Bad Language In Books...

[Sarah]

There's a reason it's called bad language. I'm an adult. I don't speak that way. Other adults around me don't speak that way. I don't watch movies or TV shows with that kind of language and I don't want it in my books. I'm not going to keep you from reading whatever you want, but I choose not to. Which means for me I mainly stick to YA and only read the Adult authors I'm familiar with. Time and again I've started an unfamiliar "adult" author to find two -three swear words per page. If there are big swear words on the first page I know it's going to be there throughout the book. I'm sorry if that's what being an adult means to you. I've chosen to not have bad language as part of my life.

[Lauren]

I don't think YA books should have tons of F-bombs. Its not needed at all.

[Flo]

Personally, I don't swear. It's ok to ignore the occasional swear word that pops up in the middle of sentences. I understand that sometimes it's the author's way of imitating reality. And let's be real, not everything about life is pretty. However, I don't believe it's entirely necessary to include swear words. I appreciate the authors that are able to take common sayings and turn them into eloquent sentences. I think that's one of the joys in reading. Of course, that does occasionally take away from the realism. However, I don't believe that large amounts of swear words is needed to create an illusion of reality. I agree with Christi. Maybe there should be some sort of disclaimer or rating system for the amounts of cuss words and explicit material that is contained in a book. It would be a good gauge for those who are looking for a less adult read.

[Deanna]

It doesn't bother me at all. It seems like swearing was kind of a right of passage in junior high/high school. That's when most of my friends swore. It was once people graduated, got job, got married and had kids that it stopped.

[Emily]

It has to depend on the character and novel, just like Emma said.
Personally, I'm trying to cut back my swearing a lot so unless I'm very pissed off or hurt myself, I'm usually clean. But quite a few of my characters usually blow the lid quite easily though I'm yet to right a real vulgar, filthy mouth character. Would be fun though!

[Storm]

My parents had one mindset for me when I was growing up with how they'd raise me: "I'm not going to bullsh*t my own kid, if I swear she swears." I didn't curse a LOT as a little kid as there was a time and place for everything and there still is... But once I hit my teens, that profanity jar jumped open.


I have friends who don't swear but they're not gonna try to censor me because they know how I am and that as long as I don't ask them to curse they don't mind it either.

I actually long as there's not too much of it (like cussing every other word) don't mind swearing in my books. I actually prefer it, makes the characters seem real. Yes in my own writing I try not to because well... It just doesn't work with my writing style or how my characters act. Yeah there's an "oh shit" slid in every now and then but those are real "OH SH*T" situations that they're said in.


But as I curse like a sailor... Doesn't put my panties in a bunch.

[Kathryn]

I don't mind poor languages as long as it goes with the plot, but that's about how I feel about it in real life. It's meant to drive a point home, not puncuate every sentance.

What I can't stand are random sex scenes. When I'm just reading happily along and there's been no hint of anything sexual and then bam, next page your in a porno.

[antoanaxo]

I don't really mind but it could be avoided.

[Aisya Raisya]

Its fine me
Its make the story more real if you ask me

[Emily]

Sierra wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I don't mind poor languages as long as it goes with the plot, but that's about how I feel about it in real life. It's meant to drive a point home, not puncuate every sentance.

W..."

Yeah, consistency is a big thing I do agree. You can't set one tone, then change it half way through.

[Caitria]

This was a hard question for me when I was starting to write Wetware. There are a few scenarios in this universe that are greatly improved by the Fbomb. However, in a YA focused book, I've left out the swears.

I do dish up power struggle, suicide, romance and treachery because those are real life issues.

Do any of you have ways to keep the raw feel that cursing adds without cursing? Tips always appreciated!

[Emily]

Caitria wrote: "This was a hard question for me when I was starting to write Wetware. There are a few scenarios in this universe that are greatly improved by the Fbomb. However, in a YA focused book, I've left out..."

Look at personal experience.
Sometimes the worse things are said without swearing, in cold blood.
People often cut off before swearing, replacing it with an exasperated/frustrated body movement, like grabbing their hair.
Or sometimes you can just say-- 'He swore.' // 'He began muttering to himself; a long line of obscene words spat through his clenched teeth as he raised a hand to his temple. Finally he levelled a glare on me. "You'll be the death of me." And was gone.

[Emily]

Alexa wrote: "If there are teens talking in a book it would be very unrealistic for there to be no bad words said whatsoever."

Exactly.

[Kirsti]

I'm from Norway and in the norwegian YA books there is a lot more swearing in them. So when i started reading english YA it was actually weird for me to have almost "bad words" instead of the real deal. Like Fudge instead of F***. So i don't mind bad words at all

[[deleted user]]

I don't so much mind bad language in a book as long as it's not excessive. I wouldn't want to read a book where every paragraph or every other paragraph has the "F" bomb in it and I certainly couldn't read a book that degraded women by calling them them bitches or addressing them as such etc.

[Kasey]

I think the argument that having no profanity in a books makes it unrealistic is silly.

It's fiction. Telephone conversations aren't realistic. Dialogue isn't realistic. We are not that concise and witty all the time in real life.

I think using lots of profanity to characterize is lazy, too. I admire writers who let me know their characters are really gritty without dropping swear words in every other line.

[Storm]

Kasey wrote: "I think the argument that having no profanity in a books makes it unrealistic is silly.

It's fiction. Telephone conversations aren't realistic. Dialogue isn't realistic. We are not that concise an..."

Speak for yourself about your wit.

[Dioreza]

I don't mind bad words we grew up in this generation where bad words are mainstream I mean who cares?. anyway its just a word noting bad will happen if you happen to read them in books. It's just the way it is :D

[Sarah]

For me, I don't see the need for swearing in books. Swear words are the words you say when you can't think of anything else to say, therefore an author who uses swear words a lot shouldn't be an author, if they can't think of anything else to say.
Lots of people think that it makes a book more realistic, I guess that depends on the book and the characters. But there are lots of very good books which I've read and they contain no swearing at all. Bad language is not necessary.

[Sabrina]

I personally don't swear, but I generally don't mind it in books - as long as it is used in appropriate situations.
I have some friends that swear quite a lot and when it's completely unnecessary/just for the sake of sounding 'tough' it gets on my nerves. And it's the same with books.

[Vasiliki]

Well I don't mind when there is a reason for it, it has something to do with the story/character/etc. Swear just to swear is annoying and unnecessary in my opinion!

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle)]

I view cursing in books the same way I few cursing in movies.

Rated G: No cursing
Rated PG: Very mild cursing
Rated PG-13: Cursing but no f bombs
Rated R: Anything goes!

I personally don't curse, but cursing in books has never bothered me. For some reason, I get more annoyed when they have crass or sexual conversations.

[Brittany]

I don't mind cursing as long as it makes sense with the context. What I really don't like is when it is used over excessively. Like, the f-word does not have to be used every other sentence to make a point. But, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

[Pam]

I am absolutely fine with bad language,yet I don't think it should be used excessively,here and there cuss words are fine. I'm not gonna stop reading a book if it continuously uses mild bad language but,I don't think that bad language makes a character appear "cool" but sometimes I think characters cussing does add to their personality so we can get a grasp of who they are such as I in ACID by Emma Pass the main character (Jenna) i think cussing is fine because she's in prison and in dire situation at points were I think it is okay because It shows her emotion well

[Emilia]

I don't mind cussing if it isn't overused. I hate books were every other word is a cuss word. It makes me wonder if this author knows any other words. I think that there's a time and a place for swearing. If the author uses them right, then I don't mind too much.

[Ricky]

I don't mind cussing either - and in my own writing, I do have my characters generally swear at a PG-13 level, but with occasional F-bombs. Which actually seem to be happening more and more frequently as my stories go on, for whatever reason.

[Tashy]

I really don't care. Swearing has lost it's horror these days, even sweet old grannies can turn the air blue with their swearing, so what's the big deal with a few bad words in a story?

[Katrina♡••]

It bothers me and usually turned off by the characters. That is just me because I do not curse.

[M.]

I agree with those saying that it's all right in moderation. Most YA books tend to be about teenagers, and most teenagers swear, especially when our sole company is each other. Authors wanting to maintain some realistic teenage voices - particularly if the story's set in the world as we know it - are welcome to drop a couple of profanities now and again. Excessive cussing isn't my cup of tea though. They're usually the product of people with limited imagination or vocabulary, the type no one really wants to read about anyway.

Salome made a good point when she said the rarer the swear words the bigger the impact. Molly Weasley' most badass badbutt moment.

[Storm]

M. wrote: "I agree with those saying that it's all right in moderation. Most YA books tend to be about teenagers, and most teenagers swear, especially when our sole company is each other. Authors wanting to m..."

Just sayin' a substitute for badass I tend to use in my own writing is Bad-ace. It sounds cool and it still gets the point across.

[Rori]

I totally agree:p But I just don't swear, so I like books who use it in moderation, and not excessively. To me, it takes away from the enjoyment of the book.

[Storm]

I think it really depends on the books. I notice a lot of books that tend to be in the "real world" tend to have more of it then less of it while sci-fi's and Dystopians along with Fantasy's have little to no swearing... Or the author makes up their own swear works. (Beth Ravis does this in Across the Universe.)

[Rori]

With some books, like YA, I get it. Because who doesn't throw out a swear word every now and then? It happens. It's a real life, human reflex. But there's a cut off line between what's acceptable and okay, and what's overkill:)

[Storm]

Yeah some books have it far too much.

[Rori]

That they do:)

[J]

Rori wrote: "I totally agree:p But I just don't swear, so I like books who use it in moderation, and not excessively. To me, it takes away from the enjoyment of the book."

Pretty much my sentiments exactly. I was once reading a book that had a swear word on literally every page, and I stopped reading it strictly for that reason. I feel like an author's writing style is severely lacking if they can't express different things without resorting to swear words.

[Rori]

J wrote: "Rori wrote: "I totally agree:p But I just don't swear, so I like books who use it in moderation, and not excessively. To me, it takes away from the enjoyment of the book."

Pretty much my sentiment..."

Yes! I read a book just like that, and it made me just close it and say, "Nope:p" It's a literary put-off:D

[Ravanna Dee]

I agree. If a writer need's to use a swear word in every sentence, obviously they 'ARE' lacking in there writing style. Not to mention that when you are constantly swearing it draws away from the one time you really want to express that emotion. I find a few swear words here and there appropriate, if it's being used to draw the readers emotional appeal. If not, It make's me feel as if the author just has very poor literature.

[Maddy]

I think that for a book to portray a realistic perspective on the world swearing in the actual amounts its used it necessary. Especially to establish a setting or a type of character, how much swearing is used can determine the type of personality etc, so if need be a lot of swearing then I think it should be used.

[Kat]

I don't think I have read a book with lots of profanity but if I did I would think it'd be annoying to just read swear words all the time.

[S.L.J.]

I grew up in London. I think the longest I ever went without hearing someone swear was about 10 minutes. New words (many of them swear words) are being invented every day.

It's become the norm. I tend to only use profanity when it suits the subject matter.

[Ravanna Dee]

Maddy wrote: "I think that for a book to portray a realistic perspective on the world swearing in the actual amounts its used it necessary. Especially to establish a setting or a type of character, how much swea..."

Agree!!!!

[Anna]

I wince every time I see a bad word in YA books, It just makes me feel awkward and defeats the purpose of the insult, I don't mind if the author says "Cursed him" or "Said a few swears towards him" because that is saying it,without ruining the book for YA readers.

[olga ✿]

I don't mind too much, as long as they're not overused. If there's TOO much swearing, it can get annoying. But mostly I don't mind.

[Duchessbookworm]

I like my books to be without cussing. But that doesn't happen a lot. I try to skip over them. Not wanting them to ruin the book. But there are times were if the author repeatedly says the word over and over, where there is like 7 on a page. I stop. Especially if they are major ones. I'm not against using them, but it is better without or to a minimum.

[Katrina♡••]

I don't really like to read books like this but if the character ,story and world building is great then I try to ignore the language and focus elsewhere but sometimes it really annoys me.

[Becky]

I don't mind it at all..too me its funny. I crack up when reading characters cuss in books..I sorta have a sailors mouth so, can't complain. ;)

[Nicolette]

Well they are young adult books for a reason. I know not all teengers or 18+ year olds curse but plenty do. so its more realistic and relatable. i cant help bu think yeahhh I would curse in that situation too

[Andrea!]

Bad language is common talk for teenagers so if the book is centered around typical teens, having them curse makes them more realistic.

[Allison]

I think some curse words are okay if the situation calls for it in the book. I mean, if they're about to die or something. I don't swear, and when I write, I never write down the swear word, but I'm used to some swear words so I'm not going to get mad when there's a couple. But if it's like, every paragraph...I'm going to have a problem. It took me a while to get through the Book Thief because of the language.