How And When To Use Profanity In Your Writing

Last Updated on January 29, 2023 by Nathaniel Tower

When I served as managing editor of the once-popular literary magazine Bartleby Snopes, I once rejected a story because of extreme overuse of profanity that rendered the piece almost incoherent.

The writer was not very happy about the rejection. In fact, in his response to my rejection, he said some of the most profane things I’ve ever read and did a lot to insult my intelligence. Apparently, the profanity was integral to the character development, and I had never met a real person in my life.

His profane-laced tirade did nothing to change my mind about his overuse of unnecessary profanity. At best, it became a distraction in the story. At worst, it resulted in the story being completely unreadable and would have possibly been the death of Bartleby Snopes had I published it.

Every writer (and reader, for that matter) has their own take on when to use profanity in a piece of writing. Most writers don’t even think twice about it during the drafting stage of writing, but when it comes to revising and editing, every word choice matters. Oftentimes, some of that profanity ends up getting cut out before publication.

Should writers use profanity at all?

Like everything else in the world, the answer depends. It depends on you as a writer, and it depends on your audience.

There have been times when I have been accused of overusing profanity in my own writing. In fact, my post about signs you aren’t a writer received so much criticism that I went back and edited it years later to remove a great deal of the profanity. In this case, I mostly just came across as a jerk. The topic was already controversial, and I added to that controversy with my profanity, which I mistakenly thought at the time made the post more lighthearted. I was wrong, and my readers let me know that.

Profanity is a topic that has long been debated among writers. Some argue that it adds realism and authenticity to a story, while others believe it is unnecessary and can detract from the overall quality of the writing. As with most things in life, the truth is somewhere in the middle. There’s no hard and fast rule regarding how much profanity you can use in your writing, but there are a lot of important considerations when it comes to when you should use it – or if you should use it at all.

When it comes to using profanity in writing, context is key. In certain situations, such as in a gritty, real-world setting or in the dialogue of a character who is rough around the edges, profanity can add a level of realism and authenticity. For example, in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, the characters use profanity often and it adds to the gritty and realistic tone of the story. Similarly, in the movie The Wolf of Wall Street, the characters use profanity liberally and it adds to the high-stakes and fast-paced atmosphere of the stock market.

When you definitely shouldn’t use profanity

On the other hand, using profanity in a fantasy or children’s story may not make sense and can take away from the overall tone of the story. For example, if a fantasy novel has a character using profanity, it may seem out of place and jarring to the reader, breaking the immersion of the story. Similarly, in a children’s story, profanity would not be appropriate and may offend some readers.

Profanity also has virtually no place in academic or informative writing. No matter how many articles we read about how people who use profanity might be smarter, no one ever sounds more intelligent when they say or write profane words. There has never been a time when an editor has asked me to add profanity, but there have been plenty of occasions where I’ve been asked to remove it.

Regardless of the type of writing you are doing, it’s important to understand that using profanity won’t instantly make your writing more appealing, and it definitely won’t make you a better writer. Generally speaking, heavy use of profanity will always narrow the appeal of your writing. I’ve never heard anyone read a story and then say, “Wow, I really would have liked this book if it had more bad words.” But I have seen plenty of situations where people complained about the amount of profanity in a book or move (and not just from very conservative or “prudish” people).

When using profanity in writing, it is also important to be mindful of the audience. A story intended for a mature audience may be able to handle more profanity than one intended for a younger audience. For example, a novel aimed at teenagers may use profanity occasionally, but it should be used sparingly and in appropriate contexts. However, a novel aimed at adults can use profanity more freely, as long as it is relevant to the story and characters.

Consider the purpose of your profanity

In addition to context and audience, writers should also consider the purpose of the profanity in the story. If the profanity is used for shock value or simply to be edgy, it may come across as gratuitous and take away from the story. However, if the profanity is used to reveal something about a character or to add to the tension in a scene, it can be effective. For example, in the movie Goodfellas, the profanity is used to reveal the characters’ personalities and to add to the tension and violence of the scenes.

On the other hand, before you create a character who can’t go three words without swearing, you may want to consider if there is another way you can develop that character. There certainly are people in the real world who “curse like sailors,” but overdoing the profanity in dialogue can make a story quite difficult to read.

Another great example of how profanity can be used effectively in writing is found in the essay “It’s Decorative Gourd Season, Motherfuckers.” This is a humorous piece of writing that became popular on social media as a way to mock the seemingly inordinate enthusiasm some people exhibit for decorative gourds and the fall season in general. The essay uses the profanity “motherfucker” in an exaggerated and playful way, and the profanity is not intended to be taken seriously.

In this context, the profanity serves to add humor and exaggerate the absurdity of the phrase. It’s not meant to be taken seriously, it is a tongue-in-cheek reference and the profanity is used for comedic effect.

This essay serves as an example of how profanity can be used in a humorous, exaggerated, and non-offensive way. When using profanity in writing, it’s essential to consider the audience, the context, and the purpose of the profanity, and make sure it serves a purpose in the story and it is not used just for the sake of it.

When to use profanity in your writing

When deciding when to use profanity in your writing, it’s important to consider the following:

Context: Is the setting of your story gritty and realistic, or more fantastical? Profanity may be more appropriate in a gritty, real-world setting, but may seem out of place in a fantasy story.

Audience: Who is your target audience? A story intended for a mature audience may be able to handle more profanity than one intended for a younger audience.

Purpose: What purpose does the profanity serve in the story? If it’s used for shock value or simply to be edgy, it may come across as gratuitous. However, if it’s used to reveal something about a character or to add to the tension in a scene, it can be effective.

It’s also important to remember that profanity, like any other writing element, should be used in moderation. Using too much profanity can be distracting and take away from the overall quality of your story.

Ultimately, it’s up to you as the writer to decide when and how to use profanity in your writing. By keeping the context, audience, and purpose in mind, you can use profanity in a way that enhances your story and adds to the overall effect you want to achieve.

Final thoughts on profanity in your writing

Should you use profanity in your writing? Ultimately, it’s up to you, but keep in mind that you probably aren’t your only audience. If you want people to read and enjoy your writing, you need to make sure to write in a way that appeals to your target audience. There are lots of people out there that simply don’t enjoy reading profanity.

So before you just go out there and throw a bunch of “fucks” around, make sure you consider all the factors. When using profanity in writing, context, audience, and purpose are key. Profanity can add realism and authenticity to a story when used in the right context, but it should be used sparingly and in appropriate contexts. Writers should also be mindful of the audience and the purpose of the profanity in the story. By considering these factors, writers can use profanity in their writing for maximum effect.

What are your thoughts on using profanity in writing? Do you do it? Does it turn you off as a reader? Share your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to share this post on all your favorite channels.