Swearing in writing

[the_wolfs_howl]

Okay, well, as a Christian, I believe it's wrong to swear; I'm assuming most of you are the same. The strongest word I ever use is crap, and that only when I'm really worked up.

But what if you're writing a story and you have a character who's much more profane than you and would swear in situations where you would say, "Oh, shoot!" or whatever? Is it wrong to write swears in characters' dialogue, to stay in character and show how angry (or whatever) they are? What do you think?

[Tsukuyomi]

I think it'll be ok Your character in the story is a separate character from you, right ^^? When writing, you want your character's personality to match them Even if that means they use vulgar language ^__^

[Peanut]

Depends on the situation, intended audience and writter. Obviously if the situation within the story doesn't call for swear words then you probably don't have any reason to use swear words. If you don't feel comfotable writting swear words then don't have your character say any swear words. If you think you would loose your audience if you used swear words then don't use swear words. At least, this is how I do things...

Also, what Tsukki said. My sister was a theater major in college and was asked to act parts that weren't exactly Christian, yet she did them anyway. Why? Because she wasn't the character. She didn't even make the character. So is she at fault for what she did? No. So, don't worry about it.

[LadyRushia]

There are ways to get around writing curse words. I haven't had any characters yet who would be the type to curse a lot, but I think there are simple ways to deal with that without making your character sound stupid. For example, you could do something like this:

"What is that guy's problem? I can't believe he did that!" said John, cursing as he continued his raving.

Or you could simply say in your prose "he cursed." You can also word things in a way that would be just as strong as if the character actually cursed.

I don't think it's wrong for everyone to write curses in their stories, but I personally avoid it as much as I can and none of my characters have really been hindered by that.

[Danderson]

"What is that guy's problem? I can't believe he did that!" said John, cursing as he continued his raving.

Or you could simply say in your prose "he cursed."

Ted Dekker does this in his writing and it often gets the point across, and I've never felt that it was cheesy the times he's put it in.

[Fantasy Dreamer]

For example, you could do something like this:

"What is that guy's problem? I can't believe he did that!" said John, cursing as he continued his raving.

Or you could simply say in your prose "he cursed." You can also word things in a way that would be just as strong as if the character actually cursed.

^ That's what I do. Instead of using the actual word in dialogue, just say "he swore/cursed" and leave which word he used up to the readers' colorful imaginations! ^_^;

There still may be some situations where it fits better to actual use a curse word, but you're going to have to figure out for yourself if you feel comfortable doing so. If it bothers you to have written in a curse word for one of you characters dialogues, then you shouldn't do it. There is no reason to violate your conscious and no one is going to blame you if you decide not to use the actual words.

Just know, there are ways around it. ^_^

[Anystazya]

Well, this is something I've had a couple issues with in writing. >.< I try my best not to use the actual swear words, but there's one story in particular where there are a couple of people who, especially with their background, would be the type to curse normally...

Glad to see the opinions of people here on the subject ^^

[Esoteric]

I don't believe anyone can give you a definite yes or no as to whether it's 'wrong', as opinions vary greatly even within 'Christian' circles. You know I've used language in my stories, but I hesitate to judge whether it's definitively right or not. I've simply become comfortable with using it to a degree. Do what you're comfortable with, Wolf. If you aren't comfortable with the idea, then don't and just use one of the work-arounds suggested.

Basically, you should write for your audience. If you're writing for the Christian market, you should avoid using language which would potentially lose readers. If you're writing for mature secular audiences, you have more freedom with content.
I will add though, that if it's fear of what others will think that's stopping you, don't let it. As one writer said, 'don't write books for your mother'. By that he meant, don't let a fear of what your family and friends may think paralyze your creativity. If I only wrote stories my mother would like...well I'd be limited to writing the next Andy Griffith Show.

[ShiroiHikari]

If my characters are the type to swear, then I let them, but I try to keep the number of swear words down, the reason being that using too many of them can be tacky.

[shooraijin]

I bleep it out, like, "Answer your ____ing phone," complained so-and-so. (I stole this idea from James Herriot, who used it in his books for expressions judged too coarse even for Yorkshiremen.)

[the_wolfs_howl]

Thanks for all the suggestions! It's nice to get so many different opinions. For the most part right now, I try to work around actually using the words ("he cursed", etc.), but recently I've come across a couple instances where it just felt cheesy for the character to say anything other than a swear, even though it made me wince to type it.

Thanks for the input!

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Often times I feel that it adds a sense of realism to the story. The film "Good Will Hunting" is a good example.

[Peanut]

Often times I feel that it adds a sense of realism to the story. The film "Good Will Hunting" is a good example.

But film is different from novels Ryan...much different. In writting a screenplay, most of your writting will be dialouge and is written in spoken English. If you have a character who would likely curse in a situation and your not writting a PG or G rated script, your going to have to write out a curse word or do something like this (C***) for any curse word. It's kind of a requirement because the goal is to show realistic dialouge. However in Novels you can capture the same sort of realism by simply writting "So and so curses" or using any of the other methods mentioned because the readers can usually fill in the rest with their own imaginations. Film doesn't have that sort of luxury...

[bigsleepj]

I don't like a lot of swearing, but I can stomach it. When I write, however, I don't have my characters swear profusely, but they do swear and they say the "F" work numerous times, but I consider it more something like an architectural feature in the story; generally I use it to call attention or imply to something important that affects the characters negatively.

[ShiroiHikari]

Yeah, my characters usually use coarse language only if they're angry or shocked. Also, even though I use first-person in the project I'm currently working on, I rarely use swear words in the narrative (prose? I'm not sure which term to use here). I only do that if I feel I really need to.

[Zarn Ishtare]

I swear often enough in real life, but not with my characters. It's a weird reversal of the norm, but there you go.


The biggest thing is believability. If the guy just wrecked his dad's brand new Mazzorati, he'll probably go &^$# or something. But don't insert it just to adultify the script, then it's just tasteless and boring.

[Fish and Chips]

I tend to have some (light) swearing, but that's because I generally use it like salt and pepper. Just a tap of it at the right moment can add to the flavor of the scene, but too much just kind of kills everything. Goes hand in hand with speech patterns really.

Though only write what you're comfortable with, and know your audience.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

I can't even recall what I was reading, but it had a preface in regards to the language. The author put it this way. "The people described in this book curse. They're bad people, truly honestly. You're not going to hear a badguy say "Aw shoot" or "Darn" and believe it." Basically he went on about the nature of the characters doing the cursing and how it just didn't fit for the character. You don't have to go in to great detail about what they're saying, but acknowledge somehow, at least, that the words exist in our vernacular.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

But film is different from novels Ryan...much different. In writting a screenplay, most of your writting will be dialouge and is written in spoken English. If you have a character who would likely curse in a situation and your not writting a PG or G rated script, your going to have to write out a curse word or do something like this (C***) for any curse word. It's kind of a requirement because the goal is to show realistic dialouge. However in Novels you can capture the same sort of realism by simply writting "So and so curses" or using any of the other methods mentioned because the readers can usually fill in the rest with their own imaginations. Film doesn't have that sort of luxury...

Mmmm this is true. Good point.

[Tommy]

If in writing applies to lyrics, I avoid curse words.

I think curse words in song-writing makes the song sound immature and less like the art it should be.

Of course I'm referring to the lyrics I write for the various bands I've been in.
I will listen to songs with curse words written by others.
My favorite band is Between the Buried and Me and in one of their albums, there are over 50 f words.

However, if we are strictly speaking in the story telling realm, then I am with Fish and Chips on this one.

[~darkelfgirl~]

Personally, I've written stories with cursing in them (well, the "d" word, and "wth").

Basically, you should write for your audience. If you're writing for the Christian market, you should avoid using language which would potentially lose readers. If you're writing for mature secular audiences, you have more freedom with content.
I will add though, that if it's fear of what others will think that's stopping you, don't let it. As one writer said, 'don't write books for your mother'. By that he meant, don't let a fear of what your family and friends may think paralyze your creativity. If I only wrote stories my mother would like...well I'd be limited to writing the next Andy Griffith Show.

Though only write what you're comfortable with, and know your audience.

In a recent story I wrote, the main character curses. He does so because it fits his crude personality. "Darn" would've watered-down (not a good idea for the contest I submitted it to). And this story set for a young adult audience.

I think it'll be ok Your character in the story is a separate character from you, right ^^?

This is what I think of when I do have to write swearing.

[Animus Seed]

If it doesn't come up, it doesn't come up. Just don't be obvious about it. I lost all respect for a certain novel I had been enjoying and put it down when the big, bad, drug-dealing serial killer slapped his girlfriend, threatened her with a knife, and called her "dork." I haven't read Christian fiction since.

[EricTheFred]

Just like sex, drugs and violence, language can be gratuitous, which we as Christians should avoid, or it can have a place in the story. Still, as suggested above, I tend to stick with 'he swore' or 'he cursed' instead of filling in the word, as a way of bleeping it out, when I don't think it's appropriate in context.

[Mr. Rogers]

I don't think it's necessarily wrong, if it matches the character or situation.

One thing that makes a story great is when it is able to connect with us in real life. Guess what? Sometimes life is rough and dirty. You need to be able to display the evil of the world in your art/writing in order for people to be able to connect with it and in order to be able to show the power of redemption.

Most Christian...everything...is so sub-par because it doesn't appear realistic. It appears as a fantasy Little House on the Prairie Land where nothing bad ever happens.

Show reality; ugly or not then show the beauty of Redemption.

[AnimeGirl]

For me, if I have a character who "swears", instead of actually writing it, I either jusat say "they started to cuss them out" or I trail off "You son of a...." and then just say the fight got really bad, with alot of profane words. That way, it's realistic, but there is no need to use such language. 'Cause honestly, I can't STAND cussing >.< I somewhat tolerate "d" and "h" but when F-bombs fall like rain, even hearing it once, feels like someone just pierced my stomach....

[Winry]

I usually go with the "he swore" and "hecursed" thing instead of actually using the words. Swearing doesn't usually bother me in books (unless the author goes overboard with it), but for some reason I don't like to see it in my writing. Just personal preference I guess.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

I know this is an old thread, but wth...

This is an interesting topic to me. Two issues are at play here: the morality of cursing and authority of your conscience.

I do not believe that cursing, as such, is morally wrong or un-Christian. If one guy shouts an expletive when he stubs his toe or is suddenly startled, and another guy calls someone a "filthy piece of garbage" with malice in his heart, I believe that only the later commits sin. Of course, there are certain circumstances in which the toe-stubber sins, such as influencing a young child with his language. I personally do not feel that you commit sin by having a story character curse.

But, regardless of what arguments I give, your conscience might still bother you. I agree with an earlier poster who claims that good stories connect with reality. If you are writing a fantasy tale, having the character curse in a made-up language, or not curse at all, would not seem out of place. If you are going for realism, and you have a character who would curse, having him curse will probably make your story objectively better. This, however, is not worth offending your conscience if you still believe (epistemically feel, not necessarily emotionally feel) that it would be wrong to make your character curse.

The truly tricky scenario obtains when you believe, heck when you know, that something is permissible but, for whatever reason, you still have guilt feelings. Not everything ppl feel guilty about is actually sinful. I myself possess a conscience that is over-sensitive in certain areas...this is something that I am working on with proper guidance. Should you fall into this category, then you certainly can allow your character to curse, but you will probably need to pray and meditate a lot; sharing your sturggle with someone you trust always helps too. Write well!!

[Bobtheduck]

This brings back memories of some early days at CAA. Before there was the PS3 issue, there was the "cursing" issue.

Some of my character use words people don't like. I don't have them use "God" but outside of that, anything goes if its within the character's personality and culture and fits the situation. My main book doesn't have F bombs, but only because they wouldn't exist within that world. I have my own invented "bad words" for the story (Feko, Toto, and to a different extent emtehite) and they use words actual words of cursing (which is where the term originated in the first place) and they can get vulgar, though rarely in plain English. That's because that's the kind of people they are. What they say is never portrayed to be good or evil, it's just laid out as who they are.

If I write a story that takes place in the US in 20XX or 19XX, I'm going to use more realistic language. I did in the non CAA version of Circulo do Abuso (and if I pick it up again, there will also be other things not in the CAA version) and I will with stories that aren't fanfics, as well.

I apologize if anyone is bothered by that, but I won't stop doing it. I believe being faithful to the character is more important than not letting the characters do things that offend people.

[Cap'n Nick]

I'm glad you're concerned about the morality of your work, but let's not forget aesthetics. Profanity so easily becomes a substitute for real impact that I'd recommend avoiding it if at all possible.

[Anystazya]

I've always considered swearing as something not to do, and in Ephesians 4:29, doesn't it say, [I]“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.â€