Is there too much cursing these days?
We posed that question to teenagers, inspired by a recent interview with Timothy Jay, a scholar in the science of swearing. Profanity is becoming increasingly commonplace and, according to Dr. Jay, “Language is just part of the whole shift to a more casual lifestyle.”
We wondered what young people thought about that shift. We asked them about whether they curse, why they do it and when, if ever, they think it crosses a line. Read a selection of their responses below.
Thank you to those who shared their thoughts on our writing prompts this week, including students from Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Ill.; Rosemount High School in Rosemount, Minn.; and W.T. Clarke High School in Westbury, N.Y.
Please note: Student comments have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
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Many students said cursing seems to be everywhere these days — and it’s a problem.
The article about swearing really made me think about how much profanity is everywhere now on social media, in music, and even in everyday conversations. It’s interesting how Dr. Jay connects this trend to our more casual lifestyles and the way we talk online. Honestly, I do notice that people swear a lot more casually, especially on platforms like X. While swearing can sometimes help express strong emotions, I think there’s a point where it can cross the line and become offensive or even disrespectful. I’m not sure if it’s a bad thing overall, but it does feel like we’ve lost some of the power those words used to hold. It’s definitely a shift in how we communicate as a society.
— Tyrone, Sparta, GA
I have noticed stronger and more frequent foul language in places where it was rarely heard before. At first, I thought it was great that people felt more comfortable expressing themselves in public spaces. However, many take it too far, showing a complete lack of decorum and basic decency. I also believe that people often use these words as mere “filler” rather than for real emphasis. Words that were once considered harsh now feel meaningless. Because of this, I find excessive swearing quite annoying. Conversations today often seem less thoughtful and lack sincerity. While casual profanity does not bother me, its overuse can make interactions feel dull and repetitive. I think language should be used intentionally, not just out of habit.
— Kennedy, CPHS, North Carolina
While I believe cursing is okay in some situations, I think that cursing has become too common and too normalized. I wasn’t surprised to read that on X, “profanity [represents] about 1 in every 10 words on the platform.” As a high school student, I have very few peers who don’t curse, and I hear curse words constantly at school — sometimes from teachers as well. I think that excessively using curse words dilutes the meaning of the word itself.
— Madeleine, Glenbard West High School
It’s inevitable to hear curse words because “cursing culture” is everywhere. Including music, social media, friends, and even in school. Now, as I’ve observed these recent generations, cursing has been considered “cool.” In my opinion, cursing has taken a negative toll in today’s society. Many people may think it’s not a big deal, but our words have so much more power than we think. I believe it’s time to minimize the use of curse words.
— Sara, Glenbard East High School
Others disagreed, arguing it’s just the way people talk now.
I feel like cursing is a normal act of people talking and I do not think it’s as bad as people think. When people get really happy or really mad, they swear. And I personally don’t think there is any stopping it no matter how hard people try. I just don’t understand what makes a series of words so bad. Half of “curse words” don’t even have a meaning behind it.
— Joey, Glenbard West High School
I feel like no, there isn’t too much cursing. I feel as if it’s just been normalized now, not as a “bad thing” but as a way to give more expression. Saying something with no curse word doesn’t get your point across as much as saying it with one. This turns into people saying it whenever and wherever, no matter the consequence. I don’t believe there’s too much cursing because it adds character to what someone says, makes it more full of life and adds more feelings to their sentences.
— Parker, NY
Several students shared their mixed feelings about hearing profanity and using it themselves.
A few years ago, I started swearing because my friends did and they sounded cool. I thought it was what cool kids do and started following them. Yet, nowadays, whenever I see myself blurting out a curse word, I feel disappointed in myself. This sense of disappointment and the recognition of immaturity had me trying to avoid cursing words. It would be a challenge to perfectly prevent any swearing words, but I will try. To not swear, to grow up.
— Zoe, Jeju
I curse to place a hard emphasis on my thoughts or reaction. Not only does it sort of make people listen closer, but it also is a reliever in a sense, to help me blow off steam about something that is likely working me up. When others curse, especially in public settings, I start to feel embarrassment if I know them. I don’t know how people have made it to the point where they believe it makes sense to say expletives in public areas, especially around children. To many, the word still holds value, and I agree that we should keep the same meaning and weight behind a word as it always has.
— Miles, Illinois
Others said, for a variety of reasons, they try to never swear at all.
I wholeheartedly believe “cursing culture” and cursing in general has gotten out of hand. When I tell people I don’t use profanity, they are often shocked or annoyed, which makes absolutely no sense to me. I believe that avoiding cursing allows me to express myself more creatively and effectively. There are countless ways to articulate frustration, excitement, or humor without resorting to profanity. This challenges me to expand my vocabulary and use language in ways that are both impactful and positive. I prefer to keep my speech eloquent and articulate. Ultimately, choosing not to curse helps me maintain a sense of control over my language and ensures that my words reflect the values I want to uphold.
— Lidya, Rosemount High School
I do not curse for many reasons, the main reason being my faith. In my religion, we are taught to be as righteous as we can, which includes being clean in multiple senses of the word. Because of this, I keep my language as clean as I can to emulate Jesus. While I don’t care if people curse (because of how common it has become), I don’t think it should be necessary to “express oneself.” This should be done by the way we do our makeup, act, dress, or the way we speak (not the words that come out of our mouth). Using obscene language just shouldn’t become a standard in today’s age to define someone. I agree that the increase in cursing is a sign of how casual people are becoming by not caring what they say to others and just letting their words flow. I’ve noticed this a lot over the past few years and even get mocked for not cursing sometimes (if I refuse to say a word or two in my theater class) or get told I am overreacting when I ask someone to calm down on their language. Overall, it is becoming an increasing issue (to me at least), yet I see no way of fixing it.
— Amelia, Cumberland Polytechnic High School
I never curse. I believe cursing — or more broadly, word choice — is a habit. And I just think that I don’t have that habit. Cursing definitely can be an issue. While it may be a way to express one’s emotions, everyone takes swearing differently, which can lead to misunderstandings. For example, I don’t really mind if someone curses at me in a friendly manner. However, others can take the curse seriously and feel hurt.
— Jeho, South Korea
Some students told us that, while they don’t mind the casual use of profanity, there are some places it doesn’t belong.
Recently, I have noticed an increase in the amount of cursing in schools. From high school to even elementary school, students of all ages seem to have incorporated more curse words into their conversations and interactions with peers and, in some cases, even teachers. While cursing in general does not bother me, I find it hard to stand behind using profane language in the classroom. There is a boundary between casual and disrespectful interactions with others, particularly in student-teacher interactions, and increased cursing in schools seems to have blurred this line significantly. Cursing in casual conversation with peers in a hallway or outdoor area in schools seems to be inevitable. However, I think that cursing in the classroom specifically needs to be curbed before the line of disrespect becomes crossed irreparably.
— Shay, W.T. Clarke High School, Westbury, NY
A lot of music we listen to now contains many swear words and due to the popularity of some artists, younger kids have started to pick up such language at a much earlier age than they otherwise would have. I never really started swearing until around the age of fifteen, but I see many kids half my age swearing all the time.
— Zoe, Vermont
Cursing has become so common that we begin to see younger kids in middle school cursing in the hallways while having a normal conversation. There should be limits to where and when cursing should not be as normalized. Although cursing is not such a bad issue to some people, it should not be as normalized that younger generations think cursing anywhere and anytime is okay.
— Jaylen, Sparta
And others worried that abusive language has become too commonplace, especially online.
I believe that cursing can be an issue. Of course I swear sometimes, but not as much as other people. I think cursing crosses the line when people are insultingly cursing at each other. You can express your feelings with cursing, but I don’t think you should take it out on others.
— Maddie, Vermont
I feel like with the integration of voice chat in games has significantly increased the use of cursing since people figured out that the ones they are talking with can’t know who they are. I once joined a Call of Duty match and the amount of new curse words I learned was insane. These days people are so invested in their games that the slightest mistake from their teammates makes them start shouting into the mic. I think that if there is an app or addition to the games that bleep out the curses then all games with voice chat should have it in their games.
— Ahmed, Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn, IL
I sometimes read messages at the bottom of various videos and I can’t believe the evil, the curses that one person throws at another person. I believe that this person who writes these words is very unhappy, disappointed with his life and cannot enjoy anything in this life. It is scary to read so many messages with curses and insults from so many people.
— Chrisa, Greece
Still, some said, there can be power in a well-timed expletive.
I’m extremely vocal about global issues & human rights, and I tend to let out an expletive or two as a way of “getting my point across.” I feel that verbal aggression lets out a lot of the angst I feel at times, and rather than resorting to punching someone (AKA assault, an illegal activity), screaming a few words at my pillow gets the job done.
— Daniel, W.T. Clarke High School, Westbury, NY
I was raised to believe that curse words were used to emphasize emotions, hence that they are powerful. I did not say my first curse word until my eighth grade graduation rehearsal. The teachers would not continue the rehearsal until everyone stopped talking and the student two kids away from me would not and it was extremely annoying. Eventually I turned to him and asked him to shut the [expletive] up and he quickly did so because he had never heard me curse. Watching the change on the faces of the kids sitting next to me proved that cursing holds strength.
— Sophie, Maury High School, Norfolk, VA
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