Your comments

Emily, Brighton
Now I have grown up, and have a fair repertoire of vulgarities to use as I see fit, I don't really find swearing upsetting. I've regularly worked on building sites and if anything the worse the language is the funnier the person sounds. "Deadwood" has to have one of the funniest scripts I've ever heard (if only Derek and Clive were here to see it) and I'm darn tootin' sure that the script writers had done some serious research before daring to submit it. The only swearing I find really offensive is the venomous filth that I hear parents hurling at their poor children.

Ian Mason From Manchester
I dont like swearing - I dont like to hear it - it is offensive - Though I can understand in certain times ie a child being murdered or a great injustice may allow a swearword to descibe the person who had done the crime - That is understandable - I dont like blasphemy from a religous viewpoint - I find it ofensive - I was brought up in a house where there was swearing - I feel that most swearwords are needless and offensive to women when you stop and tink about their meanings - I feel that the linguists have got it wrong when they say it is acceptable.

james from glasgow
I remember reading that it was more common for Protestants to swear and for Catholics to blaspheme. Was this ever true?

Paul, Nottingham
When a person swears in public or in a formal situation I just see a sign above them that says 'idiot'. Worst of all are managers who think it's clever to swear when talking to workers. Of such people I think the old addage applies that it is better to keep quiet and let people think you're stupid than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. I understand that dropping a brick on your toe might give rise to a swear word or two, but to just use it to communicate shows a real lack of imagination. Unless, that's what you wish to communicate.

Kay from Bradford
Growing up we had always been told not to swear as it isnt nice. When I left school and started my first job I was gobsmacked when I heard one of the senior managers use the F word in the office! I can understand why children pick up bad language because its becoming more and more common.

Keith from Northampton
I tend not to swear, and certainly not to blaspheme. I find the harry potter books interesting - the way people will not say voldemort's name reflects the power in a name and maybe shows to non-christians a little of why believers find swearing by saying "Jesus Christ" or "Oh, God" as offensive (they are powerful terms) when much of the population thinks they are comparitively weak swear words - certainly if compared with the F word (though it is losing strength) or the C word (still rarely heard on TV).

Carol, Canada
As society declares more and more language off limits as inappropriate (misogynistic, homophobic, racist, etc), the moral axis will compensate accordingly. I don't find it remotely surprising that "classical" swear words have gained wider currency at a time when whole lexicons of words have become just too dreadful to utter.

dave from Leicester
Swearing is and always has been common - society makes a word rude. This results in certain words becoming more acceptable as other become less. 1000 years ago 'scitan' (the original verb form of 'to sh*t') was a descriptive verb that described the act - it wasn't a swearword. 100 years ago 'damn' was counted as being just as bad as 'f*ck'. Nowadays, the modern swearwords are derogatory terms based on racial or sexual terms. The words are only offensive according to the audience and it is foolish just to rule out certain words. It definately doesn't show a lack of vocabulary, show me a way of saying "f*ck off" with the same amount of venom and meaning and I'll happily use it.

David Andrews BA-status, PgCertSpEd, in Finland
Hmmm.... I think in terms of effectiveness and intended use, when thinking of swearing. Essentially, the difference between Billy Connolly and Gerry Sadowitz.... one swears (GS) but the other "does it really awf'y well!" (BC). I rest my case :)

tashi from shropshire
i think there is nothing wrong with swearing... its all kewl... n if no one swears how are people supposed to let there anger out... its all kewl n im soory if people dont agree.

G Ploppe from Somerset
Although many find swears insulting, (eg mums, grans and school teachers) i think that if used in the right manner swearing is both clever and funny.

Iain, Rochdale
As a kid growing up in Rochdale, many of my schoolfriends had Ukrainian fathers - as a throwback their arrival here after WW2. They (the children, not the dads!) taught us some marvellous swear words, which although we didn't really know the meaning, sounded great. So if you've ever wondered why there's an enclave of Rochdalian-accented Ukrainian swearing in the old Lancashire mill towns, now you know.

elizabeth brisbane
who cares? and to bring up the old chestnut of christianity smacks of oppression. if you are serious about deconstructing language meaning, then there are far more offensive words to choose from...perhaps it's a lack of imagination in the non-swearer.

Roisin, Edinburgh
never underestimate the healing powers of swearing!

Rosey- Kent
I think that swearing is an acceptable part of everyday language, however I do find it particularly offensive when it is used gratuitously and out of context. I do believe that more often than not in such cases the use of expletives gratuitously, indicates an underdeveloped vocabulary. Incidentally, I am a Londoner now residing in Kent and I believe that generally speaking the children here in kent swear indiscriminately far more than I ever encountered of children in london; and I'm an ex teacher!

Tara Meenaghan, Brigg
Working in a male orientated industry I hear swear words all day every day, and have fortunately got used to them and don't hear them any more. I now notice it more if a fellow starts to swear then stops himself once he remembers he's in the presence of a 'lady'. As a teen I swore a lot to fit my peer group, but was weaned off by an older, more caring colleague who showed me it was unladylike. I now use swearing for specific situations, although prefer to use 'fiddle' or other old expressions. My mother always used 'fiddlesticks' when I was a child, or 'hells bells' if it was really bad.

ena
I try and use different words instead of cuss words like "pidgin"

Kiera, Salisbury
I have always been taught that if you have to swear then you have nothing else to say, i.e. you lack the intellectual ability to convey your opinions in other ways. I do think that swearing is on the rise and think that this correlates with the street culture of teenagers but also the role models they are seeing, reinforcing such actions. If children are constantly bombarded with celebrities swearing, then they too will adopt these linguistic patterns.

Jade Conway from, Shropshire
I think that swearing has a time and a place, like everything else. My father doesn't mind me swearing in front of friends,but my mother does.As long as I don't swear at school, or in front of teachers, it's alright.Some people just swear to try to act cool, so it is definatly on the increase.

Smo, Shropshire
I think that all people should have a good reason to swear when they do so. Swearing for no good reason is pointless and so many people do it in front of children, which is probably why swearing is on the increase. Usage in films is also overdone, as well as blaspheme, which I think is worse. Blaspheming is unpatriotic as well as degrading. We live in a country with Christianity (yeah!) as it's main religion. Using blasphemy is against Christianity and therefore is bad for the country. It degrades English society. The only time I think that swearing is acceptable is when A) You want to insult someone. B) You get hurt. C) You are very annoyed. D) You are explaining swearing to someone (like in this article).

TI/\/\ - shropshire
When people are annoyed, they think they have almost a right to swear, not necessarily at someone else. Blasphemy is against the Christian religion and may offend them. Swearing for the wrong reason is pointless and should not be done, as this can be taken extremely offensively, particularly racist comments which are completely unnecessary, and are a bad influence on the later generation. Swearing also shows a lack of vocabulary, the person swearing is obviously too stupid to think of a less-offensive word or phrase to say. Swearing is also used commercially in films, which may influence younger people who treat actors like idols to swear. Alot of the time, people show themselves up in public by swearing at family members of past friends To be honest with you, swearing is going up and up in Britain :(

Tashrifa Ahmed from Shropshire
swearing now has a massive place in the English Language used today by most of the young children. i have a really bad habbit of using bad language. i think it is not people's fault specially youngsters about the language they use as they usually pick it up from people around them like schools or on the streets or at home.

Hannah
I think that swearing is used in the right contect of English.Sometimes it's good to swear because it lets all your emotion oput, wheter it be anger or even supprise!

Big boy!!
I think that swearing lets you say how you feel and lets your anger out!!

Emily from California
I don't think swearing is a bad thing at all, or indicative of a poor command of the English language. I think it just serves to define even further the beauty and depth of the language. Not only that, but I think it can also provide a vital look at sociological stats. You could make an exhaustive study about how people's location, socio-economic background, age and other factors can contribute to someone's swearing vocabulary. Also, we should always remember that swearing is just words. It's not really indicative of any obscene acts. It's just a way of expressing your feelings and the extent of your command of the English language.

Gordon, Dundee
Swearing is excellent. Just think what life would be like without a good swear evry now and then.

Denise Toussaint (East Croydon)
I've noticed a lot more middle-class kids swearing (F-word) on their mobile phones whilst returning by train to Brighton or Hove from London. What a waste of an education. Sometimes swearing can be humourous. I was on the 157 bus last year, before Christmas - a bus which passes through Roundshaw Estate in Wallington. Two drunks staggered down the stairs just as we passed one of those lovely houses lit up like a Las Vegas casino. One nudged the other, can of cheap lager in hand and said, "Look at that! F****** drain on the national grid." You've got to save these words for maximum effect, otherwise they become worthless.

Janet, Manchester
Swearing, if used sparingly and in the right situation can be very effective.

Fiona, Amsterdam
I live in the Western part of the Netherlands where swearing in English is commonplace, I'm not sure if it is seen as trendy or shows a lack of vocabulary.

Natalie from Northampton
Swearing, if not on the increase, is certainly being more openly used today. We live in a society where social taboos are constantly being broken down and swearing is another of these former taboos. What strikes me as odd is how swearing has become acceptable in areas that used to be quite formal and strict, e.g the ofice or on TV. I can't bear the thought of it becoming more commomn than it already is. I was raised in a non-swearing household, always loved words, loved reading and ended up doing a language degree. I am inclined to think that those who do feel the need to use an expletive every other word do lack a wider, more 'intelligent' vocabulary because there are so many other effective words in our language that could be used instead. I find it particularly offensive when I hear the 'F' word dropped into every possible space in every possible sentence. How lazy to use the same word repeatedly in different parts of a sentence to mean different things. How can anyone justify that?

lindsay from wolverhampton
swearing is something that can be done in context. i rarely swear but people around me know that when i do its something thats really going wrong /getting to me. i hate to hear youth's on buses swearing at each other, especially when they are all in one large group and talking abou tthe trendy things, then they loudly use bad language to attract attention as they think theyre being clever.

Alan in Killie
I believe swearing is an important part of our culture and how we express our emotions. Here on the west coast of Scotland almost every sentence in casual conversation is littered with profanity, but people here are, on the whole, capable of expressing ourselves without swearing when the situation dictates. The culture here is not as insular it would appear to be in other parts of the country as among our peers we can swear at one another and use it as a form of endearment, and not specifically as an insult.

Anita, Scunthorpe
I agree that swearing is on the increase - in public anyway. I rarely swear,not because I find it offensive; just not necessary in everyday speach. Yes I swear when I am angry - don't we all? I object to peaple swearing when my children can hear and would not want to hear them swear. although it does not mean you are unintelligent it certainly gives that impression as the speaker cannot think of a better word - we have the greatest vocabulary of any language there must be something better out there!

Tom Coy London
I embrace our anglo saxon 'so-called swear' words and consider it bizarre that the Normans still have the power to embarras us into not saying them. Isn't it really another form of rather outdated racism which now appeals to snobbery and embarassment in us which has us ban such words. I believe language should be avaiable to us all and anything that generates in our language a divisiveness is to be overcome. And while we are at it, let's move to a language that is phonetically based and not steeped in traditional peculiar spellings. In summary surely I am not the only one writing in who feels no shame in saying the 'f' word. Please let's allow expression. We might encourage sensitivity and appropriateness of this but not outdated repression.. Please?

Colin Jackson, Telford
I disagree with those who suggest that swearing shows a lack of vocabulary. Many of the emotions expressed by swear words cannot adequately be expressed any other way. To paraphrase Billy Connolly, 'Go away' is not an adequate alternative to 'f*** off!'. In some cases, swear words can be used as highly effective language tools, to disarm confrontations, manipulate those around you, to puncture somebody's pomposity etc. Swear words (and the many uses to which they can be put) are an essential tool in our relationship with the worlds around us. I do however agree that the repetitive and habitual use of the sample couple of expletives in casual conversation is not exactly erudite. I suspect, however, that it is not so much a case of lack of vocabulary as simple habit - almost autistic in nature, no different in principle than people who continually say 'erm...' or 'y'know'.

Andy, Edinburgh
Swearing is great! If you want to reinforce your passion on a point the F word has no substitute. Used with care they can make your point clear and add humour.

Chris
I think that swearing does not show a lack of vocabulary. Indeed, swearing, if used well, can be used to create all sorts of meaning, particularly humour, in a way which could not be managed otherwise. 'Derek and Clive', Peter Cook's and Dudley Moore's characters, is a good example of two well educated and clever men using swearing creatively for humour's sake.

Caroline Andrews from Hampshire
I've noticed that the incidence of casual swearing has increased over the past few years, especially among young people. A few months ago, I stood in a long queue behind three teenagers who were chatting away to each other in a normal conversational way and every other word was "F***ing". I'm no prude (I have a wide vocabulary of expletives myself, which I use when exasperated or provoked), but there really is no need for such casual and constant bad language. It shows a laziness and paucity of vocabulary which is very sad and which gives an unfavourable impression of the speakers to their listeners. On a slightly more understandable occasion, I was walking along a path in a park behind a very small boy, who looked to be about 5 or 6. He was holding a lead attached to a very large dog, which was straining to escape. It finally succeeded and the boy yelled a series of expletives after it and called it names which would have made even a docker or a navvy blush.

Rochelle, London
There is no doubt that swearing is on the increase,and the aspect of this that I most object to is enforced listening eg in public places (at the bus-stop today), or on the television. I particularly notice that categories of people (such as young girls) who would not have used such words or would certainly not have used them so publicly will express themselves very loudly at any time and in any place in this way. Of course, whatever swear words were used by your parents or are used by your circle have a magical ability to be inoffensive. eg I was brought up with 'bloody' (though not with the overuse of today's swearing) so I do not feel I lack grace when I use this word, although swearers of words I don't use definitely lack grace!

Christine Levasseur - Sutton Coldfield
I believe that swearing is on the increase. My husband and I have travelled quite a lot and we comment that you do not hear swearing as much in other countries. If you do it is always the English. The dreaded F word is becoming a normally accepted word especially in the younger office environment. There are lots of other words that could be used.

big bear
i think swearing is on the increase

Dawn Liverpool
Swearing is definitely on the increase. It is used in everyday conversation, on commercial radio, television - why? Can't we express ourselves without resorting to foul language in front of people we don't know and children?

Emma, Lincoln
Swearing does have a place in our language today, although extreme swearing (the dreaded F word for example) is making too much of a show in films. I am no prude, but I do think that swearing does show a reduced command of our beautiful language. Surely we can find ways of making ourselves understook without having to resort to swearing? I love the idea of swearing at your parents being illegal, I shall return home and suggest to my step children that I start a movement to get this law re-introduced.

Philip Hales from Sittingbourne
I never swear, I believe it shows a complete lack of vocabulary. People who use the 'F' word in every other word use it to fill their sentences, not for effect.