Let’s talk about swearing in books. Do you love it or hate it? I’m in between because it depends on the situation, character, topic, etc.
I don’t like gratuitous swearing, or swearing just for the heck of it. If the situation warrants it and it furthers the plot, then swearing doesn’t bother me in the least … unless it’s the F-word. I still cringe when I see or hear that word, but I can look past it when it adds to the story or helps define the character because I know people swear and it’s not up to me to be the swearing police. Hell, I swear every once in a while. (See what I did there?) And, I know some characters or situations wouldn’t be realistic without swearing. I may not like gratuitous swearing, but many people don’t mind it and they’re going to swear. They’re going to swear to get a reaction out of people, to purposely offend, because they don’t know any other way to express themselves, because they like the words, etc. And, if those are the cases or situations, then I don’t mind it because it’s realistic and I want my stories to be realistic not contrived to fit a certain mold.
Sometimes, though, I feel like authors swear just to swear. Have you ever encountered a book like that? I’ve encountered a few and it ruined my experience with the story. I didn’t feel like the swearing was needed in that situation or with that particular character. Does that make sense?
What do you think? Do you love them or hate them?
About Jenni Elyse
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I agree with you, it depends on the situation the characters are in.
I just sweared a lot at someone today – and it was totally to get a reaction, and I was really mad. And it was strangely satisfying because I hardly ever swear.
I totally know what you mean. When I get really mad at someone, sometimes I swear to get a reaction, especially if the person doesn’t think I have the guts to swear.
I do see what you did there AND it made me laugh out loud. A real life LOL.
I’m on the same page as you. I believe in the well placed swear (like yours above) and I don’t really hate swearing until it seems superfluous. The last time I remember that it irritated me was in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. I actually really liked the series, and finished it. But in the first couple of books, I felt like the swearing was inserted just to make it seem “edgy”. It was irritating. Luckily, it didn’t last, and really tapered off to just well placed swears from then on out.
I’m glad I made you laugh. I was hoping someone would!
Yes, I don’t like it when it’s used to make something edgy because it seems out of place and forced.
I do love the well placed swears. They often make me laugh out loud too.
In general, I find swearing offensive and just irritating. I mean, c’mon, there are millions of words in the English language with which to express yourself — can’t people choose more original ones? Evidently not, so out in the real world, I just ignore people’s potty mouths. As for books, I don’t mind swearing here and there, if — like you said — it’s there for a reason. If characters are dropping F-bombs in every other sentence, I will definitely close the book (unless it’s written by Tana French because I love her even though her favorite word begins with an F and ends with a K) because I just don’t want to suffer through pages and pages of language like that. It’s exhausting.
I understand what you mean. I’d prefer not to listen or read any swearing. But, I know it’s not going to happen, so I don’t let it affect me unless it’s superfluous. And, I guess that where people need to decide what’s superfluous and what’s not. I know many people would think any swearing is superfluous whereas I don’t because I don’t think it’s realistic anymore to not have any swearing.
I prefer not to read any swearing. However, I have read books where the swearing is totally in character. I understand that. I don’t usually put a book down because of swearing, but I have been known to do it before if it is just too much and not for any good reason. I definitely don’t like reading the f word. It is just not necessary, in my opinion. Use another word.
I can understand why you feel that way. I wish there was no swearing. But, I know that’s not realistic so I’ve decided to not let it bother me unless like I said above, it’s superfluous. Plus, I think some of the “clean” books are just cheesy and irritating.
I don’t mind reading swearing if it fits the personality of the character and isn’t gratuitous. I don’t even mind the f word – really it’s no worse than s or gd or a lot of other swear words. Actually, I find gd more offensive. Anyway, sometimes I would rather have a character swear than say things like fudge or heck all the time. I’m reading a book right now where every character, even the “bad” ones, uses “heck” instead of “hell.” It makes me roll my eyes. Rather unrealistic.
I actually find gd more offensive as well. Unfortunately, it’s become so commonplace that I don’t always notice it unless it’s paired with dammit.
And, yes, I roll my eyes when the characters go out of their way to avoid swearing unless it’s in character. I’ll say heck, freak, shoot, crap, etc. And, every now and then I’ll actually say the swear words. So, if a character like me was in the book, then I wouldn’t roll my eyes. But, most people aren’t like me so it’d totally be unrealistic and get really irritated with it.
I completely agree. I don’t think heavy swearing is needed. Look at Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and other popular books. There is no swearing or very light swearing. I read Anna and the French Kiss recently, and I was shocked at all the F bombs. They really weren’t needed.
Yes, I agree. The F bombs weren’t needed in Anna and the French Kiss, but it didn’t bother me that much because the person who said them was British and the F-word is used like the S-word is here. So, while I still hate that word, it fit oddly enough. But, yeah, others words could’ve been used and not taken away from the story at all.
I have trained myself to skim over the top of them and not even register them in my brain. It’s also pretty simple for me to insert “Mormon Swearwords” in place of the naughty word.
The only time I have a hard time is when each and every sentence has a naughty word in it. I freaking hate it when it happens!
Jen
Basically, that’s what I do, is skim over the top and don’t let it affect me. And, I insert “Mormon swearwords” into my brain when I read too.
I’m with you. I can over look swearing if it’s in the proper context & adds to the mind frame of the characters but just swearing to be vulgar & offensive is unnecessary & I will stop reading the book if it has too much of that.
Yeah. I’ve stopped reading books before too if they were too vulgar, usually too much sex though.