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Profanities, swear words, cuss words, or expletives happen in many of our everyday lives and in the workplace, too. Whether due to frustration, anger, stress, joy, or emphasis, they slip out. And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
However, traditional standards of “professionalism” tell us that swearing is a big no-no at work and doesn’t reflect well on team members. Some organizations have zero tolerance for swearing. In reality, this isn’t practical, or aligned with how people actually communicate.
We cannot just make a super generalized blanket statement that all swearing at work is "bad." Nor can we just give the automatic go-ahead that all profanity is “good.”
There is a lot of complexity and nuance within this topic. This complexity deepens in global teams, where people bring varied cultural norms, languages, and comfort levels with certain expressions. What feels casual or harmless in one context may land very differently in another. While we must counter the stereotype that people who swear are rude and uneducated and push for language beyond “the Queen’s English,” we must also consider that everyone’s relationship to swear words is different and can run deep.
This resource will challenge the notion that swearing doesn’t belong in the workplace and delve into how it can belong in respectful, conscious, co-created ways.
To be clear, we do not condone swearing directed at others. In most cases, that crosses into harmful behaviour inappropriate for the workplace and rarely improves outcomes.
Less Polish, More Human
Swearing is not just a taboo topic. Historically, norms of “professionalism,” civility, and respectability politics have often been used to marginalize certain groups or linguistic styles.
Prohibitions around swearing continue to create more intense stratification and disconnection between corporate and frontline workers and less mobility between these roles.
Sticking to the status quo and uncritically aggrandizing the “Queen’s English” is the norm in many workplaces and industries, and it’s easy to hold biases against interactions full of swear words and slang.
In global and multilingual workplaces, these standards often privilege Western, English-speaking norms and can unintentionally exclude people whose speech patterns, accents, or idioms reflect other linguistic traditions. Recognizing this helps create more equitable and culturally fluent communication.
For example, when we titled our blog ”‘Mind Your F*cking Language” it reflected a frustration many share with outdated standards that exclude authenticity and promote blending in with the dominant culture. We knew the F word itself would spark conversation, and that was the point.
In North America, casual swearing is a reality of workplace culture; it’s just part of a regular day. Research shows the average person swears around 80 times a day, the use of swear words is on the rise, and even animals like chimps swear. Sometimes, swearing repeatedly can be a symptom of a neurodivergent condition, such as Tourette’s Syndrome.
The bottom line is it’s impractical and irrational to tell people to leave swearing behind when they come to work.
When Swearing Brings Us Closer
Many studies have disproved the pervasive myth that swearing indicates someone’s dishonesty or unintelligence. Instead, they show that people who swear are frequently more honest and have higher emotional and linguistic intelligence. Furthermore, studies have shown that swearing can reduce pain and boost strength.
Swearing can also be a healthy emotional release for folks to channel their anger or frustrations rather than repressing them. It has been demonstrated to increase the persuasiveness and impact of a message and is linked to an 18% higher likelihood of making a sale. In the 10,000 instances of swearing cataloged by researchers Janschewitz and Jay, they rarely observed any negative consequences.
Occasionally using this “taboo” language can knock down barriers of strict professionalism, making space for more human interaction and lighter conversation. In other words, by cursing around your co-workers, you can establish a friendlier atmosphere and develop camaraderie.
One of our team members expressed the following thoughts regarding curse words at work:
“For me, hearing a curse allows me to shake off a sense of expected behaviour and decorum; it allows me to be more true to who I am. There's a bit of unmasking that happens when language isn't put through a filter of what is deemed appropriate at work versus not.”
Swearing, Technology, and Linguistic Bias
As more workplace communication happens through AI-powered tools, like chat platforms, email assistants, and tone analyzers, it’s important to recognize that these systems often evaluate “professionalism” through biased data. Language that’s direct, emotional, or informal (including mild swearing) may be flagged as inappropriate or “negative,” even when it’s being used constructively.
For example, an automated tone checker might flag a message like “We really need to fix this, it’s a mess” as unprofessional, even if it reflects urgency and care for quality. These tools can reinforce linguistic bias, penalizing people whose communication styles reflect cultural, emotional, or neurodivergent differences.
Being aware of these limitations helps teams use AI responsibly and avoid over-policing natural human expression.
Injustice is Swear Worthy
Besides peer socialization, swearing can show we mean what we say or express our emotions. (It doesn’t mean we have limited vocabulary!)
In times of social unrest, global crises, or political polarization, emotions naturally run high, and that sometimes shows up in language. For example, in our workshops, many participants swear when expressing their passion about the issues in focus and discussing people who have been harmed. And that’s OK.
If we’re serious about building cultures of belonging and psychological safety, we must make space for language outside of the “Queen’s English” employed to communicate deep pain, life-long frustrations, or emotional trauma. Attachments to formalities should not stifle empathy or abruptly end vulnerable conservations. ‘Policing’ people’s chosen expressions to describe their unique experiences is counterproductive to the essence of our work.
We can’t separate the broader social context from how people show up at work, especially during times of heightened stress or injustice. So let’s make space for it.
Tone Policing and Prohibitions on Swearing
Whether they dropped an f-bomb or not, marginalized people are often considered angrier when discussing challenging, emotionally-driven topics. Jeffrey Boakye describes how when Black people express their emotions, they are often told something along the lines of “Could you tone it down a bit? You’re being a bit aggressive. You need to be a little softer. You’re passionate, I understand, but your manner can put people off. It’s a bit intimidating.” These types of comments are methods of tone policing.
Tone policing is an act of dismissing someone’s ideas if they are delivered in an angry, frustrated, sad, fearful or otherwise emotionally charged manner. In other words, it focuses on the emotion behind a message rather than the message itself.
Dominant groups sometimes use tone policing as an oppression tactic to systemically keep marginalized people (and the issues they raise) silent. So, it’s no surprise that women, Black people, and especially Black women are no strangers to this phenomenon.
Prohibitions on swearing are deeply connected to the inequities of tone policing. It’s not OK to dismiss a team member's capacities, contributions, or insights because they include swear words in their speech without engaging with their ideas or feedback. Tone policing is anti-dialogue, anti-debate, infused with bias, and laced with anxieties regarding power and change.
Furthermore, marginalized team members may feel pressure to suppress who they are and how they speak for their safety. For example, Black teammates who speak Black American English often feel pressure to code-switch to a dominant English dialect at work to be taken seriously and avoid exclusion. Racialized teammates, in general, are far more likely to be labelled “offensive” when using swear words. Women may also avoid swearing due to a double standard that makes them six times as likely to be considered obscene than men. Additionally, language learners often can feel pressure to downplay their accents because of concerns that they will be viewed as unintelligent. This is in addition to fear of marginalization for swear words in their primary language.
Rachel Cargle, a writer, philanthropic innovator, and social entrepreneur, shared a remarkable post on Instagram that makes some crucial points on the issue of swearing and tone policing. First, swearing should not be considered harsher than real-life tragedies. Second, white feelings should not matter more than Black lives and experiences. And third, dominant groups should not dictate that anti-oppression work can only be done on their terms and in a tone that they find palatable.
What Do Your Favourite Profanities Mean?
Not all swear words are created equal. In fact, some have more complicated histories and oppress certain groups of people. It’s essential to learn about the etymology/ontology of the swear words you use to ensure you’re not reinforcing shitty things.
The examples we provide below come from English dialects in North America (swear words will differ from culture to culture and country to country.) Check out JumpSpeak’s list of 26 English swear words for a few other English-speaking countries’ swear words.
Bitch
“Bitch” literally means female dog. However, it is often used to degrade and discriminate against women or criticize them for asserting power. When used against men, it can reproduce sexist beliefs and work to emasculate them by suggesting the man in question be (gasp!) feminine in any way.
At the same time, some women have started to reclaim “bitch” as a term of strength and solidarity. So, we must be aware of how someone uses the word, their intended meaning, and how others receive it. While some of us may be able to own being a “bitch” as a moment of power and reclamation, there are many who sure as hell would not be okay with someone calling them that.
Indeed, “bitch” is probably the best example of the complexity, nuance, and context tied up in swearing.
Ass
“Ass” can mean buttocks or it can refer to someone who is being a jerk. However, it’s never OK to use this word to mock, gawk at, shame, or police someone’s body - even if you’re friends. Friends can still reinforce fatphobic and body shaming stigmas onto each other. People should also be cautious in using the word “ass” in ways that contribute to stigma relating to anal sex and the LGBTQIA2+ community.
Bastard
“Bastard” literally means an illegitimate child. Historically, people consider it a bad word because a child out of wedlock is “immoral” and “shameful.” The term is often associated with the children of “overly” sexually active women and acts as yet another mechanism for demonizing women. It also shames family models outside the nuclear model, such as foster families, blended families, plural families, and chosen families.
Cunt & Pussy
“Cunt” literally means vagina. Many people have reclaimed this word and use it as a synonym for “cool” or “giving femininity” (e.g., “She’s serving cunt.”) While others, especially across North America, feel that “cunt” is the most aggressive and worse thing one can call a woman. Social context is super important here because in Australia, cunt is often used as a term of endearment; it’s less negative.
The word “pussy” has long been used to suggest that women are weak or inferior. It carries deep social and cultural weight, reflecting how language can be used to police gender and reinforce traditional power dynamics. Over time, it has evolved into a tool of misogyny, used to insult not only women but also men who are perceived as not meeting masculine ideals of toughness or dominance. This double standard exposes how sexism and rigid gender expectations harm everyone, perpetuating the idea that femininity, vulnerability, or softness are inherently lesser traits.
Notably, use of the words “pussy” or “cunt” can be triggering for transgender or non-binary people.
Damn
"Damn" is a word that originated from religious beliefs and is most often used to condemn something.
It can also be an exclamation of excitement (“Damn! That's great!”), or as an emphasizer on other words in the sentence ("There's not a damn thing to be done now!"), or as an adverb ("Let's have a damn good day!"), or to just not care ("I don't dive a damn!").
Be mindful that some religious people, especially in Abrahamic faiths, may find this word disrespectful to their beliefs about the afterlife.
Dick, Cock, & Prick
These words refer to the penis, but they have also been associated with negative behaviour, such as being mean, insensitive, or “bad.” Using these words to describe someone as “bad” can be understood as connecting someone who has a penis with being someone who is mean or insensitive. It also means to mess around ("That person is always dicking around") and to describe nothing ("You don't mean dick to me.") These associations can all contribute to the stereotype that men are inherently “bad.”
Notably, use of the words “dick” or “cock” or “prick” can be triggering for transgender or non-binary people.
Douchebag or Douche
A “douchebag” or “douche” is a jerk or a mean person. However, technically speaking, it’s a small syringe used for vaginal washing. It can also be used for enemas. This means that another word associated with women has negative connotations. Although this may not be as insulting as some other women-centred swears, bringing this word out of commission.
Fuck
“Fuck” is of Germanic origin and for a long time just meant sexual intercourse. "Fuck" can be used as a verb, an adverb, a noun, an adjective, a modifier, an intensifier, or even an interjection. It’s probably our most malleable swear word ever! It was only about 300 years ago that we made the transition from “I want to fuck tonight” to “fuck you for betraying me” and “I’m so fucking excited.”
Notably, people should not use the word fuck to make unwanted sexual advances or harass someone sexually.
Mother Fucker
“Mother fucker” (sometimes abbreviated as “mofo”) is mostly considered highly offensive and rarely used in the literal sense. Usually, it refers to a mean, despicable, or vicious person or any particularly difficult or frustrating situation. Alternatively, it can be a term of admiration (“badass mother fucker”) or as emphasis to denote an extreme ("It's colder than a mother fucker outside.") Interestingly, Norman Mailer was particularly fond of using this profanity.
Shit
“Shit,” which originated in old English, literally means fecal matter. However, that doesn’t mean it’s always a bad thing. People use this word in many ways today to describe nonsense or lies (“You’re full of shit!”), something of little value (“This video game is a piece of shit!”), a despicable person (“You’re a shit-head!”), people who cause problems ("Shit disturber!"), something really good ("This new coffee place has some good shit!"), being scared ("You scared the shit out of me!"), or as an exclamation of disbelief ("That person won a leadership award - no shit!")
Context, Context, Context
We think an important part of conversations about swearing is remembering that many dimensions of a person may influence how they respond to swearing. Someone’s comfort level with swearing depends not just on their personality and rigid standards of professionalism but also their cultural background and trauma history.
For example, swearing can be contrary to one’s cultural customs. Some swear words are harmful based on religious practice or belief.
In global teams, some expressions can lose or gain intensity in translation. A word that’s considered mild in one culture may be deeply offensive in another. Building shared norms around language use is especially important in cross-cultural settings, where clarity and respect may depend as much on cultural fluency as on word choice itself. Swearing can also cause triggers for someone if they have experienced harassment, assault, or manipulation.
For some neurodivergent people, swearing can be part of how they regulate emotion, process frustration, or express authenticity. In certain conditions, like ADHD, autism, or Tourette’s, swearing may even occur involuntarily. It’s important not to pathologize or punish these expressions, but instead to understand them within the context of someone’s communication needs and boundaries.
For some, swearing can develop rapport. For others who have harmful relationships to swearing, it can reduce the chances for building trust and comradery. This is why context is so important. Swearing that hurts others should be reevaluated, yet swearing that simply invites accusations of “impoliteness” is in a far greyer area, and we want folks to dig deeper.
We do not encourage a one-size-fits-all approach to swearing in the workplace, but rather a strategy that considers the harms of tone policing and code-switching; the importance and benefits of linguistic diversity; and the imperative to treat every teammate with dignity and respect.
This is Where We Draw the Line
There is no hard and fast rule about when and where swearing should be acceptable, but there are some moments where swearing can make things a whole lot worse.
In instances of workplace disagreement and spats, swearing can heighten intensity, lead to violence, increase inequity, and in some cases, turn into harassment. Devan Graham describes this type of swearing as “Directed Swearing” and says it is inappropriate no matter the context. Swearing directly at someone in a tense situation can make matters worse; these moments are times when we need to carefully consider how our words may be received, interpreted, or felt.
All language, including swear words, that is designed or deployed to denigrate, humiliate, marginalize, or degrade non-dominant groups or people, in general, is unacceptable.
So, What Do We Do?
Zero tolerance for swearing in a workplace is not realistic or even a goal we would ever strive for. Workplaces have been successfully sued for wrongful termination when firing someone for non-abusive swearing. Instead, consider developing a guideline on “Directed Swearing” (i.e. we can’t swear AT people, it’s not okay). Check out our Directed Swearing Guide for more insights. It may also be helpful to develop an Inclusive Language Guide, which includes a section on the types of swear words that are acceptable in your work environment. This can help create space for conversations about the kind of culture your organization wants to build or maintain.
Important Note
This resource is not meant to be a static guide, but rather a compilation and reflection of our learnings to date. Everything changes - from technologies and innovations to social norms, cultures, languages, and more. We’ll continue to update this resource with your feedback; email us at hello@feminuity.org with suggestions.
About The Author
This blog was written collaboratively by members of the Feminuity team.
Give Credit Where Credit's Due
If you wish to reference this work, please use the following citation: Feminuity. "Mind Your F*cking Language: A Guide to Swearing with Intention at Work"
