or to blow off steam in the middle of a delicate operation. One way I get around swearing (or offending people) is to use foreign/uncommon swear words. The only disadvantage is that my young niece and nephews think these words are funny and "ok" from hearing me use them, and their parents don't realise the import of what they are learning! I have to tell the kids that the words are really for adults, and don't say hell in front of Granma! Although some people think the terms are quaint, I can usually restrict myself to "shoot" or "darn it" "fudge" or even just plain "damn," reserving the G-F-D! for special occasions when noone else can hear me. Otherwise, how emberassing!

Katie, Flintshire
Swear words are just that - words. Why are they any more offensive than 'non-swear' words?

Rob Stepney East London
When I was a child it was quite common for women to swear, however there were fairly rigid unwritten rules on what words were used & where the words were allowed. F & B were OK but C never allowed. C was permitted between men but only in single sex, mainly working groups & never in front of minors. When women swore it was only within familiar or close social groups & depending upon the family sometimes not in front of their husbands. If someone's children were heard swearing out aloud in public then that family would be considered rough. If a member of a female group was considered a bit genteel then swearing would be off limits in front of her, but often whispered when she was out of earshot. Graphic sexual language was strictly taboo, sometines colourful or imaginative inuendo was used to overcome that hurdle, often difficult for an outsider to decypher. I've often heard people from other parts of the country say how shocked they were when they first heard a woman utter a swearword, however we tended to hear the phrase or sentence & create a picture in our minds rather reeling back at the sound of the expletive. The words were never placed for shock value, there were enough ordinary words in the English language if you wanted to be really insulting, they were used for colour, humour and an aid to description. Today as then I find swearing for swearing's sake pretty unimaginative, within the correct social context I have no problems at all.

Sarah from Birmingham
It seems silly to me to claim that the 'lack of vocabulary' idea is wrong by using the example of someone who isn't a native english speaker. Those who grew up speaking english know the grammer but they don't necessarily have a wide range of vocabulary to chose from. It is poor communication to swear, it uses words that have nothing to do with the situation rather than getting to the heart of the issue.

Steph from Jersey
Having recently moved here from one of the ex-colonies of Britain in Africa, I am absolutely horrified at the foul language coming from young (6 to 18 yr old)mouths. I find it ugly and unacceptable, manners cost nothing and make the world a happier place to live in. This constant swearing makes me feel that everyone is angry and ticked off with life the whole time. The comment made that swearing is just words and not indictive of any obscene acts would, therefore, surely make the use of racist remarks also acceptable as they too are only words and not physical manifestations of racial hatred!

Toni, Chelmsford
If you work in a job where you must not on any count swear, particularly those involving children, hearing a swear word in those places can sound really shocking. However,when not allowed to swear, this can make it seem all the more liberating when you are out of those confines. I'm dreading the day when the C-word becomes more acceptable. I fear this is becoming the case though.