Using Profanity In College Essays

If you're genuinely worried about the expletive, don't use a halfway substitute.Make it clear what you're censoring by using the correct term, and your readers will understand what you've done: a firm rule in the class against specific words, then I would do the NYTimes thing and write it with as few letters dashed out as possible: "sh_t," "sh--" or "s---" all get the point across, but are increasingly neutered.

If you're genuinely worried about the expletive, don't use a halfway substitute.Make it clear what you're censoring by using the correct term, and your readers will understand what you've done: a firm rule in the class against specific words, then I would do the NYTimes thing and write it with as few letters dashed out as possible: "sh_t," "sh--" or "s---" all get the point across, but are increasingly neutered.

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Yes, sometimes vulgar language can be used to make a point more strongly.

But you could almost always be just as effective by using strong words that are not vulgar.

You are among adults and you don't need to censor your language for the sake of propriety.

For example, in an essay on expletives, it would be completely inappropriate to give examples.

I am discussing an enviro NGO's development strategies in Post-2008 Greece.

Using Profanity In College Essays Letter Writing Assignment

I discuss the Greek economy, the poverty, the humanitarian crisis, etc.

I then explain that the environmental NGO's strategies of ad campaigns are not effective because when people are struggling day to day trying to make ends meet, they couldn't care less about the future because they are so distracted by the present, myopic, if you will.

I then give a personal story at the dinner table with an elder explaining "You must eat before you shit." I then explain this quote and relate it to myopia.

Certainly vulgar terms should not be part of your own writing, but if they are part of a source you cite, there is nothing you need to worry about.

If – and that is what you need to worry about with each source you cite – that source is citable of the citation is necessary but that its wording is problematic, you can paraphrase that sentence.